SOUTH AFRICAN ART AUCTIONS
JULY 09 | BUSINESS ART
Strauss & Co
Upcoming South African art auctions
Obituary
South Africa’s new dynamic Art Auction House opens its doors at the prestigious The Oval, in Newlands, Cape Town
07
Fred Schimmel
On SWELCO Auction: Cecil Edwin Frans Skotnes, (South African 1926-2009) a carved, incised and painted wood panel of 122 by 120 cm (estimate R300 000 - 500 000)
16 July 2009 – Cape Town, 10 am Ashbey’s Galleries cc Decorative & Fine Art Auction 43 Church Street Cape Town
Cape Town office
Johannesburg office
Strauss & Co’s Cape Town operations were launched in February of this year in the Dolphin Room of the Cape Castle, attended by the crème of the social scene who previewed works from the inaugural Johannesburg auction before spilling over into the courtyard around the fountain for summer evening cocktails. Strauss are now pleased to introduce their elegant new premises at the Oval in Newlands, the counterpart to their Houghton office in Johannesburg.
Inspired by the marked move of International auction houses away from panelled and plush Victorian design as a synonym for luxury, Strauss’ Mary Jane Darroll has achieved a gallery-style mini-
malism that places the artwork centre stage with optimal hanging and lighting consideration.
Furniture, Silver and Ceramics which takes place on October 8th this year at the Vineyard Hotel.
Prime locations and a sophisticated contemporary ambience are one expression of Strauss & Co’s dedication to state-of-theart presentation, yet beyond the double-glazed doors celebrating South Africa’s greatest artists, design becomes secondary to the company’s guiding principles of world class expertise, efficiency and professionalism.
The sale features highlights by leading South African artists including Irma Stern, Jean Welz, Maud Sumner, Gregoire Boonzaier, Frans Oerder and Maggie Laubser, Important Cape Furniture Silver and Ceramics and The Collection of the Late Leslie Milner.
Following the success of the inaugural Johannesburg auction in March, Strauss are currently preparing their first Cape Town auction of Important Paintings,
Johannesburg 89 Central Street, Houghton Tel: 011 728 8246 Cape Town Colinton House, First Floor, The Oval, 1 Oakdale Road, Newlands Tel: 087 806 8780
By Annemi Conradie (art historian & writer) and SMAC Art Gallery
Gay Youngleson and Giulio Bertran
Baylon Sandri, Cristo Wiese, Caro Wiese, Stephan Welz, Ivan Fallon
Angela Zehnder, Joseph Wolpe, Bernard Milner, Dorothy Milner
Caro Wiese, Mariane Louw, Liz Fallon
Important Cape Art Collection to be auctioned
Strauss & Co Inaugural Auction in Cape Town Thursday 8 October 2009
Schimmel’s art consists of wide and varied bodies of work, which have rather organically branched over categories of medium and style over the decades. Like the jazz music, beat poetry and science fiction he so enjoyed, his creative output has shunned conventions and boundaries. Loathe to repetition and adamant about the importance of continuous experimentation, he has refused to be bound by the limits and pressures of individual or ‘signature’ style, freely jumping between different media and ‘styles’. He had no formal art training, and perhaps this has facilitated his liberal and playful creative investigations. His output thus includes seemingly disparate motifs and media: playful and satirical ‘cartoons’; large canvasses soaked and stained with monochromatic pigments; tightly controlled hardedge works with carefully polished surfaces; poignant figurative studies that have been scratched and hacked into board; energetic arabesques in ink and paint; experimental prints on homemade paper.
Auction of the late Leslie Milner Art Collection
Strauss & Co is proud to announce the sale of Fine South African Paintings and Watercolours from the Collection of the Late Leslie Milner to be sold in Cape Town on 8 October 2009 as part o f their inaugural auction. Fresh to market, the forty-two works assembled predominantly in the 50s and 60s are emblematic of the Cape Art scene of the time. Described by Managing Director Stephan Welz as a “collection formed with great passion”, the array of exceptional works features such gems as Irma Stern’s Still life with Tiger Lilies and Melon, 1944 (estimate R1 200 000 - 1 600 000), Maggie Laubser’s Seascape with boats, house, and seated woman holding a baby, dated 1926 (estimate R400 000-600 000), Maud Sumner’s Still life with Flowers and Candle, (R180 000 -200 000) and May Hillhouse’s Still Life with Teapot and Flowers 1954 (R60 000 - 90 000). Other artists include among others Maurice van Essche, Gerard Sekoto and Paul du Toit.
