Stephan Welz & Co.
DIRECTOR: Anton Welz
ESTABLISHED: 1968
SPECIALTIES: South African masters and contemporary art
CONTACT: stephanwelzandco.co.za, jhb@stephanwelzandco.co.za, +27 11 880 3125
Anton Welz: Probably the sale of the Pitzer Paul collection of Cape furniture and Africana, which we sold in Cape Town— 98 percent of the collection sold, and the collection fetched more than double the low estimate.
Anton Welz: A Cape table that was estimated at $900–$1,300, which sold for $8,600 including buyer’s premium.
Anton Welz: Certainly contemporary African art. There are a good few undervalued artists in that category.
Anton Welz: We are seeing an increase in the number of bidders and buyers online during live auctions, and we have a small online presence.
What other trends do you see influencing the market?
Contemporary 20th-century design, photography, and vintage clothing. All three categories have yet to really develop in the South African market.
Anton Welz: Contemporary art.
Anton Welz: A greater presence in the online arena and an increase in our market share.
Anton Welz: Buy quality and take advice from professionals in the industry.
Anton Welz: Not really, but I do like my Jürgen Schadeberg image of Nelson Mandela during the treason trial, taken in 1958.
Source: BlouinArt