Lively auction of local art rakes in R65m

A drawing from William Kentridge’s award-winning 1991 film Sobriety, Obesity and Growing Old was the top lot by value at Strauss & Co’s spring sale in Cape Town.

The drawing sold to a telephone bidder for R4,092,480 — well above its high estimate.

The day-long sale generated turnover of R65,412,721, a solid result based on a value sellthrough rate of 84.3%.

The 660-lot sale included decorative arts, jewellery and artwork spanning three periods in this country’s art history: earlier South African art, post-war art and contemporary art.

Contemporary artists performed especially well, with John Meyer’s Odysseus surpassing its high estimate to sell for R3,069,360. The sale price is a new world record for Meyer.

Billie Zangewa’s Working Nights, a silk tapestry quoting two scenes from the 1942 film Casablanca, fetched R204,624, quadrupling its high estimate. The result follows closely on Zangewa’s critically acclaimed appearance at Frieze London earlier in October.

A sculptural work by Wim Botha and an abstract painting by Zander Blom sold for R454,720 and R250,096, respectively. Alfred Thoba’s Boys are Sweets, an enamel-onpaper work depicting a soirée, sold for R136,416, well over the high estimate of R30,000.

“The appetite for our diverse offering of contemporary art is very encouraging,” said Strauss & Co chairman Frank Kilbourn, who last week announced the company’s intention to hold a dedicated contemporary art sale in February 2018.

“Strauss & Co has deepened its involvement in the contemporary art market by co-sponsoring the South African Pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale and is a founding member of the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa. Our contemporary sale is a logical commitment to broadening the base of contemporary art sales in Africa.”

Vigorous bidding for two portraits by Alexis Preller confirmed his status as the leading post-war painter.

His 1947 Christ Head was the subject of competitive bidding and eventually sold for R2,273,600, surpassing its presale estimate by 800%. The Poet Prince, from 1975, also soared well above the pre-sale estimate, achieving R1,818,880.

There was significant interest in another late-career Preller from 1975, Undeciphered, Computerised Message I (or II), which sold for R1,932,560, trouncing the high estimate of R800,000.

“We are delighted the market is recognising the inherent quality of this remarkable artist,” said Bina Genovese, Strauss & Co joint MD.