Elderly couple ‘win lottery’ at PE art valuation day

[caption id="attachment_160978" align="aligncenter" width="300"] South African art specialists Kirsty Colledge and Alex Richards from auction house Strauss & Co examine a one of a kind Hugo Naude pastel drawing of an interior Cape Cottage scene valued at between R40 000 and R60 000[/caption]

An Irma Stern painting worth up to R1-million, a R50 000 Hugo Naude pastel drawing and a Fred Page artwork valued at about R60 000 were just some of the major finds at a valuation day held at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum yesterday.

Stern’s wash-painting of a paw-paw tree, with a landscape background, was the most prolific find at the Strauss & Co’s valuation day, with a value of between R700 000 and R1-million.

South African art specialist Kirsty Colledge said the painting, brought in by an elderly couple, was “beautiful, with vibrant and vivid colours”.

Fellow expert Alex Richards said the couple had been in contact with them prior to the valuation day.

“It is a pity they didn’t consign it with us for auction,” he said.