Leslie Milner, known as ‘Les’, was born in Lithuania in 1927 and moved to South Africa with his family at the age of six. After matriculating in 1948, he joined ‘Milly’s, the family business and
began a career defined by industry and innovation. Over the course of the next decades, he travelled extensively, pioneering many areas of South African foods, including frozen pastries, a frozen food plant, a pickled cucumber factory, as well as South Africa’s first smoked salmon factory which, in addition to supplying the local market, exported to Germany, Australia and Canada under the name of “King Solomon”. Following the sale of the ‘Milly’s’ chain in 1984, he relocated to Johannesburg. Five years later, Leslie and his wife Dorothy purchased a small factory called New York Bagels in London’s Kentish Town and grew it into a leading producer of fresh and frozen bagels. This became the namesake for the landmark deli and bakery in Sea Point, once the location of an old Milly’s store, which they opened upon their return to South Africa. Leslie Milner’s interest in art was awakened back in the 1950s, when he met Solly Disner, a sculptor and poet of Polish origin who lived above his small factory in Hatfield Street. Disner was also an art dealer, and through him, Leslie was introduced to the leading Cape artists of the time. He would
sometimes accept art in lieu of rent and purchased some of his finest paintings from Solly, including important works by Maggie Laubser, Paul du Toit and Maurice van Essche, but his first acquisition was notably Irma Stern’s Still life with Tiger Lilies and Melon, 1944. His wife Dot recalls that she was furious when he brought the painting home, because they still had no curtains or chairs. He formed enduring ties in the art world, including with Gerard Sekoto whom he often visited with Dot even after he moved to Paris. Les never speculated in art. He had good instincts and made choices motivated not by investment, but the pure enjoyment his collection brought him and his family over the years. Consequently many of these paintings have never been seen outside of the circle of Milner’s family and friends. Les was well-known for his pioneering work in the food industry, but many people have yet to discover his passion for art. Les passed away in March 2009 after a short illness at the age of 81.
Irma Stern, South African 1894-1966, Still life with Tiger Lilies and Melon Signed and dated 1944, Oil on canvas, R1 200 000 -1 600 000
Enquiries Cape Town Office: Telephone: 087 806 8780
Ashbey’s Galleries cc Antique & Fine Art Auctioneers Valuers & Appraisers
Veteran printmaker and painter, Fred Schimmel died on the 23rd of June in Melville, Johannesburg at the age of eighty. Born in Holland in 1928, Fred Schimmel arrived in South Africa with his parents in 1948, who had come to look for a better life with their children after witnessing the destruction of the Second World War. Over the next six decades, this modest and prolific artist would make rich and lasting contributions to South African abstract art and printmaking. It is however not only the innovative and powerful work of Schimmel that will be remembered by those who knew him, but perhaps more so his wholehearted embrace of play, life and liberty, as well as his generosity of spirit.
Yet the impression that the South African landscape made on the artist is one theme that does run through most of the work he created over the decades. Though seldom featuring literally, the landscape is suggested in most works by a single horizon line dividing the canvas or board, separating earth and sky, warm and cold or dark and light. In many of his hard-edge paintings, serigraphs and calligraphic works, his immigrant’s
Decorative & Fine Art Auction 16 July 2009 at 10:00
All opinions and valuations are confidential For an appointment please contact: Inge Beck
(on auction 16 July 2009)
Schimmel will be remembered by many artists for the generous sharing of his knowledge, time and artistic expertise. From 1949 he worked as voluntary instructor and assistant at the Polly Street Art Centre, where for nine years he worked with young artists such as Sidney Khumalo, Louis Maqhubela, Ben Arnold and others. In 1970 he founded the Graphics Club of South Africa, which served to make high-quality art available to buyers who could not afford the original works of well-known South African artists. In order to produce an annual catalogue, he asked artists such as Walter Battiss, Bettie Cilliers-Barnard, Cecil Skotness, Winston Saoli and Dirk Meerkotter to each contribute an edition of signed serigraphs, all printed in Schimmel’s home studio. This period is described with fondness by Judith Mason in the catalogue to Schimmel’s eightieth retrospective at SMAC gallery in 2008: “The jam-session in the garage, the silkscreen on the kitchen table, individuals wrestling with their dreams and then finding an avenue where they can show what they have created. The ‘fun’ of making, the fun of finding an artwork for purchase, the