Bonhams Realizes £46,592 in Collected Visions Nigerian Art Auction

Bonhams concluded its auction of Collected Visions, a private Nigerian collection part II, in a sale that closed on 23 October 2026. According to the official results published by the auction house, the sale realized £46,592^[1] in total sales. Every single one of the offered works found a buyer, resulting in 35 of 35 lots sold and achieving a 100% sell-through rate^[1].

The auction presented a selection of modern and contemporary Nigerian art, spanning sculpture, painting, and drawing. The cataloguing details for these works provide specific physical descriptions and documentation. For instance, the sculpture by After Abayomi Barber (Nigerian, 1928-2021) titled The pen is mighter than the sword is executed in bronze resin on a wooden base. The cataloguing notes that the sculpture is composed in multiple pieces. Additionally, a study of this subject is documented in the bibliography by D. Igwezi, titled 'Abayomi, the life and sketches of Abayomi Barber'. This bibliographic reference provides a published record of the subject treated in the sculpture.

The paintings in the collection featured distinct physical markings and gallery provenance. Nyemike Onwuka (Nigerian, born 1972) was represented by the oil on canvas titled On her wedding day. The canvas is signed and dated by the artist. On the reverse, the work is inscribed with its title and carries a Sachs Gallery label, which documents its gallery history. Another painting in the sale was Chidi Kwubiri (Nigerian, born 1966) Warrior, an oil on canvas signed and dated by the artist. These signatures and inscriptions provide direct physical evidence of the artists' hand and the catalogued history of the paintings.

Works on paper in the collection included Ben Osawe (Nigerian, 1931-2007) Bust, which is a colored charcoal drawing on black paper. It is signed and dated by the artist, and bears a label on the reverse. The use of colored charcoal on black paper represents a specific medium within the artist's catalogued works in the sale, which also included other studies of the human form.

The recorded sale results document the final prices achieved for these works. The sculpture by After Abayomi Barber, The pen is mighter than the sword, sold for £6,240. The oil on canvas by Nyemike Onwuka, On her wedding day, sold for £4,160. The colored charcoal drawing by Ben Osawe, Bust, sold for £3,640. The oil on canvas by Chidi Kwubiri, Warrior, sold for £2,860, and the work by Ebenezer Akinola, The King's business is urgent, also sold for £2,860^[6]. Other works by Ben Osawe in the sale included Nude Study, which sold for £2,600^[7], and Nude Standing, which sold for £2,340^[8]. The painting by Suraj Adekola, Eyo Festival, sold for £2,080^[9].

The physical properties, dimensions, signatures, and labels documented in the auction catalogue provide a detailed record of the physical state and history of each piece. The collection's documentation includes specific gallery labels, such as the Sachs Gallery label on the reverse of the Onwuka canvas, and bibliographic references, such as the Igwezi publication referencing the Barber sculpture. These details form the primary documentation for the objects offered in this second part of the private Nigerian collection, establishing a clear record of inscriptions and materials for each of the thirty-five lots. The documentation of signatures, gallery labels, and bibliographic references provides a verified record for the works sold in this auction.