Among the highlights of the sale is Lot 3, a rare Tellem statue from Mali, dating to the 13th–14th century. Carved in wood and distinguished by its evocative dark, crusty patina, the sculpture stands 41 centimetres high and carries an estimate of €10,000–15,000. It represents one of the oldest and most fascinating works in the catalogue.

Of particular significance is the presence of a radiocarbon (C14) dating test, conducted by the LAMBDA laboratory in Milan, which accompanies the sculpture and provides an important scientific reference for assessing its age. This is especially relevant in a field where dating, documentation and artistic quality play a fundamental role in collectors’ evaluations.

The Tellem sculpture stands as one of the most significant highlights of the sale, offering an opportunity to explore an ancient artistic tradition associated with the populations that inhabited the Bandiagara Escarpment region, in present-day Mali, before the emergence of Dogon culture.

Alongside this remarkable work, African masks occupy a central place in the sale, representing artistic traditions in which the expressive power of form is closely intertwined with the ceremonial, spiritual and social dimensions of their communities of origin.

Another major highlight is an Agbogho Mmuo mask of the Igbo culture, Nigeria, made of wood and pigments, dating from the 19th–20th century and estimated at €15,000–20,000. What makes this work particularly noteworthy is its distinguished international provenance. Formerly in the Arcade Gallery, London, the mask subsequently entered the collection of Rudolf and Leonore Blum in Zurich, before being offered at Christie’s in Paris on 19 June 2014, as Lot 31 in the sale dedicated to the Collection Rudolf et Leonore Blum. Later acquired by a private collector, the mask thus boasts a well-documented collecting history that further enhances its appeal.

The catalogue also features important examples of the Mende sculptural tradition from Sierra Leone, including a helmet mask associated with the female Sande society, dating from the late 19th to the early 20th century and estimated at €8,000–12,000. Particularly noteworthy is its distinguished provenance: formerly part of the collection of Dr John Dintenfass in New York, the work subsequently passed through the renowned Pace Primitive gallery and was also offered at Bonhams in New York in 2013.