A dozen rare and exceptional paintings and works on paper by modernist master, Ethiopian-Armenian artist Alexander "Skunder" Boghossian (1937-2003) were auctioned off at Bonhams Modern & Contemporary African Art sale in New York on May 4.

The works, all acquired directly from the artist's estate, were executed from the 1960s through the 90s, fetching almost $200,000.

In particular, "The Jugglers" was sold for $62,812, "Juju's Wedding Feast" for $50,312, "Juju Celebrates" for $37,812, "The Ceremony" for $12,750, "The Basement Wall" for $8,925, "Crimson Menagerie" for $4,080, "Festivity Series I" (on paper) for $2,295, "Les fleurs du mal" for $2,805, "In the Beast's Belly" for $3,570, "Jungle Boogie" for $4,462, "Shrouded Lady" for $1,785, and "Two Figures Seen Through an Archway" for $8,287.

The Jugglers

Boghossian's status as a Modernist pioneer was reinforced when he became the first contemporary Ethiopian artist to have works purchased by the Musée d'Art Moderne in Paris (1963) and the Museum of Modern Art in New York (1965).