Once in 50 Years collection

After remaining underground for close to 40 years, a masterpiece by Alexis Preller, along with works by Gerard Sekoto and contemporary artists like Zanele Muholi and Sanell Aggenbach, will be on auction.

Once in 50 Years: The Collection of a Gentleman is a large and esteemed assembly of 168 works including paintings, sculptures, watercolours, drawings and prints by South African masters and leading contemporary artists.

The October auction will be the largest in the auction house’s 45-year-history. In addition to the Once in 50 Years collection, there will be 606 other lots for sale, including Tribal Art, a special collection acquired by the late Nicolas Penny, previously on loan to Iziko South African Museums, as well as important works by William Kentridge, Freida Lock and Maud Sumner.

“It’s rare that a collection comes along that is as large and spectacular as Once in 50 Years, which has been lovingly compiled by its anonymous seller over the past 50 years,” said Gary Shean, painting’s specialist at Stephan Welz & Co, Cape Town.

A prized oil on board by Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993), who is considered the “father of black South African art”, is one of the works to be auctioned. Washing Day, Eastwood, valued at R2 million to R3 million, is an important work from the artist’s oeuvre, and depicts an everyday scene of township life.

Two key works from modernist painter Alexis Preller (1911-1975) will also be auctioned. Walter Battiss is another top South African artists represented in this collection. His large, vibrantly coloured oil on canvas, In The Winelands, was commissioned in the 1970s by KWV Wines. The painting has been estimated at R800 000 to R1.2 million. Other key works to be sold include a powerful Shaka panel (R450 000 to R700 000) by Cecil Skotnes and Two Bushmen, an oil on board by François Krige (R180 000 – R220 000).

The collection also boasts a number of sculptures – Anton van Wouw’s bronze, Miner with Hand Drill, valued at R800 000 – R1 200 000, and Edoardo Villa’s painted steel Abstract Figure 1, estimated at R140 000 – R180 000.

“There are many young and sometimes controversial artists represented in this collection, alongside well-known living artists like Beezy Bailey, Hardy Botha and Clare Menck,” says Shean. Among the impressive array of South African artworks are a number of prints from well-known international artists such as Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and John Piper.

Anyone can bid for pieces online via www.the-saleroom.com. The Stephan Welz & Co. Decorative and Fine Arts Auction is on at The Great Cellar, Alphen Estate, Alphen Drive, Constantia, Cape Town and in Johannesburg at 13 Biermann Avenue Rosebank.

Pre-auction viewing is open to the public from September 25 to 29. Details: 021-794-6461 or ct@stephanwelzandco.co.za. Catalogue at www.stephanwelzandco.co.za