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Strauss & Co to offer a worldly selection of furniture, ceramics and jewellery in April

4 Apr 2022

Strauss & Co’s much-anticipated first live auction of 2022, due to be held over four consecutive days at Brickfield Canvas in Woodstock, Cape Town, includes an extensive and worldly presentation by the decorative arts department. The consignment encompasses first-rate examples of English furniture, Asian and European ceramics and South African art jewellery from four single-owner collections and will be offered to the public in three sessions, starting on Monday, 4 April 2022 at 10am.

The opening session will focus on Asian art. Alongside such important pieces as a Chinese gilt stucco wooden figure of a deity from the Qing Dynasty (est. R60 000 – 80 000) and Japanese Satsuma moon vase from the Meiji period (est. R12 000 – 15 000), the catalogue for this Asia-specific session also includes 122 lots from the property of an oriental collector. Notable individual pieces from this Cape Town collection include a rare Chinese Yixing peach-form washer from the Kangxi period (est. R10 000 – 15 000), Chinese doucai saucer dish from 1723-35 (est. R12 000 – 15 000) and Japanese Imperial Satsuma koro from the Meiji (est. R5 000 – 7 000). The single-owner consignment includes Chinese jade pieces, jewellery and hardwood stands, as well as curiosities such as Japanese inro cases, ivory figures, tobacco pouches and cloisonné.

Following the successful sale of excellent Chinese porcelain from the property of lady connoisseur in April 2021, Strauss & Co is honoured to present a further selection of English furniture, European ceramics and 19th-century paintings from this discerning collection. Due to be offered on Monday, 4 April 2022, at 2pm, the consignment includes three English furniture pieces bearing the plaque of Norman Adams Ltd., notably a William and Mary walnut bureau dated c. 1690 (est. R70 000 – 90 000). 

“It has been a long time since we last saw pieces handled by this highly reputable London dealer appear in a South African auction,” says Vanessa Phillips, Strauss & Co’s joint managing director and head of the decorative arts department. “Much like her Chinese collection sold last year, the period-specific pieces in this collection are a testament to the impeccable taste and focus of this private collector.” Strauss & Co is delighted to present a concise selection of English furniture, writing accessories and decorative items from the estate of respected Cape Town antique dealer David Porter (1938–2012) in the same session. Born in Cape Town and educated at Bishops and UCT, ill health prompted Porter to develop an interest in fine design, craft and design from a young age. He opened David Porter Antiques in 1975 specialising in early Georgian furniture, silver and clocks.

 “I met David in 1978 when his shop was beneath the bridge in Claremont,” says Vanessa Phillips. “David was incredibly well respected in the trade and had a strong following among collectors. He had such an instinctive feel for furniture and ceramics.”

The David Porter Collection includes a superb Regency giltwood and églomisé overmantel mirror (est. R30 000 – 40 000). The Victorian rosewood bookstand from Asprey & Co (est. R7 000 – 9 000) was once kept in Porter’s bedroom, together with an inkstand by JC Vickery (est. R10 000 – 15 000). An Anglo-Indian ivory, coromandel and porcupine quill book carrier (est. R6 000 – 8 000) epitomized Porter’s eye for the quirky. The afternoon session also features diverse individual properties. Notable lots include a Victorian assembled silver ‘Fiddle’ pattern part flatware service by Chawner & Co of London (est. R80 000 – 100 000) and a Danish made teak Bwana chair and ottoman designed in 1962 by Finn Juhl for France & Son (est. R60 000 – 80 000).

On Tuesday, 5 April 2022, at 10am, Strauss & Co will offer a remarkable consignment of ten jewellery pieces inspired by the work of painter Alexis Preller and manufactured by German-born goldsmith Eric Frey. Consigned by Coba Diederiks, a close friend of Preller, the items include a three-stone diamond ring (est. R25 000 – 30 000) and striking brooch with green tourmalines and old European-cut diamonds (est. R15 000 – 20 000). The jewellery pieces form part of a larger consignment of important Preller artworks due to be auctioned on Wednesday, 6 April 2022, at 6pm.  The live auction programme culminates with three sessions of modern, post-war and contemporary art, scheduled to go under the hammer on Tuesday and Wednesday, 5 and 6 April 2022.