Strong results for modern and contemporary art and design in Strauss & Co’s June sales  

25 Jun 2026

CAPE TOWN – Seasonal downpours did little to dampen enthusiasm for the diverse offering of modern and contemporary art in Strauss & Co’s live-virtual June Spotlight Sale, which realised R12.7 million / $767 852 from 52 lots sold, achieving a 63.4% sell-through rate by lot. Two parallel online-only sales of South African and international design also delivered solid results. 

The top lot in the June Spotlight Sale was Irma Stern’s Malay Woman, a dignified portrait of an unidentified Cape Muslim sitter painted in 1936, which sold to a telephone bidder for R5 032 500 / $304 198. The strong result achieved by Stern’s Malay Woman further underscores the enduring appeal of the artist’s portraits of Cape Muslim subjects. In 2013, Strauss & Co sold Stern’s Malay Girl (1938) for R11.7 million. 

While Malay Woman was the only work to surpass the R1-million mark, strong demand for works by Cecil Higgs, Maggie Laubser, J.H. Pierneef, Ruth Prowse, Neil Rodger, Maud Sumner, Vladimir Tretchikoff and Strijdom van der Merwe resulted in a number of estimate-exceeding prices. Nearly 300 bidders from more than six countries participated in the auction. 

“The cumulative efforts to enhance our digital systems and refine our client engagement continue to yield positive results, with new buyers accounting for a fifth of successful bidders,” says Frank Kilbourn, Chairperson of Strauss & Co. “It is gratifying to see this sustained collector interest reflected in our performance, which remains ahead of budget compared to last year.” 

Frank Kilbourn adds: “While digital participation now forms an integral part of our business model, I would also like to acknowledge the exceptional preview exhibition of art and design presented in our Cape Town showroom. Curated by designer Justin van Breda of Cape Looms and Craft School South Africa, the exhibition paired historical Cape furniture with modern South African design, including ceramics, glass, furniture and textiles. By integrating works from the June Spotlight Sale, the display offered visitors an opportunity to engage with the breadth of South Africa’s artistic and artisanal heritage.” 

Bidding was active from the outset. Cecil Higgs’s Flowers in a Vase (1950) sold well above estimate for R42 044 / $2 541. Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Cannas, a loosely painted study of red canna lilies, achieved R234 500 / $14 175, while his allegorical still life Daily Needs, featuring sheaves of wheat and a burning bowl, realised R635 388 / $38 407. 

Landscape painting also attracted strong interest. Brian Bradshaw’s marine scene Infanta Sea to Shore sold for R34 837 / $2 106, while Ruth Prowse’s accomplished topographical view of Cape Town’s old harbour realised R120 125 / $7 261. “It is a very beautiful work,” remarked auctioneer Bina Genovese as she congratulated the winning online bidder. J.H. Pierneef’s small-scale Bushveld Trees, another notable highlight, sold above estimate for R404 338 / $24 441. 

Portraiture featured prominently in the sale. Maggie Laubser’s Portrait of a Woman with Head Scarf; Landscape with House and Boats in Background achieved R369 680 / $22 346. Gerard Sekoto’s Pensive Young Woman, painted circa 1939, sold for R577 625 / $34 915, reflecting continued demand for significant early works by the artist. 

“It was heartening to see the strong interest in Maud Summer’s three works in the sale, in particular her intimate, Nabist-style portrait Dorothy, which sold well above estimate for R311 918 / $18 858,” says Bina Genovese, Executive Director of Strauss & Co Cape Town. “These positive results for Sumner suggest a welcome return to favour of this significantly under-appreciated artist.” 

Contemporary artists also attracted enthusiastic bidding. Works by Cathy Abraham, Alexandra Karakashian and Strijdom van der Merwe all found buyers. Best known for his land art interventions, Van der Merwe saw his assemblage paintings Demarcation I and Demarcation II sell for R57 660 / $3 485 and R33 635 / $2 033 respectively. 

The sustained interest in Guy du Toit’s rabbit sculptures continued, with his bronze Star Gazing Hare realising R485 205 / $29 329. The final lot of the sale, Dylan Lewis’s life-size bronze Stalking Leopard (S54), sold for R519 863 / $31 424. 

Coinciding with the June Spotlight Sale, Strauss & Co also presented two online-only design auctions. The 211-lot sale June Interiors: Furniture, Silver, Ceramics & Glass featured a broad selection of furniture, silver, ceramics and glass spanning three centuries of global craftsmanship and design. The sale realised R1 827 666 / $110 500, with new buyers accounting for nearly 20% of successful bidders.  

There was strong interest in the English and French silverware and furniture. The top-selling lot was a part set of French silver flatware, dating from circa 1838 to the present, which achieved R199 325 / $12 049. A French Louis XV style marble-topped, parquetry and ormolu-mounted commode fetched well above estimate when it sold for R79 082 / $4 720. Historical examples of Chinese ceramics and furniture also performed well.  

South African Design: Past & Present featured a broad range of historical and contemporary design collectables representative of the country’s artisanal history, earning R1 452 587 / $87 822 for nearly 60% lots sold. A pair of mid-century Danish style upholstered imbuia lounge chairs fetched R222 775 / $13 472, trouncing the pre-sale estimate. A set of twelve glazed ceramic shells by Lucie de Moyencourt also performed exceptionally well, achieving R 90 094 / $5 448.