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Cape Town - South African investors have set their sights on a New York art auction, and intend fighting to bring an extremely valuable South African painting back home.
It's a piece by Gerard Sekoto which is greatly coveted by investors. His works fetch higher prices every month.
Sekoto follows the example of "old masters" Irma Stern, Pierneef and Maggie Laubscher, who are all established names in investors' council chambers overseas.
The painting, which is being auctioned by Sotheby's in New York on October 6 is entitled "The Milkman".
Its estimated value is between R750 000 and R1.1m.
One of the greatest experts on Sekoto's work, Barbara Lindop, says for a number of reasons the piece is in huge demand from international investors, as well as in South Africa.
It dates from Sekoto's so-called Eastwood period (the mid-1900s), which is described by investors as the "golden period" in which he produced his best work.
Secondly, says Lindop, the painting is significant because of the era during which it was painted.
"The use of a donkey cart by the milkman to deliver an essential service to township inhabitants invites one into another world, where people were separated from the rest of South Africa."
The current New York owner bought the painting in South Africa in 1950.
- Sake24.com
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