Joburg auctions don’t get more colourful or eclectic than Russell Kaplan Auctioneers' annual Very Merry Wunderkammer auction – a treasure trove of fine art, vintage furniture, collectable ceramics, jewellery, fashion, and all manner of quirky finds, packed into a week of live online bidding. This seasonal sale takes place from Tue, Nov 18 – Sun, Nov 30, 2025 and is set to be another bumper edition, with close to 8,000 lots. Register, browse, and bid at rkauctioneers.co.za.
With thousands of pieces up for grabs – many with starting bids of just a few hundred rands – there’s something for every kind of collector. After an unusual talking point for your home? You’ll be spoilt for choice. Hunting a landmark piece? Expect fierce bidding and serious price tags. What ties it all together is the magic of the Wunderkammer – a "cabinet of curiosities" that has inspired collectors for centuries and celebrates the joy of discovering the rare and the remarkable.Visit Russell Kaplan's new showroom to see what's on offer
If you're in or around Joburg, you can see the items in person at Russell Kaplan's showroom before placing your bids. For anyone who loves being surrounded by beautiful objects with stories to tell, it's a treat. Kaplan and his team curate each piece with care, and the result feels less like a traditional auction house and more like stepping into the elegant apartment of a grand Parisian dame with a penchant for the unusual.
Formerly located on the lower level of the Bram Fischer Centre, the new and improved Ferndale showroom spans two beautifully curated storeys. It’s a wonder to take in, whether you're a serious collector or just browsing for inspiration. One standout feature of the new space is the dedicated gallery section, which gives the artworks room to shine.
VIEWING TIMES
Russell Kaplan's showroom is open for daytime viewings from Tue, Nov 18 – Fri, Nov 21, 2025 from 09:30 – 16:30 and on Sat, Nov 22, 2025 from 09:30 – 13:00.
Evening viewings, with bubbly served and jazz music from 17:30 onwards, are on Tue, Nov 18, 2025 and Wed, Nov 19, 2025 from 16:30 – 20:00.
256 Oak Avenue, Corner Republic Rd, Ferndale, Randburg
Explore Russell Kaplan's Very Merry Wunderkammer auction and place your bids online
We recommend registering on the site or downloading the app (head to your app store, Android or iOS) and then setting some time aside to see what captures your imagination. Once you have an eye on things you like and have made your list of favourites, you can start placing your pre-bids. On the day of the auction, if somebody bids above your reserve when your lot comes up, you'll be invited to place another bid online and join in the thrill of the chase!
The different auction sessions are divided by theme, and the auction itself will be streamed live via the bidlive.rkauctioneers.co.za website, with approximately 50 to 70 lots going under the hammer each hour. Bidding runs from Thu, Nov 20 – Sun, Nov 30, 2025. Here's the session info:
SESSION 1
Antique Painting and Prints, Maps, Botanical Art, and Traditional European Art
Thu, Nov 20: 09:00 – 18:00
SESSION 2
Contemporary Decorative Art
Fri, Nov 2: 09:00 – 18:00
SESSION 3
Objects de Vertu, Silver, Glassware, Porcelain, and Collectables
Sat, Nov 22: 09:00 – 18:30
SESSION 4
Objects de Vertu, Silver, Glassware, Porcelain, and Collectables
Sun, Nov 23: 08:00 – 19:00
SESSION 5
Homeware and Decor
Mon, Nov 24: 09:00 – 17:00
SESSION 6
Silver, Collectable and Costume Jewellery
Tue, Nov 25: 09:00 – 14:00
SESSION 7
Fine Gold, Antique and Collectable Jewellery
Tue, Nov 25: 14:00 – 19:00
SESSION 8
Fine and Luxury Watches and Pens
Wed, Nov 26: 09:00 – 14:00
SESSION 9
Designer Handbags & Fashion
Wed, Nov 26: 15:00 – 20:00
SESSION 10
Books
Thu, Nov 27: 09:00 – 14:00
SESSION 11
Carpets, Tapestries and Textiles
Thu, Nov 27: 14:00 – 17:00
SESSION 12
Interior Design and Furniture
Fri, Nov 28: 09:00 – 18:00
SESSION 13
Classical African and Asian Art and Ceramics
Sat, Nov 29: 09:00 – 13:00
SESSION 14
Modern and Postmodern Paintings, Drawings, Prints and Sculpture
Sat, Nov 29: 13:00 – 17:00
SESSION 15
Antique, Mid-Century, and Designer Furniture
Sun, Nov 30: 07:00 – 21:30
