A message from Frank Kilbourn, Chairperson of Strauss & Co
New format for live auction scheduled for 10 and 11 May 2020
24 April 2020
In light of the evolving global COVID-19 outbreak and the national lockdown, our Cape Town auction of 19th
Century, Modern, Contemporary and Post-War Art, Decorative Arts, Jewellery and Wine was rescheduled to
take place on 10 and 11 May 2020 and we are pleased to confirm that it will go ahead on these dates.
The health and safety of our employees, clients and visitors continue to be our first priority. As a
result, the auction has been changed to a live virtual auction format, replicating a saleroom scenario,
with an auctioneer conducting the sale live, in isolation. It will be live streamed to the audience who
will be able to bid online from the comfort of their homes, in real time, lot by lot, as the auction
happens.
Strauss & Co will bring the auction to our clients in partnership with Invaluable.com, the world’s leading
international platform for buying art, antiques and collectibles online. Invaluable.com hosts hundreds of
auctions and provides a fair, safe, public and accessible auction platform all year round. This
partnership will expand our reach internationally, for the benefit of buyers and sellers alike.
Our April Online auction during lockdown was our most successful yet, with enthusiastic participation from
local and international collectors, demonstrating the resilience of the fine art and decorative arts
markets, and the adaptability of buyers in moving over to digital processes.
Our staff is available to provide information about the upcoming lots, detailed condition reports via e-
mail, face-time viewings of particular lots, one-on-one virtual meetings on a preferred platform and
information about how to view and bid on the auction.
The virtual auction is already live on the Strauss & Co website, www.straussart.co.za, or it can be
accessed by visiting invaluable.com:
Prospective buyers can register online and place bids now.
On 10 and 11 May 2020 the live auction will be webcast and prospective buyers will be able to bid live on
the Strauss & Co website as the sale proceeds.
The auction consists of 5 sessions and will proceed in real time as per the schedule below:
Sunday 10 May
Session 1: at 11am, Lots 1 – 120
A South African and International Fine Wine Bordeaux style themed sale including the finest and rarest
wines from South Africa and Bordeaux.
Monday 11 May
Session 2: at 10am, Lots 121 – 290
Jewellery, English Silver, Ceramics, Glass, and English, Continental and Contemporary Furniture.
Session 3: at 2pm Lots 291 – 430
Oriental Ceramics and Works of Art; Property of a Collector – The Late Lady Ina Oppenheimer Blue Bird Farm
Collection; Property of Kangra Group (Pty) Ltd, assembled by the Late Graham and Rhona Beck.
Session 4: at 5pm – Day Sale, Lots 431 – 540
19th Century, Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art.
Session 5: at 7.30pm – Evening Sale Lots 541- 656
Important 19th Century, Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art.
The Preview
COVID-19 regulations allowing, the preview will take place by appointment from Thursday 7 to Sunday 10
May, from 10am to 5pm in two separate venues as follows:
Strauss & Co
The Oval, First Floor Colinton House,
1 Oakdale Road, Newlands
Jewellery, English Silver, Ceramics, Glass and select items of Furniture
Day Sale Paintings, lots 431-540
Welgemeend Homestead
corner Welgemeend and Lingen Street, Gardens
Evening Session Paintings, Lots 541-656
Select items of Furniture
Join our daily Zoom.us virtual talkabouts with Strauss & Co specialists and guest speakers in conversation
about the highlights of the sale. Visit www.straussart.co.za for the schedule and the log-in link.
Lockdown has forced us all to change the way we live and do business, and we are excited by the potential
this new direction holds. We are confident that we have made the right decision to proceed with the sale
in this new live virtual auction format on a tried-and-tested digital platform, which will reach buyers
far and wide and achieve the best possible results for our consignors.
We thank you for your continued patience and support and wish you well in these unusual times.
Kind regards
Frank Kilbourn