Strauss & co - Review 2021

“Market conditions in the last two years created an increased need for liquidity,” says Strauss & Co chairperson Frank Kilbourn, highlighting the role of macroeconomics in the affairs of the company. “We responded to this by expanding our portfolio of auctions in order to bring more work to the market and give our clients the opportunity to realise the value of their collectables. This presented significant challenges in balancing the need for liquidity with ensuring a sustainable art market. In 2021 Strauss & Co played a critical role in protecting the value of art and collectables.” Responding to the torsions of a distressed market, Strauss & Co introduced a number of format innovations throughout 2021. Bespoke sales were a distinctive feature of the 2021 auction calendar. Strauss & Co hosted various artist-focused sales, as well as presented a number of in-session artist spotlights, all with the aim of sharpening focus on distinctive artists and makers. Notable single-owner collections of wine, art books, weapons, ceramics and cut-steel also received their own dedicated sales. These focused initiatives throughout 2021 yielded positive results. • March: the sale of the property of a Johannesburg book designer, which included art and design books, paintings, sculptures, works on paper and various furnishings, exceeded estimates when it earned R1.9 million (93% lot- sell through rate). • April: a dedicated session in the general live sale devoted to two single-owner collections of Chinese porcelain and works of art saw all 34 lots in the Jerling Collection of blue and white “Kraak” porcelain find buyers. • May: Strauss & Co’s first-ever sale devoted to a single artist profiled Namibian printmaker John Muafangejo and earned R3.36 million (76% lot sell-through rate). The sale established a new world record for Muafangejo when his 1975 linocut print Zimbabwe House sold for R410 375. • May: a single-owner private collection of fine wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace and Champagne grossed R1.85 million (89 of the 99 lots sold). • May: an in-session focus on John Meyer and Keith Alexander, two preeminent photo-realist painters, in the final session of a three-day live sale culminated in strong sales. Alexander’s large oil The Distinguished Guest , sold for R2.1 million, a new world record. • July: Strauss & Co’s first-of-its-kind auction singularly committed to Pierneef saw all 69 lots sell. The sale earned a remarkable R24.5 million. • August: the David Hall Collection of Linn Ware, a highly collectable South African pottery mark, and art and design from the Professor Leon Strydom Collection realised a combined total of over R10 million (265 of the 289 lots sold). • September: Impression/Expression , a concise 90-lot single-session themed sale composed of historical and contemporary art, as well as five icon wines, earned R10.4 million (84% lot sell-through rate). A 200 year-old bottle of Grand Constance 1821 sold for R967 300. • October: 20th and 21st Century Design featured the largest- ever consignment of modern and contemporary furniture to come to market in South Africa and drew considerable bidder interest. • November: Perfectly Imperfect , an artist-focused sale entirely devoted to the ceramic sculpture by Hylton Nel and Nico Masemola, saw all 51 lots find buyers. The sale netted R1.3 million. • November: a dedicated sale of paintings, sculptures, works on paper and books owned by collector Professor Jan K Coetzee earned a respectable R1.4 million (30 of the 43 lots sold). Reimagining Formats and Directing Focus 12