Strauss & co - Review 2020

A black japanned and chinoiserie decorated brass-mounted cabinet-on-stand, 19th century Sold R432 440 An Arita blue and white VOC dish, late 17th century Sold R250 360 goods and experiences, was worth an estimated $1.5 trillion in 2019, more than 20 times the estimated value of global art sales. Strauss & Co’s decorative arts division is closely aligned with this luxury market. Many of the objects offered in the company’s November marquee sale – from the walnut pipe cabinet by Alfred Dunhill containing 366 distinctive pipes presented in twelve suede-lined trays (sold for R477 960) to Patek Philippe Calatrava gold gentleman’s wristwatch (sold for R261 740) – are the epitome of luxury. The decorative arts cover a broad range of categories – including ceramics, silver, jewellery, furniture and objets d’art – representative of diverse artisanal traditions. Unlike Strauss & Co’s art offering, which is solidly South African, the decorative arts catalogue is always transnational. The highlight of the May sale was a 25-lot selection of VOC items assembled by a single collector. A trio of Arita blue and white VOC dishes, all from the late 17th century, sold to a telephone bidder, with the sale prices ranging from R170 700 to R250 360. The top-selling lot was a 19th-century black japanned and chinoiserie decorated brass-mounted cabinet-on-stand, which sold for R432 440. Strauss & Co’s decorative arts division fulfils an important role beyond turnover. 43