Buying a work of art in Congo, step by step

Write to the creator

Most painters, sculptors, jewelers and fashion designers in Congo sell their own work. You write to the workshop, you discuss, you buy. The money goes entirely to the person who made the piece, with no middleman.

In return, no one guarantees anything on your behalf. It is up to you to ask the right questions from the first message.

The five questions to ask

Ask if the piece is unique, a limited series or a reproduction. State the exact dimensions, height by width. Ask about the materials and the technique. Check if the work is signed, and where. Finally, ask for recent photographs from several angles, including one with an everyday object next to it for scale.

A serious creator answers without hesitation. A vague answer about dimensions or technique is a warning sign.

Recognizing an original piece

On a painting, the texture is visible. The ridges of the brush or palette knife, the edges of the canvas, the weave of the support. A printed reproduction is perfectly smooth. Ask for a photo in raking light, from the side. The relief shows up at once.

On a wood sculpture, the tool marks and the irregularities of the wood grain tell the story of the work. Two pieces from the same series are never identical.

On a textile, ask the question “who made it and how” rather than “is it authentic.” A factory-printed fabric, hand-sewn by a fashion designer, remains a creation by that designer.

Agree on the price and the deadline

Agree on everything in writing. The price, the exact piece, the completion date, the delivery method. Keep a record of every exchange. This is your only protection, since no middleman can arbitrate.

Never pay the full amount before you have seen photographs of the finished piece. And agree in advance who pays for shipping.

Paying from a distance

Mobile money is the most common method in Congo. Creators who sell abroad generally use an international transfer service. Ask about their usual method and follow their instructions, while keeping a written record.

Shipping the work

Shipping is the most underestimated part. A canvas travels rolled in a tube, without its frame, and is restretched on arrival. This is cheaper and safer. A sculpture requires serious packaging and costs by weight.

Ask for the weight and dimensions before you decide, not after. Customs duties may apply when entering certain countries. Check with your own customs administration before buying. The rules vary and change.

What Art du Congo does

We maintain the directory. One page per creator, their work, their city, and how to contact them. We do not sell anything on their behalf. We take no commission. We are not party to any transaction. You deal directly with the creator, on their terms.