Strauss & Co Auction of South African and International Art

Nov 10 2017 - Nov 13 2017 21 North St, Illovo

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Freda in Khaki Dress by Irma Stern at Strauss Co

Sea Amphora by Alexis Preller at Strauss Co

Perhaps not known to most people who have never attended an art auction, the preview days and walkabouts offered before a major art auction takes place are an excellent way of seeing extraordinary work that will soon disappear into private collections, of brushing up on your art knowledge and starting your own collection. This is especially the case with fine art auctioneer Strauss & Co’s November auction which will showcase for sale, an incredible collection of more than 300 works by many of South Africa's foremost historic and contemporary artists - the likes of Alexis Preller, Walter Battiss, JH Pierneef, William Kentridge, Irma Stern and Gerard Sekoto to mention a few.

While a number of the most outstanding 'blockbuster' paintings in Strauss & Co's auctions encourage furious bidding and sell for millions of Rands, a significant portion of the works on sale hang within the more 'accessibly' priced range, with exquisite artworks, both small and large, going under the hammer at reserve prices that sit as low as the R10k mark. For dedicated and aspiring art collectors this is a fantastic opportunity to grow a collection with some truly outstanding treasures on offer.

At the upcoming November auction much excitement surrounds a collection of works by one of South Africa's most celebrated artists Irma Stern, some of which have remained within the Stern family collection until now, including a 98cm-high oil painting Still Life with Poinsettas (R4-R6million) and a mesmerising portrait of one of Stern's foremost patrons Freda in Khaki Dress (R3million). Also sure to attract fierce bidding are significant works by Alexis Preller, once thought to have been lost, including the iconic 116cm-long oil on canvas Fleurs Du Mal (R4-R6million), which Preller painted in 1944 in direct response to his traumatic experiences in the African battlegrounds of World War II.

Among the rarest treasures going under the hammer are a pair of wood carved sculptures by Ernst Macoba, two iconic mid-century paintings by Gerard Sekoto and two by the landscape painter Moses Tladi (a contemporary of JH Pierneef) - all major black South African artists whose historic works rarely, if ever, come up for sale.

For this auction Strauss & Co have also chosen to highlight a diverse range of well-known and previously underappreciated artists from the KwaZulu Natal province, all of which have reserve prices under R100K. These include everything from huge post-war Modernist paintings to a tapestry produced at the famous Rorke's Drift Art and Craft Centre and a richly textured 159x178cm abstract painting by the Pietermaritzburg-based Sudanese artist Hussein Salim.

The live auction takes place on Mon Nov 12 at 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00. If you can't be there in person phone bids and written bids can be arranged beforehand via the auction house.

STRAUSS & CO AUCTION PREVIEW EXHIBITION

All 391 lots from the auction can be viewed at the pre-auction exhibition at The Wanderers Club from Fri Nov 10 to Sun Nov 12 (10:00-17:00). In conjunction with the preview exhibition there are also a number of free talks and walkabouts taking place.

Sat Nov 11 at 11:00 – Free walkabout of the exhibition led by Strauss & Co's art historians.
Sat Nov 11 from 14:00-16:00 – Take the kids along for a free family open day afternoon with a special interactive children's walkabout of the exhibition and snacks and treats for the little ones. To RSVP for the family day walkabout contact Kate Fellens at kate@straussart.co.za.
Sun Nov 12 at 11:00 – Free walkabout of the exhibition led by Strauss & Co's art historians.