The antique road show came to Grahamstown last week where Strauss & Co directors Stephan Welz and Vanessa Phillips appraised the art and antiques of community members at the Observatory Museum.
The antique road show came to Grahamstown last week where Strauss & Co directors Stephan Welz and Vanessa Phillips appraised the art and antiques of community members at the Observatory Museum.
Grocott’s Mail had two pieces evaluated; Jeff Grocott’s antique display cabinet and Louise Vale’s chandeliers, which currently hang in the Grocott’s Mail building.
Welz likens what they do to being in a casino; you never know what you are going to find. Last year, an Eastern Cape local had a piece auctioned off for R2.3- million.
This was one of four large bronze sculptures entitled Bad News created by Anton van Wouw in 1907, which the seller’s father purchased from the artist.
“The antique road show provides a service to the community. Many people have no interest in selling but simply want to know what their belongings are worth,” says Welz.
From the 150 items appraised in Port Elizabeth on Tuesday, only eight paintings were selected for auction. Community members must give a compulsory donation of R15 for each item that the appraisers evaluate.
This money is handed over to local museums for their much needed upkeep. Despite some 70 years combined experience between Welz and Phillips, she insists that she learns new things every day and modestly adds, “Most collectors know more, or as much, as we do.”
Phillips encourages pieces to be sold within the area they were created as it is historically correct to keep them in their original context. Welz, who has tried to retire, keeps being drawn back to his job.
“A very small percentage of people who get up in the morning are enthusiastic,” said Welz, “I’m one of those people.”
His credentials include an antique television show during the 80s and a stint as director of Sotheby’s auctioneers in London.
Two years ago Welz and two friends, former Standard bank chairman Dr Conrad Strauss and former Toyota SA manager Elisabeth Bradley, “crawled out of retirement” and began Strauss & Co.
The company is currently the largest fine art and antiques auctioning house in South Africa.
