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R2 600 000 for chest of drawers

13 Oct 2015

Several other auction records were set, the most important being for Erik Laubscher ‘s Women Arranging Flowers which sold for R2 000 050 and was executed in the early 1950s while the artist was living in Paris. Another record was set when a rare early pastel by celebrated artist Penny Siopis, who recently had a retrospective at the National Gallery in Cape Town, sold for R1 136 800. This work is regarded as one of the artist’s most important works ever to be sold at auction.

Two other exceptional prices were R193 256 for a 19th century Transvaal rusbank and R261 464 for a Cape silver sugar bowl.

An Art Deco diamond and emerald brooch by the celebrated jewellers Van Cleef and Arpels sold for R400 000.

A spokesman for the company commented after the sale: “The auction attracted worldwide interest and confirmed the strength of quality items which invariably attract global attention and record prices. “

Press enquiries:
Bina Genovese
083 680 9944

Strauss & Co is South Africa’s leading fine art auction house and the global leader in the South African art market. With an average turnover per annum of over R155 million and an average sell-through rate of over 80%, Strauss & Co has sold 9, of the 10, most expensive paintings ever auctioned in South Africa and holds numerous artist’s records. Strauss & Co is founded on the exceptional expertise and prestigious presentation and is synonymous with top quality art, decorative arts and jewellery. Strauss & Co was established in 2008 by celebrated figures in the business world, Elisabeth Bradley and Dr Conrad Strauss, and art doyen Stephan Welz, with the purpose of placing auctioneering on a plane worthy of the best South Africa has to offer in both the fine and decorative arts.