Tribal art and “arts premiers”
Vocabulary and market.
The market’s vocabulary — “tribal art”, “arts premiers”, “classical African arts” — is convenient but imprecise. This page explains what these words cover and how the practice uses them.
Words inherited from a history
The expressions “Negro art”, “primitive art”, “tribal art” and then “arts premiers” each reflect an era and a gaze, often a European one. None is fully satisfactory: they group very different productions under a label that erases cultures, regions and hands.
An approach through precision
- Name the culture: Bangwa, Fang, Luba… rather than “African”.
- State the function: object of worship, justice, power, protection.
- Place the period: old, colonial period, second half of the twentieth century, contemporary.
- Distinguish local use from the market: a piece made for use is not a piece made for sale.
The tribal art market
The market comprises specialist galleries, auction houses, fairs and private collectors, mainly in Europe and North America. Values there depend on quality, rarity, provenance and fashion. Edith Mbella practised in it for more than twenty years, from Barcelona to Madrid. See valuation and brokerage.
To go further: the encyclopedia and Central African ritual art.
Frequently asked questions
Going further
Why does the practice use “tribal art”?
The term is current in the market and among collectors; the practice uses it to be understood, while specifying cultures, regions and functions.
Is “art premier” a neutral term?
No, it is debated: it can suggest a hierarchy. The practice prefers precision — culture, region, period — to general labels.
Do the arts of Oceania or the Americas fall within the practice?
The core of the expertise is Central Africa. Other areas may be mentioned for perspective, without committing the practice. The practice always states what falls within its field and what does not.
Next step
A question of vocabulary or value?
Describe your piece in a few lines and attach photographs: the reply is confidential.