Lot 1: Christopher Chukwunenye Ibeto (Nigerian, 1912-1995) The Thief

The Thief
bears inscription 'The Thief' and date '1935' verso
watercolour
38 x 28cm (14 15/16 x 11in).

Provenance:
John Alexander Wilson, Mayor of Knysna 1939-45, RSA;
Thence by descent to J. A. Wilson grandson;
A private collection.

J. A. Wilson was friend of Kenneth C. Murray, a colonial officer and art teacher in Nigeria. Murray encouraged a number of students and took a selection for exhibition at the Zwemmer Gallery. London in 1937. He also founded the Nigerian Museum in 1957.

We are grateful to Professor Simon Ottenberg at the University of Washington for his assistance with the cataloguing of this work.