Strauss & co - 2015 Review

Chairman’s Report Apollo Kouros II , performed extremely well selling for R8 526 000 (the highest price ever achieved at auction for Preller in South Africa), and R5 456 640 respectively. Other records achieved include Penny Siopis, Robert Hodgins, Erik Laubscher, Deborah Bell, Norman Catherine, Walter Oltmann and Ed Young, to name a few. Strong prices were also achieved for international artists. A painting by the celebrated Dutch artist, Kees van Dongen, of his beloved daughter, Dolly , headed the June sale selling for R5 684 000. Schmerzensmann III , a powerful reflection on humanity by Belgian artist Berlinde De Bruyckere, sold for R3 410 400. Sculpture soars to dizzy heights Perhaps the biggest surprise of the year was the sale of a sculpture by the relatively unknown South African-born sculptor, Ernest Mancoba. Born in South Africa in 1904, he left for Paris in 1938 never to return. As this was the first of his sculptures to be sold at auction in South Africa, the work, Musician, depicting a figure playing a skapu, had initially been valued at R70 000. The South African art buying public was justifiably astounded when it sold for a massive R613 872 in June. Online only auctions Strauss holds four online auctions a year that have proved to be exciting for both new and seasoned collectors. These auctions feature affordable and quality fine and decorative arts and are particularly attractive to new collectors. New appointment to the board I am delighted that Caro Wiese has joined the Strauss & Co board as shareholder and non-executive director. We have known Caro for many years both privately and professionally. She is a seasoned and passionate art collector with a discerning eye. We warmly welcome Caro and look forward to working with her in the years to come (see article on page 118). The middle market stands its ground The name Strauss & Co is generally synonymous with fine art, but there is another equally interesting facet to our business in the form of the decorative arts. Strauss & Co’s Cape Town salerooms have featured some spectacular pieces since the company’s inception. An important 18th century Regence ormulu-mounted rosewood commode which was formerly housed at Vergelegen, made headline news this year when it sold for R2,5 million, over 10 times its pre-sale estimate. Oriental ceramics and works of art continue to command high prices as does Cape and English silver. Stephan Welz speaks on the Jewish contribution to cultural life in South Africa This year Stephan was asked to conduct a lecture to raise funds for the Friends of the SA National Gallery. As it was during the time that the Irma Stern exhibition Brushing up on Stern was being held at the Gallery, this seemed the obvious choice of subject. However, since so much has already been said on Irma Stern, he decided instead to focus on collectors and chose The Important Role Played by the Jewish Community in South Africa with Particular Reference to the Visual Arts and Cultural History . This informative lecture was so well received and successful that Stephan in his indomitable style delivered it on two further occasions, finally at the Jewish Museum in Cape Town in November. Strauss & Co will uphold Stephan’s legacy and we look forward to seeing you in our auction rooms in the coming year. 5