South African sculpture reaches record R5,5 million price tag

History was made at Strauss & Co's auction yesterday evening when Jane Alexander's important sculpture, Untitled, sold for an impressive R5,5 million setting a new record for a South African sculpture, a record for Jane Alexander and a record for contemporary art in South Africa.

Untitled soared above its presale estimate of R2-3 million as three buyers bid ferociously against each other until it was finally knocked down at R5,5 million - double the previous record set for a South African sculpture. The packed auction room broke into rapturous applause celebrating this landmark moment for contemporary art in South Africa.

Untitled is the companion work to Alexander's seminal Butcher Boys, widely considered the most arresting acquisition in the Iziko National Gallery's collection in Cape Town.

The record for a South African sculpture was previously held by Anton van Wouw whose Bad News, proved to be good news, when it sold for R2,2 million in 2010 at Strauss & Co. Jane Alexander's previous record was also achieved by Strauss & Co in the same year for Racework - in the event of an earthquake, which sold for just over R1 million.

Stephan Welz, Managing Director noted:

"From the moment Untitled came through Strauss & Co's doors, we knew it was going to generate tremendous interest. Works by Jane Alexander rarely appear at auction and it was a great privilege for Strauss & co to handle a work of such great quality and historical significance."