Slain mining magnate Brett Kebble's private art collection sold for R54-million, a new record for South African art, the auctioneer said on Friday.

Several world records were broken for individual works by artists such as JEA Volschenk, Alexis Preller and Vladimir Tretchikoff, added Graham Britz, who handled the sale which continued late into Thursday night.

"The total was just under R55-million," he said.

Before the auction at Summer Place in Johannesburg, he estimated that South Africa's biggest privately-owned art collection would raise between R50-million and R70-million, but he had hoped for a magic R100-million.

"Well, we are in an economic downturn," Britz said on Friday morning.

"It is still the biggest total of South African art ever sold in the world."

He said 94 percent of the items put up for auction had been sold.

"Nine lots were unsold. But I've already had calls from people this morning wanting to acquire these paintings. At the end of the day, we might end up on R60-million.

"Then we would end up on my mid-estimate. I would be very happy with that."

Britz described the event as the "finest art auction on South African soil" and started the bidding of 133 works off with the words, "may the best man win".

This was after he took pains to assure guests, dressed in bow ties and evening gowns, that Kebble's art was "clean".

"There are no liens from any mining house or any other predator," Britz said to laughter.

"There has been a lot of press about this man... good and bad. But this is about art."

It is estimated that Kebble, who was shot dead in September 2005, owed gold mining house JCI R100-million and the SA Revenue Service R180-million. His estate is insolvent.

Britz said Kebble's best investment was his art collection.

"His greatest returns was on art."

The swanky venue, complete with chandeliers and drapes, was overflowing with at least 800 registered bidders and a second room had to be made available to accommodate more guests.

Several international buyers bid by phone.

The Irma Stern paintings attracted much attention, but her Woman Sewing Karos work, estimated to be worth between R5-million and R7-million, left Britz visibly disappointed when it managed to fetch just over R4-million.

"Don't just sit and look at me, you're here to bid, ladies and gentlemen!" he exclaimed.

The auctioning of the star painting of the night did not go as planned with big screens featuring pictures of Woman Sewing Karos shutting down as bidding started.

Britz, clearly flustered, at one stage drew laughter from the audience when he said the bid was for R4500, instead of R4.5- million.

Earlier, another Irma Stern, Young Girl with Plait, was sold for R275 000, higher than the estimated value of R150 000. Britz said Kebble had bought this painting in 1992 after he had concluded his first major business deal.

"His wife told me he hung it above the fireplace, and he sat back and said: 'This is our first Irma Stern'."

One of the highlights of the night was the sale of Vladimir Tretchikoff's Lost Orchid, which was estimated to be valued up to R1.2-million, but was eventually sold for R2.9-million.

Britz tried his best to convince one of the bidders to buy it for R3-million.

"Money can always be made!" he told the bidder, who just shook his head.

Other works on auction included the artists Maggie Loubser, JF Pierneef, William Kentridge, George Pemba, Walter Battiss and Thomas Bowler.

Sapa

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