The old adage that there was ‘something for everyone’ really rang true at this auction, however it appeared that everyone was there for a select offering of works. Many of the top lots were passed in or uncontested including Bill Hammond, Art Lover 3, (Lot 17 ), Michael Smither Boy and Dolphin (Lot 26 ), , Colin McCahon Uruwera 8 (Lot 31 ) and C F Goldie Drowsy – Wiripine Ninia, Ngati Awa (Lot 34 ).
The highlight of the group of World War I paintings was a version of the famous watercolour by Horace Moore Jones, Simpson and his Donkey, (Lot 45 ). This painting, depicting a stretcher-bearer supporting a badly wounded soldier astride a donkey has become an iconic image in New Zealand art history, representing the sacrifice and heroism of the Gallipoli campaign.
The artist painted this image and five others in 1920 and this is reputed to be the last one in private hands. This particular painting had been offered at Webb's in 2008 where it had sold for $110,000 to the current vendor. The low estimate this time round was $150,000, but like Auckland house prices climbing sky high in record time, four phone bidders took the final sale price to $220,000.
This result is even more incredible when it is taken into account that other versions of the painting have been offered at auction in Australia and sold for $100,000 in 2007 and $5,500 in 2003.
Other works in this section that sold well were the collection of paintings of World War I hospital ships by Frank Barnes.
When good ship paintings are on offer, there are always knowledgeable ship collectors on hand and the Maheno, H.M.S New Zealand and Marama (Lot 58 ) depicting three ships, by Frank Barnes was a gem of a picture, tiny but beautifully painted. It realised $7,700 against a low estimate of $1,000.
Other pleasing highlights of the sale were found in the unexpected. White Island c.1986 (Lot 15 ) was a major work by Buck Nin, one of New Zealand's senior contemporary Maori painters. An artist and a teacher, Buck Nin has always been a significant contributor to the profile of Maori art, however his prices at auction have always been reasonable given his importance.
If any work was going to address this imbalance, this was the one. It was a major work both in size (240 x 360cm) and in provenance. Although the sale price of $45,000 fell just below the low estimate of $50,000, it was still an auction record and more than double his previous highest price.
The collection of Dorothy Kate Richmond paintings also did well against estimates. She was a contemporary and friend of Frances Hodgkins, and her watercolours are more commonly seen, but two stunning oils in this sale really bought buyers to the fore.
Milking Time, Te Awamutu (Lot 59 ), was a large scale oil presenting a beautiful glimpse through large shady trees to a milking scene. The impressionist technique translates well on a large scale, showing the skill and competence of the artist. Works of this size and quality from this period are not often seen at auction and buyers appreciated the chance to own a major piece of New Zealand impressionism. The painting realised $34,000 against a low estimate of $25,000 and I still felt this was excellent buying.
Another painting by Dorothy Kate Richmond, which also shone, was the portrait Lady of the Lillies from 1900, (Lot 64 ). Still housed in its original frame and with a lovely Edwardian feel, this work sold for $28,000 against a low estimate of $18,000.
As always, the section of colonial and traditional watercolours did pretty well. IAC really knows how to capture a market, which pretty much died in the late 1980s for everyone else. One of the Goldies’ with a very reasonable estimate sold for $135,000 hammer contributing nicely to the final total.
The arbitragers from Australia won't be quite so happy with their results. Two works in the sale had previously been bought at auction in Australia in 2014.
A really great work by Louise Henderson, Landscape 1960 (Lot 9 ) had been purchased at Shapiro Auctions in Sydney for $Au8,400 (IBP). It sold for $7,250 hammer last night.
More of a risk had been taken with Racecourse (Lot 37 ), a brilliant painting by Garth Tapper. This had well exceeded the estimate when sold at Davidson Auctions last year for $Au16,250 (IBP). But bidding only reached $20,000 against a low estimate of $25,000 and the lot was referred, coincidently to another Australian dealer. It hardly seems worthwhile for either party once premiums, commissions and shipping are taken into account.
Although this was a good, well rounded sale, the bidding seemed a bit thin on the ground and it felt as if more lots were passed in than is usual for IAC.
Although five new auction records were created, it was a much larger sale than usual and possibly some of the lower priced lots could have been held over for an affordable sale to speed it all along.
The auction totalled $1,055,760 hammer ($1,214,123 IBP) representing a sale result of 64% by value and 68% by lot.
Notes:
All prices are $NZ unless otherwise designated.
IBP - including buyers premium (15%)
