Traditional South African art set to dominate Johannesburg April Auction sive structures of industrialisation and apartheid. ‘The Highveld Style Masked Ball’ (Lot 329) is signed and dated ’88, sized 95.5 x 70cm and estimated at R500 000 – R700 000.
Stephan Welz & Company, in association with Sotheby’s, has announced their autumn auction of Fine & Decorative Arts, Furniture, Silver, Ceramics, Books & Jewellery. This Johannesburg auction of 900 lots will be held in the company’s Biermann Avenue, Rosebank sale rooms on 20 & 21 April 2009. The sale is of remarkably broad appeal, though the spread of highly prized paintings by South African artists is sure to dominate the sale. One of the most unique offerings from the company’s paintings department is the Irma Stern (Lot 225) which comprises the hauntingly beautiful ‘Portrait of a girl in a Red Frock’ (recto) and the sombre ‘Samuel Stern’ (verso). The latter is the only known portrait of Stern’s father and the painting is illustrated on page 12 of Marion Arnold’s work ‘Irma Stern; A Feast for the Eye’. This work was
presented by the artist to her cousin and thence by descent. It is conservatively estimated at R800 000 – R1 200 000. Of equal significance in a historical sense is the sale’s ‘cover lot’, the dramatic pastel and charcoal work which draws on William Joseph Kentridge’s earlier bitingly satirical work of the mid-1980s featuring a dancing couple under the oppres-
From a remarkable array of traditional South African artists there are significant works from Krige, Sumner, Battiss, Boshoff, Koenakeefe-Mohl, Boonzaier, Bhengu and Pemba and others, like Pieter Wenning. The latter’s ‘A Cape Homestead’ demonstrates the vitality of Wenning’s brushwork with which he imbued scenes of the Cape. This painting is Lot 224, estimated at R500 000 – R800 000. Lot 218, ‘Landscape with Distant Houses’ by Jacob Hendrik Pierneef (R400 000 – R600 000) is notable for Pierneef’s brave impressionism lending it almost infinite depth. The furniture on offer brings to the market extremely sought-after examples of Cape craftsmanship in yellowwood and stinkwood. Of particular note are Lots 580 and 585, the former being a generously
proportioned gate-leg table dating from the 18th century and estimated at R40 000 – R60 000. Lot 585 is a beautiful cupboard from the 19th century at R30 000 – R50 000. Other furniture items of note include a late 19th/early 20th century carved mahogany serving table with six fluted legs and carved ramshead details (Lot 546, R60 000 – R80 000). Mirroring the trend evidenced in previous auctions by the company in both Cape Town and Johannesburg, the selection of quality silver is certain to attract enthusiastic bidding. Lot 612 is a pair of 20th century French silver tureens (950 standard) from Henin & Cie, estimated at R8 000 – R12 000. Also vying for attention are Lot 662, a George lll silver coffee pot by William & James Priest, London 1766 (R14 000 – R18 000) and Lot 677, an Edwardian silver revolving top breakfast dish from 1908 (R8 000 – R12 000). The company’s jewellery department has again turned in
comes with a bound pouch, and is from the short production run of annual calendar wristwatches made with moon phases. Its estimate is R160 000 – R180 000. A similar model recently realised almost double that in New York!
a sparkling performance. With over 200 lots, highlights abound, including Lot 709, a solitaire diamond ring of 5,0330cts estimated at R70 000 – R90 000, Lot 714, a magnificent late Victorian hinged 15ct gold bangle (R7 000 – R9 000) and Lots 824 and 825, respectively a Bulgari cased Cicladi diamond pendant on a chain (R10 000 – R15 000) and a Bulgari cased Lucea diamond ring (R12 000 – R15 000). Two lots from two different departments give further weight to this sale’s unusually broad appeal. There are two cannons on offer, one of them, Lot 447, being an early 18th century Finbanker 4-pounder on a twin-tailed carriage, estimated at R80 000 – R100 000. As a final example of this sale’s appeal, Lot 507 is a gentleman’s fine 18ct white gold automatic wristwatch by Patek Philippe. It is certificated (ref 5036),
Lot 84, 6 volumes of ‘Voyagien na Oost en West-Indien’ R200 000 – R210 000 Enquiries: jhb@swelco.co.za + 27 11 880 3125 Auction: Monday 20 April 14h00 and 19h00 Tuesday 21 April 10h00, 14h00 and 18h30 Venue: 13 Biermann Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg Viewing: Friday 17 April 10h00 – 17h00 Saturday 18 April 10h00 – 13h00 Sunday 19 April 10h00 – 13h00 & 14h00 to 17h00
Announcing our Autumn Auction of
Fine & Decorative Arts,
Furniture, Silver, Ceramics & Jewellery Two days, five sessions, 900 lots
Lot 225 Irma Stern (South African 1894-1966)
PORTRAIT OF A GIRL IN A RED FROCK (recto); SAMUEL STERN (verso) 56 by 47cm
Estimate: R800 000 - R1 200 000 AUCTION DATES: 20 & 21 APRIL 2009
Johannesburg 13 Biermann Avenue, corner Oxford Road, Rosebank Telephone 011 880 3125 Facsimile 011 880 2656 jhb@swelco.co.za www.swelco.co.za
VIEWING DATES: 17, 18 & 19 APRIL 2009