Collecting African Tribal Art : Losing Catlett (…again)

The highlight of a small but very educational estate sale in Washington DC (1/18-1/21/24) was a Catlett (Artist Print A/P) Lithograph – Survivor. If you take nothing else from this post remember that Catlett is absolutely loved in the District.

Survivor A/P, signed E. Catlett ’83

The Estate sale featured the collection of sisters Velma Laws-Clay and Vivian Laws Ritter and was administered by R. Bernard Estate Liquidators LLC.

Let me say that I have never seen a bigger estate sale flex than the Catlett flex that day. Let me set the stage…. day one, the prices are at super premium and most people are hoping for a couple more snow days and a drastic price drop. Listen to me!!!! It was cold (by DC standards) and people were rushing around picking up the names – Poncho, Charles Bibbs, Tina Allen (2 sculptures), and Catlett. There were Americana pieces (slave shackles and dolls) and yes there were several African Tribal Art pieces.

Bronze Head of Edo Queen Mother

I honestly really liked this piece… but for the facial scarification marks (and the super premium requirement). It’s hard to find this level of realism in the bronzes and I did feel pangs of standby remorse. This is what happens when one has been stuck in the ‘provenance zone’ for too long. At this point I was in sticker shock and finally settled for a couple of framed (unsigned) Catlett prints (“Cabeza” (Head 1967, 20 x 13) and “Rebozos” (Shawls 1968, 20 x 13)) and a signed Poncho print.

Cabeza – Elizabeth Catlett (1967)

Thankfully at the end of day I left feeling like I learned sooooo much (cue Simone Leigh)…. there’s a vicious (but kind) DC group out there that is educated, dedicated and passionate about African and diasporic culture.