Strauss & co - 7 November 2016, Johannesburg

158 223 Irma STERN south african 1894–1966 Watussi Chief’s Wife (with Head Dress) signed and dated 1946; signed, dated 46 and inscribed with the title and the artist’s address on the reverse charcoal 61 by 46 cm R200 000 – 300 000 provenance The Collection of the Late Mrs Liselotte Hardebeck. A very charming correpondence between Walter Hardebeck and Irma Stern is kept in the Hardebeck estate archives. Some of these letters, two of which are illustrated here, refer to the group of three charcoal drawings of Watussi figures that the artist offered Mr Hardebeck, and which had been inspired by her visit to the Belgian Congo in 1942. Mr Hardebeck was quick to choose the present lot, Watussi Chief’s Wife (with Head Dress) , and returned the others by passenger train. ‘Thank you again for your beautiful pieces of art’, Mr Hardebeck ended his letter, ’which will always increase the glamour in our home and remind us of your grand personality’.