The opening lot, Portsea – Weeroona Bay 1956 (Lot 201 ) by Arthur Boyd got the sale off to a solid start, reaching its low estimate of $18,000 hammer ($22,500 IBP). A further four works by the artist appeared in the sale. Berwick Landscape 1946 (Lot 226 ), which was previously unsold at the Savill’s Sotheby’s auction in May this year, has this time round sold for $28,000 hammer ($34,363 IBP), making a suitable addition to the private collection of a fly fishing enthusiast. Cottles Bridge c1958 (Lot 227 ) followed but didn’t quite make its low estimate when it sold for $35,000 hammer ($42,954 IBP). Estimated at $120,000-160,000 the cover lot, Sunset Cave c 1976 (Lot 229 ) was the highest ticket item in the sale but did not find a buyer, however Woman and Dog 1962 (Lot 231 ), freshly cleaned since its last appearance at Mossgreen in 2014, followed soon after to sell below its low estimate for $70,000 hammer ($85,909 IBP).
Sidney Nolan was well represented with 13 lots on offer and all selling within or above their estimates. Highlights include Ned Kelly mixed media on paper (Lot 203 ) achieved its high estimate of $17,000 hammer ($21,250 IBP) and the larger Kelly with Gun – Horse in Distance (Lot 222 ) which just exceeded its high estimate to reach $27,000 hammer ($33,136 IBP), bought by a Melbourne collector.
The highest price achieved at the auction was for Garry Shead’s Bacchus at Mount Pleasant 2009 (Lot 230 ) which sold to a private collector in Sydney for $75,000 hammer ($92,045 IBP). However it wasn’t a great night for the artist, with The Mockers 1993 (Lot 228 ), failing to find a buyer at $85,000-110,000 and three lower value works later in the catalogue selling at or well below their low estimates.
Brett Whiteley continued his winning streak from the previous night’s auction with all six lots on offer finding buyers. The highlight was his exceptional drawing Moods of the Sea 1972-73 (Lot 223 ) which saw a battle between five phone bidders before it was knocked down to a Sydney collector for $30,000 hammer ($36,818 IBP).
Historical works with an Australian theme were a sure thing with institutional interest helping to drive up the prices for several lots including for Untitled (Exploring Party at a River) (Lot 325 ) by a painter from the Australian School. The charming watercolour, formerly part of the Rene Rivkin Collection, was estimated at $3,000-5,000 and sold to a Melbourne collector for $16,000 hammer ($19,636 IBP). Another work listed as Australian School, Girl Reading c late 1800s, sold to a Sydney buyer for $6,500 hammer ($7,977 IBP).
Three South Australian Scenes by S T Gill (Lot 323 ) with estimates of $3,000-5,000 were well sold at $6,500 hammer ($7,977 IBP). An auction record was achieved for Three Grey Kangaroos 1903 (Lot 339 ) by rarely traded artist Harry Garlick. A number of commercial galleries were reportedly on the phones for this lot, which had estimates of $4,000-6,000, but in the end it went to a Melbourne collector for $11,000 hammer ($13,500 IBP).
The Stock-in-Trade of Savill Galleries made a total of $827,200 hammer ($1,015,199 IBP).
With Savill Galleries officially closing at the end of 2016, Savill has revealed to a not entirely surprised market that he is not ready for retirement just yet. His new venture, ‘Golden Days Fine Art’ will focus entirely on high end works and in a far less public capacity – open only by appointment.
