SPONSORED: Strauss & Co presents a curated journey through centuries of creativity – from hand-carved heirlooms to sculpted contemporary pieces
Strauss & Co invites design lovers and collectors to embark on a journey through time with South African Design: Past & Present, a Timed Online Auction closing on Wednesday, 9 July 2025.
This carefully curated sale traces the legacy of local design through two thematic sessions – Cape Interiors: Furniture, Metalware & Glass, and Interior Elements: Wood, Metal, Fibre, Ceramic & Glass Art.
Together, the sessions weave a rich narrative of South Africa’s creative heritage, showcasing how materials like metal, glass, clay, wood, and fibre have been transformed across eras into objects of both beauty and utility.
At the heart of this sale is a tribute to the craftsmanship, innovation, and memory embedded in design. Whether hand-carved, cast, woven, or blown, each piece reveals something of the maker’s intention and the cultural moment it reflects.
From the natural elegance of a Cape silver-mounted cowrie shell snuff box (estimate R5,000 – R7,000) to the bold geometry of the TONIC Hawker Bench (estimate R35,000 – R45,000), the auction is a visual conversation between tradition and modernity.
You’ll find pieces rooted in nature, like Clive Sithole’s Uphiso – with geometric bull motifs (estimate R8,000 – R10,000), which speaks to African identity through clay, alongside minimalist works from contemporary studios that reinterpret form through a refined lens.
By spotlighting materiality and memory, South African Design: Past & Present invites a renewed appreciation for the objects that shape our interiors – and our stories.
Ready to be blown away? Browse the full catalogue and place your bids before Wednesday, 9 July. Click here for more.
