Ten questions to ask when seeking the authenticity
and value of a tribal artifact:

#1
Inspect the piece closely.
Is the carving good?
Does the patina show signs of wear
where it should? Is the style consistent
with museum pieces from the same tribe?

#2
Trace its ethnic provenance.
Works of some tribes attract higher
prices than that of others.
For example, Luba work seems
to have higher value than Lobi
work. This can change over time.
It pays to do your own research.

#3
What is its 'pedigree'?
A piece from an established collector
from earlier years generally has more
“authenticity” and more value than one
to come out the the bush recently.
Old material simply is almost never
available in Africa today. If the item
is published in a book, its value can
increase. If it only looks like one
published in a book, chances are it
is a copy made by someone trying
to capitalize on the appearance.

#4
Is it fashionable?
Decorators and art collectors often
will place a high value on a piece
because it appeals to the current
taste in aesthetics and decor.

#5
Has it been restored or repaired?
As a rule of thumb, restoration can
detract from the value of a piece.
If it has been repaired, it should be
so noted and the price should reflect
that status. Native repairs, however,
can add authenticity and charm to
a piece if not increase the value.

#6
Rarity.
Is the piece unusual? A genre that is
hard to find in its authentic condition
can have outstanding value. As with
all else, supply and demand affect price.

#7
What is the size?
Is it in keeping with the traditional
size and use of similar kinds of pieces?
A bigger piece can be more costly,
given the same quality.

#8
What is the auction market doing to
prices of similar objects and/or work
from the same tribe? A record price
of a piece at auction can drive up
the perceived value of similar work
and objects from the same tribe.

#9
Do you like it?
A major factor in the value of a piece
is the aesthetic pleasure it gives you,
the buyer. If you like the object, and it
turns out to be less valuable than you
expected, you will, at least, not be
in the position of having to look every
day at something you don't like. It is
best not to buy for "investment" only.

#10
Do you know and trust the seller?
A reputable dealer or collector will
stand behind his or her items. With
reputations to maintain, they are not
going to stay in business long if they
try to cheat their customers. They may
misrepresent an item by mistake -
perhaps because it was misrepresented
to them. They are human. But reputable
seller will take the item back and return
your purchase price. That is your best
assurance of value.

We are indebted to David Norden, proprietor of
the African Art Shop in Antwerp, Belgium who has
graciously allowed us to combine his thoughts
on this subject with our own. While the focus
of these questions is on African Tribal art, the
general principles apply to all ethnographic art.