International and big-name South African art auctioned in Cape Town
by Andrew Lamprecht
Bargains aplenty as well as some significantly high prices were achieved at the first of an annual series of live auctions presented by the new contemporary gallery, 34 Long Fine Art. The sale focussed on contemporary art and included work by international artists Jeff Koons and Julian Opie, as well as many of South Africa's most significant current practitioners.
The auction took place on the evening of June 14 after a 10 day viewing period. Although the venue was not as packed as might have been expected (perhaps due to the very inclement weather and the well-know aversion of Capetonians to leaving their comfort zone in the rain), there was fierce competition and frequent use of telephone bidding to spice things up.
A selected group of 34 lots were placed on auction, each beautifully framed or presented, and the savvy buyer could make a spectacular buy if ready to seize the moment. One such person managed to scoop a beautiful Jeff Koons porcelain sculpture entitled Blue Balloon Puppy for a mere R4,510 (all prices include the 10 per cent buyer's commission). While the edition was a fabulous 2300 copies, it still must have been the bargain of the night.
Good prices, well above estimate, were achieved for two oils: Marianne Podlashuc's
Donkeys, which sold for R11,550 against an estimate of R4,000 � R6,000 and a spectacular R27,550 (against an estimate of R12,000 � R16,000) for Norman Catherine's Self Conversation of 2003. Above estimate prices were reached for works by William Kentridge as well as a Willie Bester canvas.
With 85 per cent of the lots sold, and a keen interest in the work on sale, the 'experiment' of this live auction arguably demonstrates there is a keen interest in South African contemporary work among local as well as international collectors.
The full auction catalogue can still be viewed at: www.onauction.co.za.
