非洲艺术

Arts d'Afrique No. 17 t/m 40 – Raoul Lehuard

Exclusive Set of 3 Luxury Hardcover Bundles in Absolute Mint-condition
This lot represents a rare opportunity for the serious collector or bibliophile of African art: an impeccable run of the influential magazine Arts d'Afrique (later continued as Art d'Afrique Noire), compiled and published by the esteemed expert Raoul Lehuard.

Complete run from no. 17 to no. 40.
Edition: Professionally and luxuriously bound in three uniform black volumes:
Bundle I: numbers 17–24 (1976–1977)
Bundle II: numbers 25–32 (1978–1979)
Bundle III: numbers 33–40 (1980–1981)
provenance: From the private library of dr. T. Moody. The volumes have been stored with utmost care and contain no stamps, ex-libris, or signatures.
Condition report: Museums-grade & Unused
This set is in a state rarely seen on the market:
Unread & Unopened: The pages are still tightly pressed together, a direct result of the professional cutting procedure during binding. The books have never been opened since (deadstock).
Cutwork: The blocks are tightly and straight cut, which emphasizes the immaculate condition of the paper.
Patina: Part 1 shows a light, natural yellowing on the outer edge of the paper block (likely inherent to the publisher's paper batch). Parts 2 and 3 are still completely white. The gold stamping on the spines of parts 1 and 2 shows slight fading, as is often seen with this specific issue.

Content & Specialist Value
Under the editorship of Raoul Lehuard, Arts d'Afrique grew into an indispensable reference for African art history. Lehuard was known for his rigorous scholarly approach and his deep knowledge of Congolese art (including the Bakongo).

These issues contain crucial contributions, field research and analyses from:
Specialist knowledge: In-depth articles on iconography, authenticity and provenance.

Collector network: Contributions and reviews of objects from the collections of the most renowned collectors and dealers of that era.
Images: High-quality documentation of objects that have since become part of important museum collections worldwide.

In this specific series (no. 17–40) you will find fundamental articles by, among others:
• Marie-Louise Bastin: The undisputed authority on Tshokwe art. In these issues (including no. 19) she published essential studies on Tshokwe sculpture styles.
• Joseph-Aurélien Cornet: Known for his deep knowledge of art from Zaire (now DRC). He contributed on the Ndengese statues (no. 17), still regarded as standard works.
• William Fagg: The legendary curator of the British Museum, whose expertise on Nigerian art (including Yoruba and Benin) frequently appears through cross-references and reviews in these issues.
• François Neyt: In this period, he published groundbreaking studies on Igbo elephant masks and statuary (no. 32), linking art-historical analysis to sociological context.
• Zdenka Volavka: Her specialist contributions on the Kongo culture, such as her work on the Ndunga (no. 17), provide unique insights into the ritual functions of masks and dance.
Focus on Private Collections:
Lehuard had exclusive access to collections that set the standard at the time. In these volumes, important pieces are documented from the collections of:
• Jean-Claude Meinioux: whose collection is extensively discussed in issue 17.
• Rasmussen: The sale of this famous Me Libert collection is documented in issue 32.
• Pierre and Edouard Loeb: Their influential view on African art is highlighted in this series, which forges a direct link to Parisian avant-garde and the trade in 'Arts Premiers'.

This set is more than a collection of articles; it is an archive of authenticity. Many of the objects depicted in these issues were later included in the catalogues of top museums such as Quai Branly or the Metropolitan Museum of Art. For the collector, these volumes provide the necessary provenance and historical context for objects from the same regions or stylistic periods.

Information for the bidder
Additional lots: Watch the auction for more works by Raoul Lehuard.

Combined shipping: Although standard shipping is separate, combined insured shipping is possible when purchasing the lots Arts d'Afrique 1-16 or the extended series 41-132 (+ 3 indexes). I will optimize shipping costs based on total weight (up to 10 to 23 kg) and insured value.

A unique opportunity to acquire a time capsule of African art historical knowledge in pristine condition.

RRP $5,900 complete set from 1 to 132 in good condition (see last photo).

The 2 photographs per issue have been taken with utmost care (significantly less than 90°) to avoid stressing the spine condition. Therefore, the resulting content photographs are limited.

Note, the last photo relates to the lot n state in which numbers 1-16 are located!

Possible pick-up in The Hague, Benoordehout, 2596GN.