Special emphasis on fine art at next week’s Select auction

FOLLOWING its successful Basics auction launch, Omni Fine Art Auctioneers will hold its monthly Omni Select auction on Tuesday, featuring paintings, furniture, collectables, decorative arts, ceramics, jewellery and silverware.

Next week’s auction will have an emphasis on the fine art on offer, says Gary Shean, Omni’s paintings specialist.

“Potential buyers will find artworks by South African masters, including Alexander Rose-Innes, Kenneth Baker, Pieter van der Westhuizen, David Botha, Maggie Laubser and Pranas Domsaitis,” he says.

Highlights will include An Extensive Landscape, a large oil on canvas dated 1944 by Rose-Innes; Abstract, an oil on board by Domsaitis; and Die Lang Pad, a woodcut by Peter Clarke, illustrated in Listening to Distant Thunder: The Art of Peter Clarke.

Shean says South African contemporary art is extremely desirable at the moment. To meet the demand, Omni will offer works by Ed Young, Anton Kannemeyer, Judith Mason and Arabella Caccia.

He anticipates Anton Kastel’s oil on canvas, Lolita, from the Bikini Series, will attract attention, as will Judith Mason’s Crucifix for Wilfred Owen.

Another highlight in the art category will be a painting by the Polish/ French artist Emile EismanSemenowksy, Lot 198, titled An Oriental Beauty.

Shean says: “This painting was purchased by the current owner’s father at Sotheby’s 19th century European paintings sale in London in February 1985.”

Sporting memorabilia will be offered in the Omni Select auction for the first time. Items that will go under the hammer include jerseys and boots signed by Valentino Rossi, Roger Federer and Lionel Messi. The auction will also include a large collection of furniture, dating from the 18th century to the present, says Warren Scheuer, Omni’s furniture specialist. “Of significance are a pair of Le Courbusier LC4 chaise longues and a Bauhaus-style dining table and chairs. “We believe the collection of Boer War items on offer – which, among other rarities, includes pieces carved by prisoners of war – will also be of major interest.

“In contrast, within the collectables department, is an early 20th century Galle glass vase of elegant proportions.”

The auction will take place at 2pm on Tuesday at Omni’s premises at 9 Hemlock Street, Newlands.

Viewing will be from 10am to 4pm tomorrow, and from 9am to 2pm on Tuesday, the day of the auction.

For more details call Omni Fine Art Auctioneers on 021 671 4497 or email info@ omni.co.za. The auction catalogue can be viewed online at www.omni.co.za.

Peter Clarke’s ‘Die Lang Pad’ woodcut, Boer War memorabilia and a glass Galle vase, below, will be on offer.