4 - 18 September 2025
Step into the legacy of the Humphreys Collection and discover its rare treasures, from historical paintings to antique furniture, sculpture and objets d’art.
William Benbow Humphreys (1889–1965) was a Kimberley statesman, businessman and devoted patron of the arts, whose passion for collecting laid the foundation of one of South Africa’s most significant regional museums.
A keen traveller with a discerning eye, Humphreys acquired paintings, sculpture, furniture and objets d’art on frequent “picture-hunting” trips to Europe. His taste was classic yet eclectic, with a particular affinity for 17th-century Dutch and Flemish painting, complemented by British and French works of the same period. These he housed in a purpose-built gallery at his residence, Benbow Lodge.
Humphreys believed that art and beauty should not be a private luxury but a shared cultural treasure. In 1948, he made a landmark bequest, gifting a large portion of his collection to the people of Kimberley and the Northern Cape (then entrusted to the Northern Cape Technical College), on condition that a public gallery be established. He also pledged funds towards its construction.
The works and items chosen for this initial donation—selected by Dr Anton Hendricks, then Director of the Johannesburg Art Gallery—included Old Master European and British paintings, antique furniture, contemporary copies of classical sculpture, and other works of art.
In 1952, the William Humphreys Art Gallery (WHAG) was officially opened in Kimberley by Harry Oppenheimer, with the Humphreys Bequest forming the core of its holdings. Over subsequent decades, the collection was augmented by 20th-century South African artworks and objects, as well as further loans from Humphreys’ personal holdings, establishing the Humphreys Collection as a richly diverse assembly of works, showcasing a wide spectrum of artistic and cultural traditions.
This legacy was safeguarded and strengthened in 1971, when De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd generously acquired the Humphreys Collection and placed it on long-term loan to the Gallery, ensuring that the works remained in Kimberley for over half a century.
Following the cessation of the long term loan arrangement with the WHAG and in an historic transition De Beers is releasing the Humphreys Collection, entrusting the works of art, antique objects and furniture that were central to this historical legacy to a new generation of discerning collectors.
The Humphreys Collection, with its distinguished provenance and exceptional breadth, carries the gravitas of both local history and international collecting traditions, standing as one of South Africa’s most remarkable stories of generosity, vision, and cultural stewardship.
Lot 1 - After Philippe Magnier (1647-1715) The Wrestler
Sold for R586,250
Lot 3 - After Severo Ravenna (Italy 15th Century -1543) Boy with thorn
Sold for R16,415
Lot 10 - Louis XVI Display Cabinet (Sheraton display case), 19th Century
Estimated at R15,000 - R20,000
Lot 11 - Sheraton Mahogany and Gilt Metal Vitrine, 18th Century
Sold for R15,242
Lot 15 - A Carved Giltwood Console Table with Figural Scrollwork Decoration
Estimated at R8,000 - R12,000
Lot 35 - German Porcelain Figurine, 19th Century musical scene
Sold for R234
Lot 40 - Blue French Floral Bon Bon Dish, 19th Century Trinket Basket
Sold for R800
Lot 41 - Multicoloured French Floral Bon Bon Dish, 19th Century Trinket Basket II
Sold for R938
Lot 42 - A Meissen Porcelain Clock, 19th century A Meissen Porcelain Clock, 19th century
Estimated at R3,000 - R4,000
Lot 45 - Japanese Dish, 20th Century; Armorial Famille Rose Bowl, 18th Century, two
Sold for R821
