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International collectors flock to Strauss & Co’s successful decorative arts auction

11 Apr 2022

Offered in three standalone sessions presented across two days in Cape Town, the auction registered keen international interest by collectors from a dozen countries. The auction featured outstanding examples of Asian art, furniture, silver, glass and jewellery and achieved strong individual results for the various sellers.

Organised by Vanessa Phillips and Sophie-Louise Fröhlich of Strauss & Co’s decorative arts department, the auction attracted nearly 300 bidders and realised a total of R5.3 million from 204 lots sold. A third of the lots sold went to new buyers. This interest reflects the impeccable character of the individual items offered by sellers, among them four single-owner collections.

The inaugural Asian art session was composed entirely of a single collection and attracted nearly 250 bidders from a dozen countries, including China, Great Britain and the United States. Of the 101 lots sold, 42% went to new buyers. Bidding exceeded the pre-sale estimates on a number of lots, notably for excellent examples of Japanese craftsmanship patiently assembled by the seller over many years.

A Satsuma moon vase decorated with a profusion of birds sold for R96 730. An Imperial Satsuma koro and cover, also from the Meiji period, achieved R73 970. An unusual and very handsome Japanese silver and silver-gilt cricket cage sold for R73 970. Among the Chinese artefacts offered, bidder interest in a Qing Dynasty turquoise-glazed bottle vase saw this striking ovoid piece sell well above estimate for R54 624. A Qing Dynasty gilt-bronze of a deity sold for R43 244.

A session devoted to predominantly furniture, silver and glass included two single-owner collections of important historical English furniture. Fine examples of Regency furniture from the estate of respected Cape Town antique dealer David Porter (1938–2012) found buyers. Notable pieces from the Property of a Connoisseur included a George III flame mahogany cabinet, sold for R45 520, and a Royal Copenhagen blue fluted plain pattern table service, which went above estimate for R79 660.

Other significant items consigned by individual sellers included a Cape jonkmanskas from the Oudtshoorn district, which sold for R182 080. Strauss & Co achieved a South African record with the R147 940 sale price for a teak Bwana chair and ottoman designed in 1962 by Finn Juhl. Demand for fine silver saw a set of four Victorian silver entrée dishes and covers by James Le Bas achieve R113 800. A Victorian assembled silver Fiddle pattern part flatware service by Chawner & Co sold for R91 040.

Strauss & Co concluded its decorative arts presentation with a session composed of 54 jewellery pieces. The session registered strong demand for diamonds and gold. A single-stone diamond ring with a brilliant-cut gem weighing 2.701 carats doubled the pre-sale estimate when it sold for R512 100. An unmounted round brilliant-cut diamond weighing 1.94 carats sold for R284 500. A Cartier Maillon Panthère 18 carat yellow gold demi-parure achieved R227 600.

The jewellery session included a consignment of ten pieces inspired by the work of painter Alexis Preller and manufactured by German-born goldsmith Erich Frey. Consigned by Coba Diederiks, a close friend of Preller, a three-stone diamond ring from this collection sold for R31 864. A rectangular abstract gold brooch decorated with tourmalines and diamonds achieved R28 450.

Strauss & Co’s next sale of decorative arts is a single-owner collection of Asian art, which will be offered in a dedicated online-only sale that runs from 18 to 25 April. This online-only sale coincides with Strauss & Co’s sponsorship of the African Art in Venice Forum 2022 at Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal in Venice on 20-21 April 2022.