A superb figure carved by Angola's Chokwe people is set to see the highest bids in Bonhams' African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art auction in New York on May 15.
 The Chokwe people became one of the wealthiest in Angola due to successful trading and abundant resources |
The finely sculpted figure of a woman will sell for $80,000-120,000, with the attention to detail paid by its creators suggesting it was used for an important royal function. The Chokwe people are an ethnic group from central Africa, who were originally part of the great Lunda empire.
Tribal weaponry also plays an important role in the sale, with a barbed spear from the Hawaiian Islands and a rare Maori hand club sharing an estimate of $40,000-60,000.
Heritage Auctions will present its own auction of pre-Columbian and tribal art on May 10, with a gold pendant from the Quimbaya civilisation expected to lead.
