Strauss & Co

Strauss and Co is the leading art auction house in Africa and the undisputed global authority on South African modern and contemporary art. Founded in 2009 by a consortium of business leaders and industry experts including the late auctioneer Stephan Welz, Elisabeth Bradley, Dr Conrad Strauss, Vanessa Phillips, Ann Palmer, and Bina Genovese, the house has rapidly established itself as the dominant force in the South African art market and an increasingly important player on the international stage. Stephan Welz, who served as Sotheby's representative in South Africa for many years before co-founding Strauss and Co, brought deep experience and an extensive network of collector relationships to the new venture. Under his guidance and that of his fellow founders, the house quickly attracted consignments of major South African works and built a reputation for professionalism, expertise, and curatorial ambition that distinguished it from other local auction operations. Strauss and Co operates from salerooms in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the two primary centres of the South African art market. The house conducts a varied programme of marquee live auctions, single-artist sales, spotlight presentations, and popular monthly online sales, catering to a broad spectrum of collectors from seasoned institutional buyers to first-time participants. The house's core speciality is South African modern and contemporary art, and in this category it has no peer. Strauss and Co holds the highest market share among the four leading auction houses specializing in South African art globally, and it is the leading reseller of works by blue-chip South African artists including William Kentridge, J.H. Pierneef, and Irma Stern. The house regularly sets and breaks records in this category, most recently with Irma Stern's 'Children Reading the Koran' selling for 22.3 million rand, establishing a new African record for an artwork sold at auction on the continent. In May 2025, Vladimir Tretchikoff's 1955 painting 'Lady from the Orient' sold for 31.1 million rand, approximately 1.8 million dollars, to a telephone bidder after 89 bids, a result that made headlines worldwide. Other significant results include Gerard Sekoto's 'Prayer in Church' from 1947 at 3.43 million rand, and William Kentridge's 'Iris' from 1991 at 4.21 million rand. Beyond fine art, Strauss and Co has developed strong departments in collectable design and fine wine. The design department covers South African mid-century and contemporary furniture and objects, an increasingly popular category among local and international collectors. The wine department, launched in 2019, has become an important platform for South African fine wine, with a landmark result being the sale of a mint bottle of 1821 Grand Constance for 967,300 rand. The house also broke records for young South African wine with a bottle of Chris Alheit's 2018 Radio Lazarus reaching 25,036 rand. Jewellery is another active category. Strauss and Co's annual sales regularly total in the range of 300 to 320 million rand, approximately 13.6 to 14.5 million pounds, demonstrating significant and sustained volume for a market of this size. The house's growth has been driven by its ability to attract major consignments, its investment in scholarship and cataloguing, and its embrace of online sales, which have broadened its reach to international collectors. For buyers, Strauss and Co provides detailed printed and online catalogues accompanied by scholarly essays and condition reports. Bidding is available in the saleroom, by telephone, by written absentee bid, and online. The buyer's premium is generally in the range of 12 to 15 percent plus VAT, which is notably lower than many international auction houses and reflects the competitive dynamics of the South African market. For sellers, consigning to Strauss and Co is the natural choice for South African art and collectibles. Free valuations are available through the Johannesburg and Cape Town offices or online. The house's specialists provide expert assessment of works, and the marketing reach of the Strauss and Co brand ensures maximum exposure to both local and international collectors. Seller commissions are negotiated per consignment. Strauss and Co's scholarly contributions extend well beyond the saleroom. The house commissions detailed catalogue essays from leading art historians and curators for its marquee sales, producing publications that serve as important reference works for South African art history. The house has also pioneered thematic sales that explore specific narratives in South African culture, such as its city-themed sale exploring how Johannesburg defined a nation's art history, an innovative approach that connects individual works to broader cultural and historical contexts. The house's online sales programme has expanded significantly, with monthly online auctions providing accessible price points and regular selling opportunities that complement the marquee live events. These online sales have broadened the house's collector base to include younger buyers and international participants who might not attend live auctions in Johannesburg or Cape Town. Key questions for those evaluating Strauss and Co include what they sell, which centres on South African modern and contemporary art, collectable design, fine wine, and jewellery. The fee structure features a buyer's premium of approximately 12 to 15 percent plus VAT. Consigning begins with free valuations available in person or online. Online bidding is available for all sales. What makes Strauss and Co stand out is its unchallenged position as Africa's leading auction house, its status as the global authority on South African art, its growing wine and design departments, and its track record of setting and breaking records for the continent's most important artists.