TRETCHIKOFF PAINTING BREAKS WORLD RECORD IN JOHANNESBURG

One of Vladimir Tretchikoff’s most famous paintings has sold at auction for a world record-breaking amount of R31 110 000.

Tretchikoff’s Lady from the Orient was painted in 1955. It’s one of his most recognisable works and features 21-year-old Valerie Howe. Howe was the daughter of a Cape Town grocer.

The auction was held by Strauss & Co, Africa’s leading auction house. The bidding quickly escalated, and once the $1 million mark was reached, it only took nine more bids for the final amount to be decided upon.

The iconic painting by the Russian-born South African was sold to an anonymous bidder via telephone. There was a very determined buyer in the audience as well, but the painting ended up being sold to the phone bidder.

Once the bidding closed, the people in attendance at the auction house clapped and cheered loudly.

Anton van Wouw, George Pemba, JH Pierneef, and William Kentridge were among the other artists whose works were also sold at the auction.

The modern and contemporary art lot earned a combined total of almost R63 million.

Image credit: Between 10and5