The rare Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu sculpture shown from the front and side, measuring 219 x 77 x 30 cm excluding the base.
A rare 2.2-meter Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu sculpture will lead Bonhams’ African art auction in London with an estimate of £500,000 to £800,000.
BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON
LONDON—A rare Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu sculpture will headline Bonhams Modern and Contemporary African Art sale in London on Wednesday, October 21. The 2.2-meter gilt-bronze work carries an estimate of £500,000 to £800,000 and is going on auction for the first time.
The sculpture was originally acquired from Enwonwu’s family. Bonhams says only three known versions of Anyanwu exist. One is at the National Museum in Lagos, while another was sold by Bonhams in 2017 and is now in a private collection.
The upcoming sale also connects with Enwonwu’s previous auction history. In 2017, another Anyanwu sold at Bonhams in London. Artcentron covered that sale in its report, Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu Tops Bonhams Modern Africa Art Sale.
Why the Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu Sculpture Is Significant
Enwonwu conceived Anyanwu as a powerful symbol of a new Nigeria. The sculpture draws on African cultural traditions while using a modern artistic language.
The United Nations’ account of Anyanwu identifies the work with the sun deity in the Igbo pantheon. The imagery is associated with renewal and the emergence of a new era.
The Ben Enwonwu Foundation also provides background on the artist’s approach and his combination of indigenous traditions with Western artistic techniques. That combination gives the Anyanwu sculpture significance beyond its size and auction estimate.
A Sculpture Linked to Nigeria’s Independence
Nigeria gained independence from Britain on October 1, 1960. It joined the United Nations on October 7 of that year. That period provides important context for Anyanwu. The sculpture became associated with Nigeria’s cultural identity during the country’s early years of independence.
In 1966, Nigeria presented a version of Anyanwu to the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The UN records that work as a bronze sculpture commissioned by the Nigerian government in the 1960s. The sculpture was unveiled at UN Headquarters on October 5, 1966, according to the United Nations Digital Library.
The presentation came six years after Nigeria gained independence. It demonstrated how Nigerian art could represent the country’s identity on the international stage.
Explore Artcentron’s coverage of Ben Enwonwu and his place in the African art market.
Only Three Known Versions
Rarity is central to the significance of the Ben Enwonwu sculpture heading to Bonhams. According to the auction house, only three known versions of Anyanwu exist. The version Bonhams is offering in London came from Enwonwu’s family and has not previously appeared at auction.
Another version is held by the National Museum in Lagos. The third known version was sold by Bonhams in 2017 before entering a private collection.
The 2017 sale provides an important point of comparison. Artcentron reported on that auction when another Anyanwu was offered at Bonhams. The return of the subject to the same auction house gives the current sale a notable connection to Enwonwu’s market history.
Bonhams Estimates the Sculpture at Up to £800,000
Bonhams has estimated the Anyanwu sculpture at £500,000 to £800,000. The estimate represents the auction house’s expected market range. It does not determine the final sale price.
Giles Peppiatt, Bonhams Group Head of Fine Art, UK, described Anyanwu as one of the most culturally significant works created by Enwonwu. The sculpture also stands out for its physical scale. At 2.2 meters tall, it is an imposing work with a gilt-bronze finish.
Other Highlights From the African Art Sale
Anyanwu is not the only major work in the Bonhams sale.
Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo’s One Man Band carries an estimate of £250,000 to £350,000. Grillo was a Nigerian artist who lived from 1934 to 2021.
Another Enwonwu work, Ikoyi from Victoria Island, dated 1986, has an estimate of £70,000 to £100,000.
The sale also includes works by South African artist Irma Stern and Nigerian artist Uzo Egonu.
Other notable estimates include:
- Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo, One Man Band—£250,000-£350,000
- Ben Enwonwu, Ikoyi from Victoria Island, 1986—£70,000-£100,000
- Irma Stern, Still Life by a Window—£70,000-£100,000
- Uzo Egonu, Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I—£60,000-£90,000
Artcentron has also covered Nigerian artists at Bonhams’ Africa Now auction, providing wider context on the presence of Nigerian artists in the international auction market.
Ben Enwonwu and Nigerian Modern Art
Enwonwu holds an important place in the history of Nigerian modern art. His work brought together African cultural traditions and modern artistic techniques. Anyanwu illustrates that approach. The sculpture combines references to African traditions with a modern interpretation of the human figure.
The work also demonstrates how art could carry cultural and national meaning during a period of major political change. Artcentron’s coverage of African artists in the global art market provides further context on the international development of the market for African art.
What Happens Next to the Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu Sculpture?
Bonhams will offer the Ben Enwonwu Anyanwu sculpture at its New Bond Street location in London on Wednesday, October 21.
The published estimate is £500,000 to £800,000. However, the final price will depend on bidding at the auction. No final result can be confirmed before the sale.
The auction will add another chapter to the market history of one of Enwonwu’s best-known sculptural subjects.
Why the Auction Matters
The importance of Anyanwu extends beyond its auction estimate. Its rarity makes it notable within the African art market. Its provenance connects the current work to Enwonwu’s family. Furthermore, its symbolism links the sculpture to Nigeria’s emergence as an independent nation.
Its United Nations history adds another dimension. Nigeria presented a version of Anyanwu to the UN in 1966, only six years after independence. The upcoming Bonhams sale therefore brings together art-market interest and an important chapter in Nigeria’s cultural history.
As international attention continues to focus on modern African art, Anyanwu offers a clear example of how artistic innovation can intersect with cultural identity and national history.