Strauss & co - Review 2024

30 31 CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2024 CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT 2024 Cheers for a revived decorative arts department Strauss & Co presented 12 auctions of decorative arts and jewellery in 2024. The programme for these dynamically reim- agined departments began with Woven Legacies: Celebrating African Artistry , our first standalone auction devoted to fibre art. This highly focussed auction encapsulated the new momentum of Strauss & Co’s reorganised decorative arts department. A sumptuous historical textile produced by an unrecorded Ewe artist from Ghana introduced the sale, which included modern and contem- porary fabric pieces. Martha Mahlangu’s Ndebele beaded panel topped the rank- ings, earning R70 350 / $3 904. Strauss & Co presented five auctions showcasing jewellery and precious stones. The Diamond Edition , our inaugu- ral precious gem sale in May, saw 80% of 45 lots offered sold. In October, at The Fine Gem Edition , an 18k white gold diamond necklace by Cartier sold for R1.5m / $85 680. Jewellery, together with diamonds and gem stones, represents a promising area of our business. We have significant plans to innovate in this space in 2025. Martha Mahlangu An Ndebele beaded pane l  Sold R70 350 / $3 940 20 february , woven legacies : celebrating african artistry Unrecorded artist Ewe Peoples The Matter of the Heart has Changed, pre 1950’s Sold R46 900 / $2 628 20 february , woven legacies : celebrating african artistry 18k two-tone emerald and sapphire fan earrings sold  R93 800 / $5 253 27 may , the diamond edition Platinum diamond ring Sold R519 863 / $29 225 27 may , the diamond edition 18k white gold diamond necklace, Cartier Sold R1 544 063 / $3 904 21 october , the fine gem edition