fun of vicariously sharing the creative life. Fred has given us all this for many years...” Fred Schimmel was an artist with an unusually prolific career, exhibiting locally and internationally, one with a world of experience and an intimate knowledge of his craft. He was an artist who refused to be quoted, as he firmly believed that “nothing I have to say is important enough to be recorded for posterity.” An artist who lived according to the gospel of his friend Walter Battiss: “Have fun! Have fun! The whole thing with art is... do whatever you want to do, but don’t take yourself too seriously!” This artist will be sorely missed, but his work and life will be celebrated and remembered by friends, family, artists and art lovers. He is survived by his daughter, author Gail Schimmel, and his son-in-law and grandson, Paul and Thomas van Onselen. To see more work go to www.smacgallery.co.za
7 September 2009 – Johannesburg Strauss & Co Important South African Paintings, Watercolours and Sculpture (Entries open till 3 July 2009) Venue: Country Club, Johannesburg, Woodmead at 8 pm 8 October 2009 – Cape Town, 8pm Strauss & Co (Entries open till 15 July 2009) Venue: The Vineyard Hotel, Newlands 13 & 14 October 2009 – London Bonhams The South African Sale 20 & 21 October 2009 – Cape Town Stephan Welz & Co. In Association with Sotheby’s Fine & Decorative Arts, Furniture, Silver, Ceramics & Jewellery Venue: Kirstenbosch 1 February 2010 – Cape Town, 8pm Strauss & Co Important Paintings, Furniture, Silver and Ceramics (Entries open till 10 December 2009) Venue: The Vineyard Hotel, Newlands Auction Houses Contact details Ashbey’s Galleries cc Antique & Fine Art AuctioneersValuers & Appraisers For an appointment please contact: Inge Beck 43 Church Street Cape Town Tel: 021 423-8060 Fax: 021 423-3047 email: info@ashbeys.co.za www.ashbeysgalleries.co.za Bonhams Contact for SA Artwork: Hannah O’ Leary sapictures@bonhams.com www.bonhams.com/southafrica +44 (0) 20 7468 8213 Stephan Welz & Co. In Association with Sotheby’s Johannesburg 13 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg Telephone: +27 (11) 880-3125 Fax: +27 (11) 880-2656 Email: jhb@swelco.co.za www.swelco.co.za Cape Town The Great Cellar, The Alphen Hotel, Alphen Farm Estate, Alphen Drive, Constantia 7808 Tel: +27 (21) 794-6461 Fax: +27 (21) 794-6621 Email: ct@swelco.co.za www.swelco.co.za Strauss & Co Johannesburg 89 Central Street, Houghton, Gauteng, 2198 Tel: +27 11 728 8246 Fax: +27 11 728 8247 General Information jhb@straussart.co.za Cape Town The Oval, 1st Floor Colinton House, 1 Oakdale Road, Newlands, 7700 General Information ct@straussart.co.za Tel: +27 87 806 8780 Fax: +27 86 654 6100
Ashbey’s Galleries Established 1891
Ashbey’s Galleries has been involved in the World of Art and Antiques for over 100 years. The company’s expertise and experience in the fields of South African art, as well as the general antique market is part of our proud history.
Anton van Wouw (1862-1945), “The Dagga Smoker” 1907, 17.5cm
relationship and engagement with the landscape of his country of residence manifests itself. “I’m a Dutchman”, he said, “but I’m a South African artist.”
4 & 5 August 2009 – Johannesburg Stephan Welz & Co. In Association with Sotheby’s Fine & Decorative Arts, Furniture, Silver, Ceramics & Jewellery Venue: 13 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank
Tel: 021 423-8060 Fax: 021 423-3047 43 Church Street CAPE TOWN
email: info@ashbeys.co.za www.ashbeysgalleries.co.za
The name Ashbey’s Galleries have become a household name in Cape Town’s Art and Antiques circles since its establishment in 1891. Operating from their offices and auction rooms at 43-51 Church Street, a Georgian Double Storey Building dating from the mid 1700’s. Ashbey’s Galleries conduct weekly General Auctions as well as Antiques and works of Art auctions every 7 to 8 weeks. Having been involved in the World of Art and Antiques for over 100 years, Ashbey’s continues to offer specialised knowledge, friendly and prompt service, a reputation for fair dealing and authorative catalogues. Ashbey’s Galleries has had many highlights over the years, having held the first exhibitions of some of South Africa’s most respected artists such as Irma Stern (Feb 1922, Feb 1925 & Nov 1932), J.H. Pierneef (Oct 1921), Hugo Naude (Nov 1921), H.W. Trollip and Douglas Tennant (Dec 1921), J.H. Amschewitz ( Jan 1922), Ruth Prowse, Nita Spilhaus & Florence Zerffi (Feb 1923), Gregoire Boonzaier (Aug 1925 & June 1934). The visitors’ books proudly display the exhibitions of many other well known South African Artists, Royalty, Members of Parliament as well as many prominent South Africans. The next Fine Art and Antiques Auction will be conducted on the 16th July 2009 at 10:00; one of the highlights of the sale is a Bronze by Anton van Wouw (1862-1945), “The Dagga Smoker”, 1907, estimate R250 000-350 000. For an appointment please contact: Paul Myson or Inge Beck on 021 4238060 or email info@ashbeys.co.za. All opinions and valuations are confidential.