Front and side views of Ben Enwonwu sculpture, Anyanwu (219 x 77 x 30 cm). The rare gilt-bronze work achieved a record-breaking £602,100 at Bonhams.
A landmark Ben Enwonwu sculpture led Bonhams to a £3.35 million African art triumph, headlining an auction that also set new records for Uzo Egonu, Yusuf Grillo, and Sam Ntiro.
BY KAZEEM ADELEKE, ARTCENTRON
Ben Enwonwu Sculpture Makes Auction History
A monumental gilt-bronze sculpture by Nigerian modernist artist Ben Enwonwu has sold for £602,100 at Bonhams in London. The sale has established a brilliant new auction record for the artist’s sculptural catalog. The work, titled Anyanwu, was the crowning leading lot at Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary African Art sale, hosted at the auction house’s historic New Bond Street premises. According to Bonhams, the striking sculpture appeared at a public auction for the very first time.
Overall, the high-profile sale generated £3,347,050 and established seven distinct auction records. They include new market highs for works by fellow African modernists. They include Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo, Uzo Egonu, and Sam Joseph Ntiro.
The Magnificent Return of Ben Enwonwu’s Anyanwu
Standing an impressive 2.2 meters tall, Anyanwu is a large-scale gilt-bronze masterpiece by Enwonwu (1917–1994). The artist is widely celebrated as one of Nigeria’s and Africa’s most prominent modern artists. Capturing the Igbo mythological figure and earth goddess Ani, the piece embodies the synthesis of traditional African heritage and Western modernist training championed by pioneers of that era.
Bonhams noted that only two other versions of this iconic sculpture were known to exist at the time of the sale. One resides in the permanent collection of the National Museum in Lagos, while another version was previously handled by Bonhams.
The £602,100 result marks a watershed milestone for Enwonwu’s sculptural portfolio. Its pristine market debut, monumental scale, and extreme rarity significantly distinguished it among the catalog offerings.
Giles Peppiatt, Bonhams’ group head of fine art in the UK, highlighted the results of the sale. He noted that the seven new records reflect the enduring cultural importance and growing institutional appreciation for Enwonwu’s creations. This milestone certainly proves there is a robust collector appetite for rare, museum-grade pieces. However, market analysts advise caution. They emphasize that individual records stem from specific work-by-work dynamics rather than an overnight blanket shift across the broader African art sector.
Other African Modern Masters Achieve Record Heights
The auction’s momentum extended well beyond the headliner, with several historical lots sparking intense bidding wars and resetting personal benchmarks.
Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo
One Man Band by celebrated Nigerian artist Yusuf Adebayo Cameron Grillo (1934–2021) commanded £461,300, shattering the previous benchmark for the artist’s work.
Uzo Egonu
Will Knowledge Safeguard Freedom I, by Nigerian-born visionary Uzo Egonu (1931–1996), realized £198,900. The auction price cements a new auction ceiling for the artist’s complex, narrative-driven compositions.
Sam Joseph Ntiro
At the Pool, influential Tanzanian artist Sam Joseph Ntiro (1923–1993) achieved £51,700. The sale establishes a fresh high-water mark for the artist’s career.
Irma Stern
Proving the continued strength of cross-continental blue-chip modernism is Still Life a Window. By renowned South African artist Irma Stern (1894–1966), the painting brought in a solid £90,100.
Market Implications for Modern and Contemporary African Art
By uniting masterpieces from Nigeria, Tanzania, and South Africa, the Bonhams showcase reinforced the geographic and stylistic breadth of the African art market.
While the record prices set individual benchmarks for Enwonwu, Grillo, Egonu, and Ntiro, tracking long-term capital trajectory requires continuous observation of subsequent auction cycles and macroeconomic factors. For serious collectors, curators, and market researchers, these figures supply invaluable reference points. Ultimately, a piece’s fine provenance, exceptional condition, exhibition history, and intrinsic cultural weight remain the prime drivers behind its enduring market
Bonhams Sale Summarized: A £3.35 Million Triumph
Bonhams’ Modern and Contemporary African Art auction closed with a stellar total of £3,347,050. Enwonwu’s Anyanwu anchored the event as the highest-priced lot. It was followed closely by Grillo’s One Man Band at £461,300 and Egonu’s record-setting canvas at £198,900. As global interest deepens, upcoming sales will reveal how these benchmark figures shape future valuations across the continent’s vibrant art ecosystem.
