Last Wednesday, 34 Long in Cape Town held an auction of prints and collectables by an impressive array of local and international artists. Among the local artists names like William Kentridge, Marlene Dumas, Robert Hodgins and Norman Catherine featured prominently while works by two of the worlds most celebrated contemporary artists, Takashi Murakami and Jeff Koons, were also on offer.

Generally the pieces on display went at realistic prices, but the pendulum did swing both ways as certain pieces were picked up by both clever and fortunate bidders at very reasonable prices.  One such example is the 2004 lithograph by Claudette Schreuders titled Melancholy Boy, which was a steal at R2 070. A rare etching by Richard Scott, on the other hand, fetched R5 175, double the estimated amount it was valued at.

According to one of the organisers, Andries Loots, there is a definite increase in the demand for prints by wellknown artists. “It provides buyers with the opportunity to acquire work by some the most sought after artists at very reasonable prices.”