Art Auction Sale Reviews

In July 2015, it was announced that the Hon. George Brandis, then Federal Minister for the Arts had appointed Mr Shane Simpson AM to undertake a review of the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act (PMCH Act) and its regulations. Exactly one week prior to the due date, 30 September 2015, the Hon Mitch Fifield replaced Brandis as the Minister. Though Simpson consulted widely in formulating his recommendations and submitted the report on schedule, Fifield sat on it for more than three years, and during that period, Simpson’s recommendations languished – they were not canvassed publicly for industry scrutiny or comment.

This week the new Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Regulations 2018 were finally announced. The following excerpt relates to Aboriginal art.

Sydney dealer Andrew Crawford appears to have pulled off a deal of the kind once vigorously pursued by members of the art trade but no longer considered possible due to the internet and digital imaging.

Crawford was the principal buyer of the Baudin expedition (1800-1804) watercolour and gouache drawings sold at an auction in Paris by Baron-Ribeyre & Associes almost exactly a year ago for well over their estimates and resold a week ago by Deutscher and Hackett for even higher prices.

A quick glance at the seller’s business card should have set off alarm bells for clients about to pay thousands of dollars for the artwork she was offering. Not only is her own name spelled incorrectly: "Laura Loiuse Johnson" but she is the director of an art gallery that does not exist. There is no John Street Galleries in Sydney’s Woollahra, as her business card suggests, and no such business name is recorded with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. "Urgent sale!" "Reduced to clear" and "F--- Me Drunk … This is the BALLS $5500" are just some of Ms Johnson’s Facebook pitches for a dizzying array of works by Adam Cullen, Minnie Pwerle, Jun Chen, David Bromley and many others.

Auction house Bonhams has been acquired by the private equity group Epiris. The deal has just been announced but financial terms are yet to be disclosed.

London-based Epiris invests in UK-based businesses valued between £75m-500m. Recent investments include the purchase in February this year of the UK arm of magazine publisher Time Inc, a portfolio that includes Country Life, Wallpaper*, Ideal Home, Decanter and Horse & Hound. In May, Epiris bought UK country club operator The Club Company, reportedly valued at some £100m, from Lone Star Funds.

The private shareholders who have sold their stakes include chairman of Bonhams Robert Brooks, who said: “We have always had the intention one day to pass on the business to a new owner who shares our long-term vision for Bonhams.

One of Australia's greatest painters of the human condition, Charles Blackman, has died in Sydney surrounded by family and friends a week after celebrating his 90th birthday.

Blackman was one of the last of his generation, best known for his paintings that riffed on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

A run of record prices has made Sydney painter and filmmaker Del Kathryn Barton an art world sensation, confirming her as the nation's most sought-after female artist.

At an auction in Melbourne this week, a seven-year-old painting of a nightingale by her sold for $280,000, a huge increase on what the original collector paid for it.

The price would have been a record — except, in mid-May a five-year-old Barton portrait, Of Pollen, sold at Sotheby's Australia for $378,000.

That price established a new high watermark for living women artists in Australia, a market similar to the UK and US, where male artists dominate all the top price brackets.

Bonhams unrolled yet another surprise million-dollar-plus Chinese artwork at its sale of Asian art in Sydney last week, with a scroll painting fetching more than $1 million.

After prolonged phone and online bidding the hammer fell at $1.2 million – or $1.46 million including the firm's 22 per cent premium charged to buyers.

And far from being an ancient work the 1.3m long paper scroll, titled Vines and Grass on Rock, dated from the 1950s. It was painted by Pan Tianshou, an artist little-known outside China but one who rates high on the current collecting radar.

At one stage a bidder was even vaulting the offer price higher in $50,000 increments.

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A signed Banksy print has sold at auction in Auckland for $79,280. This was nearly $30,000 more than the top price the auction house, Art+Object, had said it expected the print to fetch. "It's not bad for a print that was one of 600 prints of that image that the artist produced," said the auction house's art director, Ben Plumbly. "Generally value is closely associated with rarity. When you have an edition of 600 you assume something's not that rare." Plumbly said there were around 14 people bidding for the print, of whom only two were in the room. The rest were on the phone or participating through the internet.

