The vanishing paths of African artefacts: Mapping the Parisian auction market for "primitive" objects in the interwar period

African artifacts, particularly those from the Royal Palaces of Abomey, held significant value during the 1930s financial crisis despite being generally undervalued in the interwar Parisian auction market. This study reconstructs the commercial paths of these objects by analyzing auction records and catalogues from Hôtel Drouot, identifying key actors and comparing prices with other 'primitive' artifacts. The research highlights how European collector preferences influenced market dynamics, with African items often fetching lower hammer prices—except for Abomey's royal objects, which served as stable investments.

Saint-Raymond, L., & Vaudry, E. (2020). The vanishing paths of African artefacts: Mapping the Parisian auction market for "primitive" objects in the interwar period. Journal for Art Market Studies, Vol. 4 No. 1 (2020). https://doi.org/10.23690/JAMS.V4I1.96