The Wall Street Journal previews Bonham’s upcoming South African art sale in London while South African’s Stephen Welz crows about his success with Irma Stern setting the record price for a work of South African art at auction of nearly $2m:
Last week in Cape Town, Strauss & Co. auctioned off a floral still life by South Africa’s favorite Expressionist, Irma Stern, for a record 13.4 million rand, or $1.9 million, nearly doubling its high estimate. Johannesburg art adviser Julia Meintjes says collectors have been reassured lately by the success of the local Joburg Art Fair and the recent launch of a South African art-advisory division of financial giant Sanlam.
South Africa’s African Colours gives the other top lots in the RS43m sale:
Maggie Laubser‘s: Flamingos on the Beach (Lot 155) Sold R 2 673 600 (Upper estimate of R 900 000)
Maggie Laubser’s: Landscape with Blue Crane (Lot 156) Sold R 1 782 400 (Upper estimate R 800 000)
Pierneef: Koringlande, Agter Paarl (Lot 146) Sold R 4 678 800 (Upper estimate of 3 500 000)
Stanly Pinker’s: The wheel of life (Lot 251) Sold R 2450 800 (Upper estimate of 1 000 000)
Irma Stern’s: Yachts and House (Lot 165) Sold 2 673 600 (Upper estimate of R 300 000)
A Comeback for South African Art? (Wall Street Journal)
