Strauss & Co: Still life by celebrated artist Irma Stern last night sold for R13 368 000, setting a new record price for a South African painting at auction.

Strauss & Co, the top specialist auction house for South African Fine Art, offers its highest value sale to date with a stellar array of top quality paintings by many of South Africa’s most sought-after artists on its 1 November auction at the Johannesburg Country Club, Woodmead.

Over R66 million, the highest total of the year for any South African art auction anywhere in the world, was realised in Johannesburg on 1 November 2010, proving that South African art sells best on home turf. The record total was all the more remarkable given that Strauss & Co charge considerably lower commission, buyer’s premium and VAT than their main competitors.

Strauss & Co is holding its first dedicated jewellery sale on 22 November 2010 at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands. The sale includes pieces by illustrious names in the world of jewellery including Cartier, Carlo Giuliano, van Cleef & Arpels, Harry Winston and Bulgari, together with watches by Patek Philippe, Rolex and Jaeger-Le Coultre.

Strauss & Co achieved eight major artist’s records in 2010. These inlcude Anton van Wouw, Maud Sumner, Pieter Wenning, Stanley Pinker, Walter Battiss, Cecil Skotnes and Jane Alexander, among others.

Ons strewe na goeie diens en uitnemendheid bly ‘n daaglikse verbintenis wat harde werk en toewyding verg van ons span onder leiding van Stephan Welz. Die gevolg is dat die jaar 2010 alle verwagtinge oortref het ten opsigte van omset, die behaling van rekords en die gehalte van besendings wat ons bevoorreg was om te hanteer.

Strauss & Co, Cape Town: On 7 March 2011 a fine example of a Gold Kouros by Alexis Preller from the Collection of Coba and Hennie Diedericks will be offered for sale at auction along with a selection of highly important works by celebrated South African artists including Irma Stern and Maggie Laubser

Two paintings which previously shook the South African art market are to be offered for sale at auction again in March.

Two remarkable paintings by Pieter Wenning (1873-1921) coming up at Strauss & Co’s next auction on 7 March, offer intriguing views of early Cape Town.

A Cape Silver coffee pot by an unknown 18th century Cape silversmith with the initials HNS last night sold for R512 400.