LONDON.- Irma Stern’s pre-eminent place in South African Art will be clearer than ever at Bonhams next sale in London on March 23, at which pictures estimated to sell for millions of pounds are on offer.

Giles Peppiatt, Director of South African Art, comments: “You could say that the world record beating sale last year which achieved a price of R26.6m for Stern’s `Bahora Girl’, is having its effect. We are now seeing some of the very best work by this artist, coming in for sale. For Stern collectors this sale also offers works from the full breadth of her career which makes the sale more than usually interesting.”

Among the Stern paintings being offered at Bonhams are:

* Irma Stern (1894-1966), 'Arab Priest', signed and dated 'Irma Stern / 1945', oil on canvas. Like the recent world record picture `Bahora Girl’, this image is also in its original Zanzibar frame. Estimate, £1,500,000-2,000,000.

* Irma Stern,`Portrait of a Malay child’, oil estimate, £700,000-1,000,000

* Irma Stern, `Still life of irises’, oil on canvas, estimate, £700,000-1,000,000.

* Irma Stern, 'Swazi Youth' , oil on canvas, estimate, £600,000-900,000.

* Irma Stern,`Woman in blue’, signed and dated 1950, oil on canvas, estimate, £400,000-600,000.

*Irma Stern, 'Pondo Mother and Child', signed and dated 'Irma Stern 1941,oil on canvas, estimate, £200,000-300,000. This picture was acquired from the Grosvenor Gallery exhibition by the current owner. It was exhibited in London’s Grosvenor Gallery, Irma Stern Memorial Exhibition, 14 March - 15 April 1967.

*Irma Stern, 'The Fete' signed and dated 'Irma Stern 1965', oil on canvas, estimate. £120,000-180,000. The picture was acquired from the Grosvenor Gallery exhibition by the current owner. It was exhibited in London’s Grosvenor Gallery, Irma Stern Memorial Exhibition, 14 March - 15 April 1967.

*Irma Stern, `Arab figures’, 1951, gouache, estimate, £80,000-120,000.