Superb portraits by Gratrix, Kentridge, Muholi, Pemba and Stern lead Strauss & Co’s November Flagship Sales
Summary: Outstanding works by a multigenerational line-up of internationally celebrated South African modern and contemporary artists, including Igshaan Adams, David Goldblatt, William Kentridge, Esther Mahlangu, Zanele Muholi and Irma Stern, lead Strauss & Co’s four-part November sales, to be held over two days in Johannesburg (11-12 November 2024).
By CityLife Arts Writer
Art collectors are spoilt for choice in the forthcoming Strauss&Co’s auction sales ion Johannesburg.
“Strauss & Co is pleased to present details of its November Sales, comprising four sales over two days (11-12 November 2024). The programme includes two online-only sales, both concluding on Monday, 11 November 2024, and two live-virtual sales at Strauss & Co’s salesroom in Houghton, commencing at 5pm and 7pm on Tuesday, 12 November 2024.
The sales will collectively showcase the very best of South African modern and contemporary art, including important portraits by David Goldblatt, Georgina Gratrix, William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, George Pemba, Alexis Preller, Irma Stern and Anton van Wouw. There are also highly collectable works by Keith Alexander, Walter Battiss, Wolf Kibel, Esther Mahlangu, Nelson Makamo, Walter Meyer, J.H. Pierneef and Athi-Patra Ruga. The November sales include a sale spotlighting the Everard Group, with works by all four generations of women artists.
“Our November sales in Johannesburg will be the crescendo to our busy sales and exhibition activities for 2024,” says Alastair Meredith, Head of Art Department, Strauss & Co. “The diverse consignment underscores Gauteng’s importance in the story of South African art. We have an early bronze from 1902 by Anton van Wouw, The Art Student, which depicts a young Gordon Leith (estimate R700 000 – R1 million / $39 570 – 56 515). The bronze is accompanied by a portfolio of original architectural and figure study drawings by Leith, the architect of Johannesburg Park Station.”
Adds Alastair Meredith: “Our strong modernist consignment includes Irma Stern’s important Congolese portrait, Watussi Chief’s Wife in Yellow, 1946 (estimate R4 – 5 million / $226 050 – 282 570) which was first exhibited in Johannesburg in 1947. A Johannesburg sale would not be complete without William Kentridge’s work. We are offering a self-portrait from 1985 (estimate R650 000 – 850 000 / $36 725 – 48 040), originally gifted by Kentridge to his long-time dealer Linda Givon, founder of the Goodman Gallery. It is complemented by a Kentridge drawing from his 1989 film Stereoscope (estimate R2 – 3 million / $113 010 – 169 510) consigned by the estate of Linda Givon.”