Fred Hanley UK Collector

Fred Hanley, now retired, devoted much of his career to the field of telecommunications, initially working as an engineer across various regions of the world, including South and Central America. Later, he founded a software company specializing in news management solutions for global news agencies, thereby contributing significantly to the evolution of media technology.

Over thirty years ago, Hanley embarked on his journey as a collector of Ibeji figures and other African tribal artifacts. His earliest acquisitions were sourced primarily from London’s Portobello Market, through renowned dealers such as Marvin Chasin and Maurice Joy. At that time, it was still possible to acquire exceptional pieces for a few hundred pounds.

His passion for African tribal art eventually led him to sell parts of his collection to finance his ongoing acquisitions. In 2022, however, a serious health issue prompted him to make the difficult decision to part with his entire collection, though he retained a few pieces acquired later.

Throughout his years as a collector, Hanley handled hundreds of Ibeji figures, including numerous masterpieces he sometimes regrets having sold. Today, the market for fine, authentic pieces has become highly competitive, making it increasingly challenging to obtain quality artifacts at reasonable prices—a reality well understood by connoisseurs of African art.

Under some of the Hanley's Ibeji :