WASSING (René S.) The Art of Black Africa. - Lot 309

Lot 309
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WASSING (René S.) The Art of Black Africa. - Lot 309
WASSING (René S.) The Art of Black Africa. Photographs by Hans Hinz. French translation by Marceline de Montmollin. Fribourg, Office du Livre, 1969. A substantial volume in large square quarto format, in the publisher’s white cardboard binding, with a color-illustrated dust jacket, 299 pp. French edition of this important work devoted to the traditional arts of sub-Saharan Africa, written by René S. Wassing, then curator at the Museum voor Land- en Volkenkunde in Rotterdam. Extensive photographic illustrations by Hans Hinz: 120 black-and-white plates and 24 color plates, along with maps of African states and ethnic groups. The specialized bibliography provides a detailed description of this 299-page edition, featuring XXIV color plates and 120 illustrations. The book offers a broad overview of African arts, examined within their social, religious, and cultural contexts: masks, sculptures, bronzes, ivories, ritual objects, and symbols of power, along with a study of the major artistic traditions of West and Central Africa, notably those of the Baoulé, Senufo, Dogon, Bambara, Mossi, Benin, Yoruba, etc. The book’s documentary value remains significant: some of the works reproduced by Wassing have since acquired a well-documented provenance and considerable importance on the African art market. For example, a Ci Wara Bamana headdress reproduced in the book (p. 242, no. 10) was still featured in a Christie’s auction in March 2026. A fine copy, particularly fresh on the inside. The hardcover and dust jacket are well-preserved; the dust jacket shows very slight signs of wear, with no major flaws. The color plates have retained their vibrant appearance.
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