Complaint against Stephan Welz & Co

In October 2025 I submitted four paintings to Stephan Welz & Co with the purpose of having them auctioned on 17 November 2025. In a statement dated 17 November 2025 I was informed that three of the paintings were sold for an amount of R56 000, and that after deductions of the company’s commission and VAT an amount of R44 224 was due to me. According to the contract entered into between me and Stephan Welz & Co the Company shall make payment to the seller within 45 days from the date of the auction.

I waited until 5 February 2026 (81 days after the date of the auction) to query when payment will be made. Laurence Friedman, the person responsible for payments to sellers, then informed me on the very same day that payment will be made by 23 February 2026 at the latest. By 23 February 2026 no payment had been made. Queries to Laurence Friedman and Laurie Sher on 24, 25 and 27 February 2027 have been ignored. It is now (on 9 March 2026) exactly 103 days since the date of the auction, and no payment has been made and no explanation given for this breach of contract. This is a sad indictment against Stephan Welz & Co.

Sincerely Prof Clarence Williams