There was much hype surrounding the auction of Russell Drysdale's painting Grandma's Sunday Walk. Painted by the Australian artist in 1972 just before his eyesight started to fail, the depiction of outback life was touted as a "10 out of 10" painting — a "masterpiece" that was sure to fetch a big price. "We're very confident this work will set a new Australian auction record for the artist", Mossgreen CEO and director Paul Sumner said at the time. "[It's] the most important painting Mossgreen has ever handled." Very important indeed. It is alleged the auction house's future was riding on it. When it went under the hammer on June 25, 2017 three bidders sent the price rocketing. By the time the gavel fell it had reached $2.97 million — the fifth-highest price ever paid for an Australian work at auction.

BDO never provided "any satisfactory explanation" as to why they did not adopt a "common-sense approach" on the issue of the return of $5 million in art and antiques caught in the Mossgreen administration, the Federal Court of Appeal has noted. The now published judgement that admonished BDO came after BDO was thrawted in its attempt to impose a hefty fee on clients of the collapsed auction house, as they sought to recoup the $1 million in expenses undertaken without reference to the courts.

In a revealing insight into the unregulated art auction industry, the administrator's report for the failed Mossgreen art auction house alleges the company breached nine separate sections of the Corporations Act. The 100-page report, prepared over four months and distributed to more than 300 creditors this week, found the company — once the nation's biggest art and antique auction house — had debts of $13.8 million with assets of $3.2 million when it ceased trading on Christmas eve.

The jury might be out as to where it was painted, but the future is bright for a beach scene by one of the nation's most celebrated landscape artists, Elioth Gruner. The oil on canvas, On the Sands, is on display in Melbourne ahead of its auction on Thursday April 26, where it is expected to sell for more than $200,000. It is one of four pictures to go under the hammer after being owned for a century by the family of pioneering showman, Sir George Tallis. The other works include Rupert Bunny's Mother and Child on the Beach, Penleigh Boyd's The Jetty, and Tom Roberts' Untitled (Dandenong Landscape), presenting a snapshot of Australian art from the early 1920s. The sale is expected to raise about $500,000, with the proceeds going to a new philanthropic fund supporting the study of statistics at the University of NSW.

The Federal Court of Appeal knocked out the case this morning, with the reasons yet to be issued. The return of art and antiques to their vendors/buyers is no sure thing, as the possibility of any unpaid rent could see the High Street, Armadale and Clayton landlords lock up the premises and hold the goods in the worst case scenario. The matter related to BDO's administration of the Mossgreen goods and chattels, especially costs relating to their storage and insurance. BDO had been seeking to charge clients of the collapsed auction house for the return of their goods. Clients were furious at BDO's attempts to charge a fee – levied at $353 per lot – to have their own property returned, especially as some lots were going to cost more for their return that their actual value. The initial judgement savaged the accountancy firm.

I have a confession: I am addicted to auctions on cruise ships. I don’t go to buy, but rather to watch hucksters take money off gullible Americans. It all starts with the invitation to attend a “champagne auction preview”. Champagne, eh? Very classy. Not really. It is sparkling wine. Still, it creates the required atmosphere. The auctioneer—usually a man—starts by telling us how much he loves art. He does not just sell art: he is a collector himself. Later he will tell us which painters’ works he collects. Coincidentally, he has also got a lot of works by this artist to sell. He starts chucking out names. “Dalí, Chagall, Picasso…” Always those three, the premier league. Then he will throw in another—Pino Daeni or Peter Max—someone bright, splashy and populist. And then there will be another name, one that you definitely have not heard of. Say, Poshinsky (who I have just made up). Remember, at this stage, they are not selling anything. On the contrary, they are giving us everything: “champagne” and raffle tickets to win worthless prints.

The administrators of collapsed auction house Mossgreen have been ordered to return thousands of precious antiques and heirlooms, after the Federal Court ruled they did not have the right to slug owners a fee to hand the items back. Justice Nye Perram found the administrator, BDO Australia, was "intermeddling" when it tried to charge people a $353.20 collection fee per item. BDO Australia has been ordered to report back to the court within the next seven days with its response.

WA’s consumer watchdog is investigating the sudden closure of a Perth auction house that has left some sellers thousands of dollars out of pocket. Consumer Protection said Hayes Auctioneers, which specialised in selling antiques and artworks, had closed because of financial difficulties. It believes up to 40 sellers have not been paid after their items were sold on consignment. One seller reported being owed $13,000, while two others had lost $5000 each. An investigation was under way to determine if the Australian Consumer Law or the Auction Sales Act had been breached.

