SA ART TIMES:by Michael Coulson. With not a single Irma Stern, and no major Pierneef, it was up to lesser names to make the running at Stephan Welz & Co's art auction in Joburg this week. And while neither Keith Alexander sold, in contrast to the interest he has attracted at some recent sales, the two landscapes by the rarely seen Ruth Everard-Haden filled the bill. Both estimated at R400 000-R600 000, one went for R840 000 (the only major lot to beat the upper estimate) and the other for R538 000 (as always, reported prices are "hammer plus", estimates just the hammer price).

Overall, 75 of the 117 lots in the main evening session were sold, a respectable 74.2%. Other than the Alexanders, casualties among the top 12 estimates (low estimates starting at R250 000 and upwards) were two Maggie Laubser landscapes and a Cecil Skotnes painted panel. Other sales in this category were headed by R672 000 for Anton van Wouw's Scout (est R500 000-R800 000), followed by R392 000 for a John Meyer New England landscape (est R250 000-R350 000), R314 000 each for a Walter Battiss oil (est R300 000-R500 000) and a William Kentridge drawing (Rhino, est R250 000-R300 000) and R291 000 for a Pierneef landscape (est R250 000-R350 000).

Overall, this session grossed about R6.1m, against the low estimate of just over R8.2m. Others to do well included a Thinus de Jongh landscape, at R101 000 (est R60 000-R80 000) and another Van Wouw, Slegte Nuus, at R336 000 (SA casting, est R120 000-R180 000).

Boosted by a few excellent prices, a gross of just under R330 000 in the afternoon session actually topped the low estimate of about R285 000. In particular, some graphics by Dirk Meerkotter and Fred Schimmel went for well above the upper estimates. Having said that, the top price in this session was only R29 000 for one of the Schimmels, estimated at R4 000-R6 000. In all, 38 of the 57 lots sold.

Overall, therefore, 113 of 175 lots (64.6%) found buyers, for a gross of R6.4m, fractionally under 75% of the low estimate of R8.5m.

There were some unusual returns for individual artists. Only three of the seven Gregoire Boonzaaiers sold, and not one of the four Edward Roworths, showing how completely that artist has fallen out of favour. Conversely, all five Ted Hoefsloots and four Adelio Zeelies went (though the latter grossed less the R50 000), as less surprisingly, did all four Maurice van Essches and four of the six Pierneefs.