Varied collection of artworks on offer at auction

Stephan Welz & Co celebrates 50 years in the fine and decorative art auction business in 2018.

From humble beginnings as Sotheby’s SA, through the isolation years as Stephan Welz and Co in Association with Sotheby’s to Stephan Welz & Co from 2010, the foundation the company has been built upon is one of appreciation and admiration of decorative and fine arts.

Sales topped R3bn in more than 600 auctions over the years. The value of those items today stands at about R10bn as the market has grown exponentially.

Division head and auctioneer Anton Welz describes how the credible reputation of the company is a direct result of the passion and focus of the team that over the past 50 years built the firm into one of the largest auction houses in SA.

The February Cape Town auction will provide the opportunity for collectors to acquire items of “exemplary quality”, Welz says. “Once again we have put together a diverse collection in all categories of collectibles.” The auction will include works by two esteemed South African artists, Norman Catherine and Peter Clarke.

“Catherine cleverly uses bright primary colours in stark contrast to each other, which gives his work a sense of popping out regardless of the environment in which they are placed. His works are fun while still remaining relevant to the human condition,” says Kayleen Wrigley, senior art specialist at Stephan Welz & Co.

Of the variety of Peter Clarkes to come under the hammer next week are two paintings that depict scenes of Tesselaarsdal. “Tesselaarsdal was a place of creative refuge from the political world and day-to-day struggles of the city,” observes art specialist Suzanne Duncan,

Works by superb international artists such as Picasso, Miró, Chagall and most interestingly, Bertram Nicholls are also on view.

Carol Kaufmann, art specialist and curator, notes that “in the 1980s this work was sold by the prestigious London dealer Julian Simon Fine Art”. The Craig Troeberg Collection on offer includes a George III writing desk. Troeberg was dedicated to his work at the Order of Saint John with an appreciation of art, antiques and travel.

Mid-century modern furniture pieces can be found in pieces such as the “Little Beaver chair” by Frank Gehry and the How High the Moon Chair, a combination of Japanese mastery and Western functionality.

The large Esias Bosch painted ceramic panel of Namaqualand is a piece that is rare to find at an auction and a good example of Bosch’s pioneering techniques. Other items on offer include a Victorian silver novelty claret jug in the shape of a griffin by George Fox of London and a pair of Nanking cargo plates.

The auction promises entice and enthuse collectors.

All lots are available to view on February 16, 17 and 18, with a walkabout hosted by Anton Welz on February 17 starting at 10.30am at the company's Cape Town office at The Great Cellar, Alphen Estate, Alphen Drive, Constantia, Cape Town, with the auction on February 20 and 21. to