Stern, Pemba take the spotlight at art sale
IRMA Stern’s gouache Die Jüdin and George Pemba’s Bus Ride will be the centre of attraction at Bernardi auctioneers fine arts sale on Wednesday.
The sale will be held at its new premises, 1270 Stanza Bobape Street, East Hatfield, Pretoria.
It is interesting that Stern should visit Berlin and paint Die Jüdin in Berlin at a time when the Nuremburg laws for Jews had been passed, and anti-Semitism and Nazi violence were building up to the terror of Kristallnacht.
It seemed like a deliberate act of defiance.
Originally the painting was bought from the Schweickerdt Gallery in Pretoria by the present owner’s parents and according to them, the painting was executed in Berlin in 1937. (Estimate at R180,000-R250,000).
George Pemba’s oil on canvas on board Bus Ride, signed and dated 1974, has an estimate of R350,000-R500,000, the highest in the art section.
In the five figure price range is Bettie Cilliers-Barnard’s signed oil on canvas portrait Die Twee Debutante. According to the catalogue, the painting was probably executed by the artist on her return from Paris in 1948, and the present owner bought the painting from her. (Estimate at R50,000-R80,000).
Two works by William Timlin, who according to the Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa, compiled by Eric Rosenthal, lived in Kimberley where he practised as an architect, are offered.
He is well known for what are described as his “fanciful works”, notably The Ship that Sailed to Mars. On offer are a fan mount watercolour on silk, Oriental Landscape, signed and inscribed with the artist’s “owl” studio mark (R18,000-R25,000), and a watercolour, Christmas Cards 1910, inscribed: “With The Best Wishes of the Season From William Timlin, X-mas 1910”. R4,000).
Somewhat unusual is an oil on canvas collaboration by Simon Stone and Braam Kruger, Muse in a Landscape, signed by Mr Stone (R50,000-R80,000).
Of interest too is Marjorie Wallace’s signed oil on board, self portrait of the artist at her easel in her studio. (R50,000-R80,000).
Gregoire Boonzaier is represented by two works: a mixed media, District 6 Street scene with figures, buildings and donkey cart, signed and dated 1971 (R30,000R50,000) and a mixed media, Trees in a landscape, signed and dated 1975 (R25,000-R40,000).
Adriaan Boshoff has four works on offer, including a signed oil on canvas on board, Three eggs in a glass bowl, (R12,000R18,000), and a signed oil on board, West Coast Harbour (R20,000-R30,000).
Among other paintings of note are Willem Coetzer’s signed oil on board, Naby Lydenburg (R30,000-R50,000); Christopher Tugwell’s signed oil on canvas on board, Highveld Farm Landscape (R20,000-R30,000); Pieter van Heerden’s 1960 oil on board, Trees in a Landscape, signed and dated (R30,000-R50,000) and
(R2,000- Jan Volschenk’s oil on canvas, View in the Langeberg (Riversdale) signed and dated 1920 (R30,000-R50,000).
Attractive pieces in the furniture section include a pair of Georgian style mottled hide upholstered wing back chairs (R12,000R18,000); a colonial oakwood officer’s campaign stretcher bed (R500-R1,500); an American Charles Eames “Race Track” table made by Herman Miller (R40,000–R60,000) and a set of 12 Danish Nanna Ditzel design Trinidad elbow chairs Model: 3297 Series: 897, made by Fredericia Stolefabrik in Denmark.
Each beechwood finish fretwork chair features a fan-shaped back and conforming arms with suede upholstered seat, on metal legs, on glides.
Chinese porcelain will feature at the auction.
On offer from the Wan Li period include a number of blue and white chargers: a dished body featuring painted underglaze decoration (R2,000-R4,000); a dished body featuring painted underglaze decoration, the well painted with a bird in a garden with flowers, enclosed by a floral and symbol decorated cartouche border. (R2,000–R4,000).