Sidney Goldblatt SOUTH AFRICAN 1919-1979 Fishermen signed and dated 57 oil on canvas laid down on board 79,5 by 65,5cm excluding frame R 80 000 - 90 000
Responding to collector interest in smaller, thematic sales, Strauss & Co will host four curated sales of art, all scheduled in the evening. They include a dedicated sculpture sale with focuses on Josephine Ghesa and Job Kekana and a single-artist sale of fresh-to-market works from the Estate of the Late Robert Hodgins. This sale is the first ever such event wholly devoted to the much-loved artist, teacher and critic, Robert Hodgins.
Irma Stern SOUTH AFRICAN 1894-1966 African Woman signed and dated 1940 oil on canvas 59,5 by 49cm R 5 000 000 – 6 000 00
Irma Stern’s remarkable portrait of an urbanised sitter,African Woman(estimate R5 – 6 million), painted in 1940, forms part of an impressive consignment of oils and a ceramic by this blue-chip artist. Leading the selection of two-dozen collectable works on paper by William Kentridge is a process drawing from his 2011 animated filmOther Faces(estimate 3 – 4 million). Strauss & Co is pleased to be offering the woodcutMantegna(estimate R800 000 – 1.2 million), another edition of which is currently on view in Kentridge’s Royal Academy survey in London. Alongside major works by Walter Battiss, Dumile Feni, John Meyer, Alexis Preller J.H. Pierneef and Andrew Verster, the catalogue includes pieces by international artists Marina Abramović and Yinka Shonibare.
“Recent successes at market with our single-artist sales and in-session artist focuses, coupled with a return to post-pandemic normal, has prompted us to innovate with our November programme,” says Alastair Meredith, Head of the Art Department, Strauss & Co. “The curated presentation of our four sales aims to provide collectors with generous insights into important historical and contemporary artists – from modernist wood sculptor Job Kekana and post-war painter Sydney Goldblatt to Robert Hodgins, whose diverse work and influence is explored in a dedicated sale”.
Strauss & Co’s Johannesburg season of art and wine sales commences on Thursday, 3 November 2022, with a 100-lot consolidated catalogue of modern, post-war and contemporary art. Notable painters to feature include Keith Alexander, Gregoire Boonzaier, Adolph Jentsch, Walter Meyer, John Mohl, Ndikhumbule Ngqinambi, Frans Oerder and Larry Scully. The lot arrangement includes collector focuses on Walter Battiss, Sydney Golblatt and François Krige.
Mr Brainwash FRENCH 1966- Marilyn For Ever signed and numbered 63/95 in pencil in the margin colour screenprint image size: 70,5 by 50,5cm R 120 000 – 160 000
Job Kekana SOUTH AFRICAN 1916-1995 Self-Portrait signed and dated 1984 carved wood with a brown and red patina item size: height: 37cm width: 26cm depth: 18cm R 18 000 – 24 000
Josephine Ghesa LESOTHO 1958- The Meeting painted and fired terracotta clay height: 31,5cm; width: 29cm; depth: 25cm R 50 000 – 70 000
William Kentridge SOUTH AFRICAN 1955- Peonies with Book signed and dated 2012 India ink on found book pages 125 by 100cm excluding frame R 2 500 000 – 3 500 000
Andrew Verster SOUTH AFRICAN 1937-2020 Mural for a Durban Dining Room oil on canvas 221.5 by 615 by 2cm (8) R 400 000 – 600 000
Yinka Shonibare BRITISH 1962- Diary of a Victorian Dandy: 11.00 hours inscribed with the artist’s name, dated 1998, numbered 1/5 and inscribed with the title and medium on a Stephen Friedman Gallery label adhered to the reverse C-type print 120 by 181cm R 300 000 – 500 000
Robert Hodgins SOUTH AFRICAN 1920-2010 Old Men Debate, Young Men Depart signed, dated 2003/4 oil over graphite on canvas 60 by 90cm R 200 000 – 300 000
William Kentridge, Deborah Bell and Robert Hodgins SOUTH AFRICAN 20TH CENTURY Little Morals signed by each artist, dated ’90, numbered 32/35 in pencil in the margin etching, aquatint and watercolour plate size: 25 by 29,5cm; sheet size: 33 by 44cm, unframed R 40 000 – 60 000
Robert Hodgins SOUTH AFRICAN 1920-2010 A Most Superior Person signed, dated 2005 oil on canvas 90 by 90cm R 300 000 – 400 000
Following on from Strauss & Co’s wine sale the day before,IN/FORM: Exploring South African Sculpture(Monday, 7 November 2022) includes seven woodcarvings by Job Kekana. The selection of figurative pieces reflects Kekana’s secular and religious interests as an artist. Ardmore-trained Josephine Ghesa, one of the highlights of Norval Foundation’s current survey of black women artists,When Rain Clouds Gather, has three examples of her zoomorphic figures in the sale. Other notable sculptors to feature are Frances Goodman, Sydney Kumalo, Ezrom Legae, Dylan Lewis, Henry Moore, Walter Oltmann, Edoardo Villa and Anton van Wouw.
Three site-specific commissions by Walter Battiss, Irma Stern and Andrew Verster form part of a vibrant medley of high-value works being offered on Tuesday, 8 November 2022. Originally created for a double-volume modernist house in Kimberley, Battiss’sSpirit of Africa(estimate R3 – 4 million) is a vertiginous depiction of African figures set against an abstract background. Measuring over 6 metres in length, Verster’s multi-panelled floral mural (estimate R400 000 – 600 000) was originally on display in the late Judge Alan and Brenda Magid’s upper-floor dining room in Berea, Durban.
Strauss & Co’s summer sale concludes with theThree Robs: Artist, Collaborator, Friend(Wednesday, 9 November 2022), a single-artist sale of oils, watercolours, monotypes, pastels and drawings by Robert Hodgins. The sale will additionally include works that Hodgins made in collaboration with artists Sarah Ballam, Deborah Bell, Kendell Geers, William Kentridge, Jan Neethling and Sam Nhlengethwa. Wilhelm van Rensburg, Senior Art Specialist and Head Curator, Strauss & Co, who organised the sale, will lead a live talk and video première on Tuesday, 18 October 2022 at 6pm.
Strauss & Co will present a comprehensive education and social programme in the build-up to the summer auction. A preview exhibition will open to the public on 18 October 2022 and run until 3 November. Strauss & Co experts will offer walkabouts on 28 and 29 October, and again on 5 and 6 November. Comprehensive e-catalogues with details of all the works on sale are available online atwww.straussart.co.za.
Sessions Modern and Contemporary Art, Part I. 7:00pm Thursday, 3 Nov 2022
Click here for Catalogue
Coats Family Cellar | Iconic Bordeaux Sale – 11.00am Sunday, 6 Nov 2022
IN/FORM: Exploring South African Sculpture – 7:00pm Monday, 7 Nov 2022
Click here for catalogue
Modern and Contemporary Art, Part II. – 7:00pm Tuesday, 8 Nov 2022
Click here forcatalogue
Three Robs: Artist, Collaborator, Friend. – 7:00pm Wednesday, 9 Nov 2022
Click here for catalogue
Walkabouts with Specialists
Saturday 29; Focus: IN/FORM: Exploring South African Sculpture Sunday 30 October; Focus: JH Pierneef and Irma Stern Saturday 5 November; Focus: William Kentridge and Robert Hodgins Sunday 6 November; Focus: Family Fun Art Activities
TIME: All talks start at 10am
VENUE: Strauss & Co, 89 Central Street, Houghton, Johannesburg – A barista will be on site
