A signed lithograph by late South African president and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela sold at a charity auction in Hong Kong last month for $31736 (about R461 000).
The artwork was one of only three lots sold at live auction at the International Care Ministries (ICM) annual gala event. The auction was conducted by South African guest auctioneer Joff van Reenen of High Street Auctions.
Titled Impressions of Africa, the litho was donated to the auction by Madiba’s daughter, Dr Maki Mandela, and is accompanied by a rare letter of authentication from the House of Mandela. It depicts 10 children’s handprints in earth tones, surrounding that of a single adult handprint in black. The adult print is Mandela's, and the surrounding prints are those of 10 South African children living with Aids.
There are 500 existing examples of the litho. Number 448/500 was signed by Mandela.
Owners of other prints in this litho series include Prince Charles, Oprah Winfrey, Samuel L Jackson, Bill Clinton, David Beckham and the Sultan of Oman.
Proceeds from the sale of #448 will go towards helping those who live in “ultra-poverty”.
The auction of the litho was a foretaste of a larger Mandela memorabilia auction that will form part of the official “Mandela 100” centenary celebration to be hosted by the House of Mandela in partnership with Global Citizen.
An international headliner concert, gala dinner and an auction that will also be conducted by Van Reenen are included in the Mandela 100 programme, which will focus the global news spotlight on Joburg at the beginning of December.
Last month’s Hong Kong gala and auction was held in aid of ICM, which assists families in the Philippines who live in ultra-poverty. People struggling to survive in “ultra-poverty” survive on less than $0.50 per day(about R7.20).
The other live auction lots comprised a dinner for 10 with the vice-president of the Philippines, a week’s snowy getaway plus a skiing and dinner experience with Andrzej Bargiel, the first person to complete a descent of Mount Everest from K2 to base on skis.