From Mali to Quai Branly, the millions of the Dogon jackpot

[ in French ] Just before the major exhibition "Dakar-Djibouti, counter-investigations", scheduled for 2025 at the Musée du quai Branly-Jacques Chirac, in France, Sotheby's is selling part of the collection of the art dealer Hélène The Wolf. A collection built up between the end of the colonial era and the beginning of Mali's independence.

Since the Dakar-Djibouti expedition led by the French ethnologist Marcel Griaule in the 1930s, the Dogon country has never ceased to be the object of avid desire. Extraordinary creations sometimes stolen, sometimes negotiated to be brought back and sold in the West.

A merchant particularly distinguished herself in this trade: Hélène Leloup. This gallery owner, specialist in Dogon arts, administrator of the Société des amis du quai Branly, adviser to wealthy collectors and auction houses alike has, over the years, achieved marvelous capital gains, skilfully playing on the evolution of a market she helped create.

With a link to Sotheby’s.