A Baule Mask

M. Cabinet, Bouaké, in a restaurant.

In an interview with his wife, we got the written information about the Western Art dealer Mr. Cabinet - similar to Amadou Bouaflé one of the most important African Art dealers on the Ivory Coast, who had many contacts with well-known European Tribalart dealers. The names are written a little bit "outside of reality", which is typical of the oral - not written - tradition in Africa, but it is not difficult to see which famous French, Italian and German Art dealers were among M. Cabinet's customers. "Mr Cabinet worked with Elia first and it was Elia who brought him to Germany. ..he had contact with Malachine, Main Duré, Patrick Gerrare, Alain Duffu and Antoine Ferrari." Informant his wife, Bouaké July 2020.

Years after his death, it is difficult to reconstruct the biography of a well-known African art dealer. But I think it will be an interesting aspect to learn more information about the tribal traffic in Africa and the most important people who were the most important suppliers to the Western trade in Africa in the 20th century. It was mostly very simple people who approached the Western traders with great openness and for whom the Western Art market was mostly incomprehensible. WJ.

Tribal Art Traffic, a Chronical of taste, Trade and Desire in Colonial and Post-Colonial Times, by Raymond Corbey, 2000.

700 - 800,- Euro

Height: 32 cm
Weight: 1 kg