Strauss & Co is proud to unveil High Note, a live-virtual auction of modern and contemporary art taking place on Tuesday, 22 July 2025 at 7pm. The curated sale forms part of a July auction trilogy and features an extraordinary consignment of eight works from the private collection of South African soprano legend Mimi Coertse, alongside standout pieces by William Kentridge, J.H. Pierneef, Lady Skollie, Irma Stern, and other revered artists.
Leading the auction is Dutch Iris II by William Kentridge (estimate: R700 000 – 900 000), a vibrantly coloured and rare etching exemplifying his innovative approach to printmaking. Another anticipated highlight is J.H. Pierneef’s 1928 casein landscape (estimate: R400 000 – 600 000), part of six works by the celebrated artist in the auction.
Mimi Coertse, whose operatic career flourished in Europe during the 1950s and 60s, curated a deeply personal collection that reflects her refined artistic sensibility. Maud Sumner’s Nude Figure and Still Life with Flowers (estimate: R250 000 – 350 000) anchors this special section, joined by works from Walter Battiss, Esias Bosch, Christo Coetzee, Maurice van Essche, Cecil Higgs, and Irma Stern.
Currently the subject of a major solo at Berlin’s Brücke Museum, Stern joins fellow modernists George Pemba, Gerard Sekoto, and Lucas Sithole in High Note. Each was featured at the 2024 Venice Biennale, and are now represented by seminal works, including:
- George Pemba’s Boy with Spoon and Bowl, 1947 (R100 000 – 150 000)
- Gerard Sekoto’s Dancing Figures in Blue, 1967 (R200 000 – 300 000)
- Lucas Sithole’s commanding wood sculpture Old Bull (R200 000 – 300 000)
Contemporary voices add further vibrancy to the auction. The cover lot, Folding Knives by Lady Skollie (R30 000 – 40 000), showcases the bold style that earned her the 2022 Standard Bank Young Artist Award. The sale also features dynamic contributions from Deborah Bell, Zander Blom, Dylan Lewis, Nelson Makamo, and Bambo Sibiya.
Modernist titans Sydney Kumalo, Cecil Skotnes, Hugo Naudé, and Vladimir Tretchikoff complete the robust catalogue.
Online-Only Pierneef Graphic Art Sale
Running concurrently is IMPR: Etchings and Linocuts by J.H. Pierneef, an online-only sale closing on Monday, 28 July 2025. Featuring 28 expertly selected lots, the auction highlights Pierneef’s mastery of graphic media through exceptional landscapes and figure compositions.
Spotlight on Contemporary South African Ceramics
Strauss & Co’s growing commitment to ceramics takes centre stage with Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives, also scheduled for Tuesday, 22 July 2025 at 7pm. This sale features works by acclaimed ceramicists including Juliet Armstrong, Astrid Dahl, Andile Dyalvane, Madoda Fani, Katherine Glenday, Noria Mabasa, Dinah Molefe, Jabulile Nala, John Newdigate, Henriette Ngako, and Andrew Walford.
Standout lots include:
- Hylton Nel’s Cat in Green and Brown, 1993 (R40 000 – 60 000)
- Esias Bosch’s Large Platter with Pond and Waterlily Decoration (R40 000 – 60 000)
- Deborah Bell’s Crying Pot, 1998 (R30 000 – 50 000)
- Vase with Sable and Parrot Decoration, 2015 by Sabelo Khoza and Senzo Ntshalintshali (R35 000 – 50 000) for Ardmore Design
Additional lots include rare Kalahari and Linnware ceramics, further enriching this significant category.
Public Exhibition
All artworks from High Note, IMPR, and Contemporary South African Ceramics: New Perspectives are available for public viewing throughout July at Strauss & Co’s Johannesburg exhibition space, 89 Central Street, Houghton.
For catalogues, bidding registration, and detailed information, please visit:
👉 www.straussart.co.za
