The 19th of March 2003 saw a groundbreaking auction in the history of Stephan Welz & Co. in Association with Sotheby's in South Africa with their first African Art Auction. 

The works came from various owners including the estate of the late Norman C. Bloom. As this was the first in a relatively unexplored local market for the staff of the auction house, they also consulted with  experts in this field like  Karel Nel. Estimates were relatively conservative on some of the good works as was shown by the final prices fetched but again like in the visual art market it was clearly demonstrated that the best pieces fetched high prices. A new smaller format for the catalogue has also been introduced.

We hope that this would be the beginning of a regular auction as African Art and Artefacts have long been proven to auction very successfully at Sotheby's and Christie's Auctions abroad.  

Lot 667
A Ndebele Beaded Nyoga
estimate R 3 000-4 000
Sold R11 550

Lot 700
A Mobile Swazi/Northen Nguni Headrest in Wagon Form
estimate R 2 000-3 000
Sold R50 600