By Michael Coulson:
In another auction with no major works by Irma Stern on offer, it’s Pierneef that’ll be the focus of attention in the upcoming sale by Stephan Welz & Co (Swelco) in Johannesburg on August 17 and 18. He provides the top two estimates: the only seven-digit lot (R1.2m-R1.6m) for a landscape, largely in shades of blue, and the only other R500 000 lot, an unusual cloudscape (R500 000-R800 000).

The first session of minor work in the afternoon sets the tone for a solid rather than spectacular event, the 95 lots of SA art carrying low estimates grossing up to R608 000, an average of R6 400, with no single work accorded a low estimate above R12 000 – a figure shared by several lots.



The major evening session contains 146 lots of SA art with a total low estimate of R10.5m, an average of about R71 945. There are 12 lots with low estimates of R200 000 and above, the Pierneefs being followed by two Maggie Laubser still lifes each estimated at R400 000-R600 000. On R350 000-R500 000 is a Francois Krige landscape. A Cecil Skotnes painted panel and a Frans Oerder still life are each put at R300 000-R500 000.



On R200 000-R300 000 are another Oerder still life, a Nita Spilhaus landscape, a Freida Lock genre scene and Umpundulu Birds, a tapestry designed by Walter Battiss and executed by Marguerite Stephens. A more conservative R200 000-R250 000 is attached to another Krige landscape.



The cover lot is a Gregoire Boonzaaier still life, modestly priced at R60 000-R90 000. Another low-priced lot of interest is a drawing by William Kentridge to be sold in aid of the SA Ballet Theatre, estimated at R30 000-R50 000.



Battiss is the most represented artist, with 10 lots, followed by Adriaan Boshoff and Gabriel de Jongh (nine each), Erich Mayer (eight), Chris Tugwell (seven) and Boonzaaier (six). There are three Stern drawings and a single atypical Tretchikoff, of a rugby match, valued at just R100 000-R120 000.



Grossed up, the total low estimate is about R11.11m, over 241 lots, with an average of R46 100. This compares with a gross sale of R14.67m and average of R78 600 at the firm’s recent Cape auction. And it’s the day after the Lord Mayor’s show against Strauss’s latest R40.1m Stern-dominated R40.1m auction – that house, incidentally, has just reminded us that submissions for its next Cape Town and Jo’burg auctions close at the end of July and August, respectively.