Catch the pre-sale exhibition at Strauss & Co's Houghton showroom until Tue, Jul 22. Bidding for two of the collections, Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives and High Note, takes place at 14:00 and 19:00 on Tue, Jul 22. Bids close for the online auction IMPR: Etchings and Linocuts by JH Pierneef at 14:00 on Mon, Jul 28.
An evening at Pierneef's Kraal in Pretoria
Strauss & Co's evening at Pierneef's Kraal in Pretoria on Thu, Jul 17 at 17:30 promises to bring a unique viewing experience, and is worth it just to visit what was once JH Pierneef's home. They'll host drinks and a virtual walkabout of all the works on display with Strauss & Co's Senior Art Specialist, Dr Alastair Meredith. You can RSVP for the event here.Pre-auction walkabouts at Strauss & Co in Houghton
The free, expert-led walkabouts take place on Sat, Jul 19 at 12:00 (RSVP here) and Sun, Jul 20 at 12:00 (RSVP here). Alternatively, you can head to Strauss & Co's viewing room (89 Central Street, Houghton Estate) Mon – Fri from 09:00 –16:00 to see the works.
High Note
Mimi Coertse was best known as an operatic talent but she also amassed a stunning selection of works from her contemporaries in the visual arts. Taking the leading place from her collection is Maud Sumner’s Nude Figure and a Still Life with Flowers, among works by Walter Battiss, Esias Bosch, Christo Coetzee, Maurice van Essche, Cecil Higgs, and Irma Stern. Stern is of particular note as there is currently a museum solo of her works at Berlin’s Brücke Museum, but a trip to Strauss & Co in Houghton is a far more affordable option to view her work.
The sale highlights how Strauss & Co's finger is on the pulse of contemporary art in South Africa. Alongside Lady Skollie, the 2022 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner, are artists such as Deborah Bell, Dylan Lewis, Nelson Makamo, and Bambo Sibiya. For a full sense of what is on offer, you can view the e-catalogue here.
Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives
In 2020 Strauss & Co began to place a strong focus on ceramics, and their auctions have highlighted the exceptional work by South African ceramic artists and studios such as Ardmore and Kalahari Studio. Their Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives sale brings works by leading clay artists and serves as an excellent survey of the form in South Africa. While there are a number of more traditional ceramics on display, we love the more playful and bold works on display such as Hylton Nel's Green Cat with Kitten and Khoza and Ntshalintshali's Vase with Sable and Parrot Decoration.
With ceramics from Juliet Armstrong, Astrid Dahl, Andile Dyalvane, Madoda Fani, Katherine Glenday, Noria Mabasa, Dinah Molefe, Jabulile Nala, and Andrew Walford, you'll want to see the full catalogue here.
IMPR: Etchings and Linocuts by JH Pierneef
The third of Strauss & Co's sales focuses on renowned artist JH Pierneef. Pierneef's paintings have become iconographic for South Africa's arid interiors, but he was also a master printmaker. For IMPR: Etchings and Linocuts by JH Pierneef, Strauss & Co highlight this aspect of his practice bringing a host of his detailed yet simple linocuts and etchings. The prints capture the same atmospheres as Pierneef's paintings, but the limited nature of the medium highlights Pierneef's attunement to the light and form of the South African landscape. See the catologue here.
Schedule at a glance
Live auctions: Tue, Jul 22 at 14:00 and 19:00Online auction: Closing Mon, Jul 28 from 14:00
Walkabouts: Sat, Jul 19 and Sun, Jul 20 at 11:00
Evening at Pierneef's Kraal: Thu, Jul 17 at 17:30
All works are available for viewing at Strauss & Co’s viewing room from Mon, Jul 7. The sales for Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives and High Note take place at 14:00 and 19:00 on Tue, Jul 22, while bids close for the online auction IMPR at 14:00 on Mon, Jul 28.
