Strauss & co - 18 March 2019, Cape Town

10 The Dr JR and Mary Strong Collection John Strong was born on 22 March 1909 in Middlesex, England. Educated at St Aloysius College in Highgate, London, he displayed scholastic excellence obtaining overall first place in the Royal College of Preceptors Examinations when he was thirteen. It was inevitable that he should matriculate at a very young age, which he did with honours, aged fifteen. Being so young he was precluded from commencing his medical studies at the University of London until he was sufficiently mature. He duly completed his undergraduate B.Sc. aged seventeen. On qualifying as a medical doctor he practiced at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and went on to qualify as a surgeon at the world-renowned Edinburgh University Medical School, completing this course of study in two years instead of the usual four! Among many hopeful candidates, Dr Strong was selected by the Discovery Committee in London for the position of ship’s surgeon aboard the Royal Research Ship, Discovery II, in her voyage of exploration to the South Pole from 1935 to 1937. This particular expedition was involved in a daring rescue of the American explorer Ellsworth on Antarctica. He was in a small reconnaissance party who were themselves marooned and given up for dead while carrying out new survey work among unexplored islands in the Antarctic region. In 1938 Dr Strong moved to the then Southern Rhodesia to take up the post of Medical Officer of the Rhodesian Railways. A keen runner he was selected as the manager of the Rhodesian athletics team at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He was also an accomplished mountaineer and had scaled Kilimanjaro and midwife from the United Kingdom, she had travelled to Africa with a sense of adventure and disembarked in Cape Town. She then travelled on to Bulawayo where the two were to meet. She was the perfect companion and assisted him during the ensuing years with his collection. Dr Strong’s fertile mind and phenomenal memory spawned collecting interests in many areas of the decorative arts, including fine English glass, Chinese ceramics, jade and snuff bottles. He was particularly interested in Japanese netsuke, English silver and Persian carpets. He was also a keen philatelist and was winner of several exhibition awards, including the State President’s trophy for Best Philatelic Exhibit in the South African Philatelic Exhibition of 1977. To quote from an interview which appeared in the Chronicle newspaper on 22 October 1974: ‘ Senator Strong is philosophical about the collector’s urge that takes up so much of his time but gives so much pleasure. “It is a trait you either have or you don’t and one that provides great satisfaction whatever means you have to indulge it.” ’ He was an active correspondent with fellow collectors and was well acquainted with London’s illustrious dealerships – Spink and Son, Stanley Gibbons and the Fine Art Society. He also maintained correspondence with the artists such as Sir William Russell Flint, who began his career as a medical illustrator, the acclaimed marine artist, John Stobart, and was also on friendly terms with the South African artist, Sydney Carter. Upon his death, his widow, Mary, dedicated her life to the care of this collection which is now being offered for sale. and the Matterhorn. After retiring from medical practice John entered politics as a senator in the former Rhodesian parliament. However, he and Mary embraced a new life when they moved to South Africa in 1977. Both enjoyed outdoor activities such as hiking, and diminutive Mary took up martial arts, obtaining a black belt in karate. Dr Strong had married Mary, who was originally from Ireland, on 7 December 1963. A qualified state registered nurse