The small gathering of around thirty was subdued from the outset but, by and large, the bidders seemed to be present with purpose and a number of those in the room were successful in their endeavours. Overall the basic clearance rate was 56% but the ‘sold by value’ rate was 72% which is a better indication of the success of the sale.
Amongst the highlights on offer were three Jeffrey Smarts from the Estate of Shirley Sleigh, a fine watercolour from John Brack’s Pencils Series, (Lot 4 ) and an Arthur Streeton, Victorian landscape which had never been on the market before. Two of the three Smarts sold: Central Station (1) 1961 (Lot 9 ) went for $292,800 (IBP) and Sunday Afternoon, Lancia 1965, (Lot 10 ) for $207,400 (IBP). The third Smart, Flea Market, Paris 1949-50 (Lot 8 ) is an early work that might have appealed to an enthusiast interested in the evolution of the artist, but not being indicative of Smart’s popular, stark, urban-landscapes, this painting failed to reach the lower estimate of $80,000. John Brack’s, Out 1979, (Lot 4 ) sold at the lower end of the range for $103,700 (IBP) for what could be considered a success for both vendor and purchaser for a work on paper from such a significant series.
There was great interest in Arthur Streeton’s A View from the Dandenongs, 1921, (Lot 15 ). This subtly toned painting represents an iconic view from the Dandenongs toward Melbourne and beyond to the You Yangs ranges. Amid the most animated bidding of the evening, bidders on the phones and in the room pushed the price well beyond estimate to $146,400 (IBP). A bonus for the parties is that the requirement to pay the Artist Resale Royalty on Streeton’s work recently expired.
Another positive result of the evening was the sale of a large and previously unseen Lin Onus work, Early Morning Reflections, Barmah, (Lot 6 ). While the sale represented good value for the purchaser, relative to some recent sales for works by this artist, the $219,600 (IBP) price indicates that quality works by Onus consistently sell well.
Perhaps the most pleasing surprise of the sale was the record price achieved for the Nyurapayia Nampitjin (Mrs Bennett) work, Kapi Tjukurra 2006, (Lot 25 ). Determined bidding took the price to $41,480 (IBP), double what was expected and significantly above the previous auction house record of $23,000 set in 2011.
Of those lots not sold, were several Margaret Olley pictures; three were offered but none found homes. Blackman, Dickerson and Johnson were also amongst those left behind. Mossgreen will be hoping that, as was the case with their recent sale The Barry and Anne Pang Collection, post auction sales are vigorous.
