Yaka head-rest
Democratic Republic of Congo ©Christie’s Images Ltd, 2018
Treasures from The Congo such as a beautiful Yaka head rest will come up at Christie’s Paris on October 30. The 30 works from the collection formed by wealthy Belgian industrialist and art collector Adolphe Stoclet- whose interests included mines in the Belgian Congo – in the opening decades of the 20th century have passed by descent in his family and have not been on the open market. The Yaka head rest is one of the best of its kind to remain in private hands and is estimated at 300,000-500,000. Also from the Republic of Congo is an important Luba-Shankadi stool (300,000-500,000) and a Kifwebe mask from the Songye (200,000-400,000). There are ten Congolese works of art in ivory including a Yombe statue and a Boa spoon.
The Stoclet Palace in Brussels is considered the masterpiece of pioneering Viennese architect Josef Hoffman. Built between 1905-1911 and considered one of the most refined and luxurious private houses of the 20th century it had a dedicated Salon Africain which contained the 30 pieces to come to auction. This was the first residential project of the Wiener Werkstatte co-founded by Hoffman in 1903 and its interior includes mosaic friezes designed by Gustav Klimt and work by Koloman Moser and Franz Metzner. Though not open to the public the building became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
