Strauss & Co

About Strauss and Co

Strauss and Co is the leading art auction house in Africa and the global authority on South African modern and contemporary art. Founded in 2009 by a consortium including the late auctioneer Stephan Welz, Elisabeth Bradley, Dr Conrad Strauss, Vanessa Phillips, Ann Palmer, and Bina Genovese, it has rapidly become the dominant force in the South African art market and an increasingly important international player.

History

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 major South African consignments and built a reputation for professionalism, expertise, and curatorial ambition. It operates from salerooms in Johannesburg and Cape Town, the two primary centres of the South African art market, running marquee live auctions, single-artist sales, spotlight presentations, and popular monthly online sales.

Specialities and record sales

Strauss and Co's core speciality is South African modern and contemporary art, holding 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 artists including William Kentridge, J.H. Pierneef, and Irma Stern. Irma Stern's 'Children Reading the Koran' sold for 22.3 million rand, 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. 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, the house has developed departments in collectable design, covering South African mid-century and contemporary furniture and objects, and fine wine, launched in 2019, with a landmark sale of a mint bottle of 1821 Grand Constance for 967,300 rand and a record for young South African wine with a bottle of Chris Alheit's 2018 Radio Lazarus reaching 25,036 rand. Jewellery is another active category. Annual sales regularly total 300 to 320 million rand, approximately 13.6 to 14.5 million pounds, demonstrating significant and sustained volume for a market of this size. This growth has been driven by the house's 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.

Buying and selling

Catalogues, printed and online, are accompanied by scholarly essays and condition reports, with bidding available in the saleroom, by telephone, by written absentee bid, and online. The buyer's premium is generally 12 to 15 percent plus VAT, notably lower than many international houses.

Free valuations for sellers are available through the Johannesburg and Cape Town offices or online, with commissions 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. It has also pioneered thematic sales exploring specific narratives in South African culture, such as a 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. Its expanded monthly online sales have broadened the collector base to include younger buyers and international participants who might not attend live auctions in Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Strauss and Co specialize in?

South African modern and contemporary art, plus collectable design, fine wine, and jewellery.

What is Strauss and Co's buyer's premium?

Generally 12 to 15 percent plus VAT.

Where does Strauss and Co hold its sales?

From salerooms in Johannesburg and Cape Town, with marquee live auctions, single-artist sales, spotlight presentations, and monthly online sales.