26th Nov, 2025 19:00
Modern & Contemporary Art - Evening Sale
30
Vladimir Tretchikoff (South Africa 1913-2006)
Magnolias in a Chinese Vase
oil on canvas
Signature details: signed on the reverse
Exchange Rates*: USD 28 648,37 - 40 107,72
GBP 21 874,08 - 30 623,72
EURO 24 882,80 - 34 835,92
Sold for R462,100
Estimated at R500,000 - R700,000
Condition Report
The overall condition is excellent.
The artwork has been framed using a mechanism that retains the perfect tension of the canvas, allowing for the 'cropped' composition. Should one prefer to restore the work to it's original composition as intended by the artist, one may do so without any resulting damage to the painting surface or canvas.
The signature is visible on the reverse of the cropped composition.
Vladimir Tretchikoff, Woman Reading 'Pigeon's Luck' with Magnolias in a Chinese Vase
Please note, we are not qualified conservators and these reports give our opinion as to the general condition of the works. We advise that bidders view the lots in person to satisfy themselves with the condition of prospective purchases.
oil on canvas
Signature details: signed on the reverse
Exchange Rates*: USD 28 648,37 - 40 107,72
GBP 21 874,08 - 30 623,72
EURO 24 882,80 - 34 835,92
(1)
70 x 70 cm; framed size: 78 x 78 x 7.5 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, Pretoria.
ABOUT THE ARTWORK
I somehow think Vladimir Tretchikoff would hate to be seen as acceptable by the establishment, but I know there will always be a part of what and who he is that cannot be explained, that refuses to be pigeonholed – Marianne Fassler [1]
A bouquet of soft pink magnolias rests in an oriental patterned vase beside a mysterious female hand holding a book titled Pigeon’s Luck. Within this painted composition lies beauty, technical skill and a clever reference to the first book ever published about the eccentric Russian-born artist and his extraordinary life.
Yet, there is more to this painting. The original work, Woman Reading 'Pigeon's Luck' with Magnolias in a Chinese Vase, has here been reimagined as Magnolias in a Chinese Vase. A creative act of reframing of an artwork by an artist who consistently defied convention and expectation. The result is a fresh, compelling composition that gains new intrigue through its adaption.
It feels apt that the revered ‘People’s Painter’, who never shied away from the commercial side of the art world, should have a work that illustrates how collectors can thoughtfully and safely tailor an artwork’s presentation to suit their own aesthetic preferences. Far from any act of physical or damaging alteration, this inventive framing method preserves the painting in its entirety while revealing only a chosen, preferred view of the scene.
While one can speculate how Tretchikoff himself might have responded, it is fair to say that such innovative ways of living with art reflect the enduring fascination his work inspires. A figure of constant debate and admiration, Tretchikoff remains an artist who transformed not only the way art was made and sold, but also the way it is experienced, cherished, and reimagined
[1] Lamprecht, A. (2011). Tretchikoff: The People's Painter, Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers, p.196.
COLLECTIONS:
The artist is represented in numerous local and international collections, notably, the; Rupert Museum, Stellenbosch; Delaire Graff Estate, Stellenbosch; Oyster Box Hotel, Durban and Browns Jewellers, Johannesburg.
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Auction: Modern & Contemporary Art - Evening Sale, 26th Nov, 2025
Currency conversions are based on the exchange rate at the auction's start time and date. Bidders should verify the current exchange rate on the day of the sale. All invoices and payments must be made in South African Rands.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Logistics
While we endeavour to assist our Clients as much as possible, we require artwork(s) to be delivered and/or collected from our premises by the Client. In instances where a Client is unable to deliver or collect artwork(s), Aspire staff is available to assist in this process by outsourcing the services to one of our preferred Service Providers. The cost for this will be for the Client’s account, with an additional Handling Fee of 15% charged on top of the Service Provider’s invoice.
Aspire Art provides inter-company transfer services for its Clients between Johannesburg and Cape Town branches. These are based on the size of the artwork(s), and charged as follows:
Small (≤60x90x10 cm): R480
Medium (≤90x120x15 cm): R960
Large (≤120x150x20 cm): R1,440
Over-size: Special quote
Should artwork(s) be collected or delivered to/from Clients by Aspire Art directly, the following charges will apply:
Collection/delivery ≤20km: R400
Collection/delivery 20km>R800≤50km
Collection/delivery >50km: Special quote
Packaging
A flat fee of R100 will be added to the invoice for packaging of unframed works on paper.
International Collectors Shipping Package
For collectors based outside South Africa who purchase regularly from Aspire Art’s auctions in South Africa, it does not make sense to ship artworks individually or per auction and pay shipping every time you buy another work. Consequently, we have developed a special collectors’ shipping package to assist in reducing shipping costs and the constant demands of logistics arrangements.
For buyers from outside South Africa, we will keep the artworks you have purchased in storage during the year and then ship all the works you have acquired during the year together, so the shipping costs are reduced. At the end of the annual period, we will source various quotes to get you the best price, and ship all your artworks to your desired address at once.
Aspire Art will arrange suitable storage during, and cost-effective shipping at the end, of the annual period.
Collections
Collections are by appointment, with 24-hours’ notice
Clients are requested to contact the relevant office and inform Aspire Art of which artwork(s) they would like to collect, and allow a 24-hour window for Aspire Art’s logistics department to retrieve the artwork(s) and prepare them for collection.
Handling Fee
Aspire Art charges a 15% Handling Fee on all Logistics, Framing, Restoration and Conservation arranged by Aspire.