Our story.
100 years of passion
For more than 100 years we have been presenting fine and authentic top pieces of African art. The historical basis of our collection was acquired directly in Africa or purchased from European collections between 1912 and the 1950s - the oldest pieces date from the mid-17th century.
Learn a little about the extraordinary people who accomplished this great feat.
1912
JULIUS KONIETZKO
The gallery origins date back to 1912, when the explorer Julius Konietzko wanted to give a professional setting to his trading business with German ethnographic museums: the gallery "Julius Konietzko Ethnographica" was born. Julius and his wife Lore made the company well known internationally.
This photo shows Julius in Sudan, 1913.
1934
LORE KEGEL
From 1934 the former Lore Konietzko overtook the business with her own company "Lore Kegel Exotische Kunst". Personalities such as the painters Karl Schmitt Rottluff, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Emil Nolde, Carl-Otto Czeschka and the sculptor Friedrich Wield (a student of Auguste Rodin) became customers and friends.
This foto shows Lore with a Pende mask in front of a Gabon door, collected by Hans Himmelheber in 1931, published in “Negerkunst & Negerkünstler”.
In addition leading tribal art dealers such as Charles Ratton, Jacob Aalderink, Matthias L. J. LeMaire belonged to this circle and of course the German ethnologist Hans Himmelheber.
1957
Boris Kegel-Konietzko
In 1957, Lore's and Julius' son Boris Kegel-Konietzko joined the company before he overtook it in 1964. He successfully ran the business together with his wife Ingeborg for many decades. The gallery was a regular exhibitor at the major German art fairs, and from Hamburg it was increasingly doing business with museums, dealers and collectors outside Europe.
This photo shows young Boris in the early 1950s matching shipping documents with objects Lore had acquired in Africa and sent to Hamburg. A little later he himself went to the black continent for almost 7 years and enriched the collection of our gallery with many important objects.
Today
A new chapter has begun in 2020. After Boris' death, Alex Dorn, a long-time confidant, took over the company. The historic premises in Hamburg-Blankenese shine in new splendor and provide the perfect setting for the unveiling of hidden treasures.
“We are looking forward to you!”
Alex Dorn
