Strauss & Co is delighted to present a striking 1943 portrait by Irma Stern, the prolific South African expressionist painter who ranks alongside Georgia O’Keeffe and Louise Bourgeois as amongst the ten most expensive women artists sold at auction globally between 2005-15. The painting will be sold at auction on 23 May 2016 in Johannesburg.

High-quality artworks by top South African and international artists will feature at Strauss & Co’s auction on 23 May at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg

Strauss & Co’s upcoming auction will be headlined by a striking portrait, returning from Australia, of one of Irma Stern’s closest friends. It will go on auction on Monday 23 May at the Wanderers Club in Johannesburg.

Strauss & Co’s auction in Johannesburg last night which achieved a total of almost R42 million, was characterised by a packed auction room and a busy bank of telephones. The top lot of the auction, Irma Stern’s Portrait of Freda Feldman with Basuto Hat, which sold on the telephone for over R5 million, was repatriated from Australia to be sold by Strauss & Co.

Important South African and International Art – 23 May 2015 – Top Ten Lots

Specialists from Strauss & Co will be visiting East London, Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Knysna and Hermanus in June to conduct obligation-free valuations of paintings, sculpture, silver, and Chinese porcelain.

The Stephan Welz series of Fynarts Talks

Last year Strauss & Co achieved its highest turnover in its eight-year history, setting 21 new artists” records and showing depth in the market with impressive sales across all departments. While 2015 ended with the untimely loss of Stephan Welz, the company”s founding Managing Director, Strauss & Co”s midyear results are testimony to the resilience of the company and the confidence that clients have in the expertise and integrity of its staff.

Strauss & Co is proud to announce important appointments to its Board and team of art specialists bolstering the rock solid legacy of founding managing director, Stephan Welz, who passed away at the end of last year.

There’s something to tempt everyone on StraussOnline’s July 2016 auction which opened on 8 July 2016. Featuring more than 450 lots, the auction house showcases its extensive offering of contemporary and 20th century artworks, silver, ceramics, furniture and books.