A pencil drawing of a 14- or 15-year-old Aboriginal teenager named Toulgra, who was later sent to Norfolk Island on suspicion of being involved in colonial wars during the "secret river" days of the early colony,  has been acquired by the State Library of NSW for $237,000. The 1802 drawing by French artist Nicolas-Martin Petit, an artist on Nicolas Baudin’s expedition to Australia, is considered unique and highly significant, said library staff. It was found between the pages of a book in Bath, Britain. Compared to other Indigenous portraits of the time, the pencil drawing is neither cartoonish nor heroic. What made it so "wonderful and special" was that it was "loving and sympathetic", said Ronald Briggs, a curator at the State Library of NSW and an Indigenous services librarian.

[Terry Ingram advises: The drawing was lot 101 in Christie's Topographical; sale in London on 14 December 2017 and the price realised was £162,500 (IBP) against an estimate of  £70,000 - £100,000. The source was given as Private Collection, England. ]

Mystery still surrounds the whereabouts of two rare million-dollar masterpieces stolen during an audacious Auckland heist a year ago. Brazen ram-raiders sprayed the window of Parnell's International Art Centre with a substance - designed to freeze or weaken the glass - before reversing a stolen Ford Courier ute into it about 4am on April 1. The robbers then rammed the ute into the windows for a second time, possibly damaging the two highly-valuable artworks crafted in 1884 by celebrated Bohemia-born artist Gottfried Lindauer.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then artists from central Australia should be feeling fantastic about Damien Hirst's latest works — but instead they're experiencing a mixture of hurt and bewilderment. The community of Utopia near Alice Springs produces a unique style of dot art that is internationally renowned, especially the paintings of the late pioneer Emily Kame Kngwarreye. Now, they're upset to see a new exhibition by Hirst, the world's most commercial artist, which they believe bears a striking resemblance to their own work. The provocative British artist's latest exhibition is 24 paintings called the Veil series. Priced from $US500,000 to $US1.7 million each, they were all snapped up soon after going on display at the Gagosian Gallery in Beverly Hills.

A large number of Mossgreen consignors are rapidly preparing their case to challenge the collection fees being charged by the administrators of the collapsed Australian auction house.? A court hearing in Sydney has now been set for next week where BDO Australia will seek formal approval of their charges of $353.20 (around £200) per lot for vendors to collect their own goods.The hearing will take place before or soon after March 29. Consignors of items that were either unsold or awaiting sale at the time the firm folded in December have been given short notice to arrange their arguments and evidence. They have until 5pm on March 27 to lodge their objections and any documents with the court.

The administrator of collapsed auction house Mossgreen is seeking a court order to justify its $353 art collection levy amid the regulator inquiring about the levy. In a letter to Mossgreen clients on Friday, BDO said it would file an action in the Federal Court by Tuesday and it would continue to hold onto the artwork and collectibles subject to court orders. BDO has also extended the time for payment of the levy and collection of items from March 10 to March 29, saying it was "unlikely that [court] directions will be received prior to the final date for collection". (Subscription required)

Amid his separation and divorce from his wife, Russell Crowe is sending a huge selection of over 200 pieces of memorabilia, art, and jewelry to auction for a special sale at Sotheby’s Australia aptly titled “The Art of Divorce.” The Oscar-winner married Australian actress and singer Danielle Spencer in 2003. The couple separated in 2012, although the couple’s divorce was only recently finalized. Crowe is also selling off some of his art. Paintings from actor’s collection of Australian artists—Charles Blackman, Pro Hart, Brett Whiteley, Arthur Boyd, Sidney Nolan, and Robert Dickerson—will also go under the hammer.

The shock closure of Mossgreen just before Christmas was a surprise to all, as was the flow on to their New Zealand branch, Mossgreen-Webb's a few days later.

Rumours of the sale of Mossgreen-Webbs to new owners had been circulating in New Zealand for several weeks, and have now been confirmed.

The assets of Mossgreen-Webb’s have been purchased by Bruce Qin and Ewen Mackenzie-Bowie, art collectors and successful business professionals in the field of international education.

Dame Kiri Te Kanawa is selling her prestigious collection of artwork. The International Art Centre is preparing the catalogue for sale on April 10. There are 10 works, including three major Charles Frederick Goldie paintings, valued between $3 million and $4m, centre director Richard Thomson said.
Works by Arthur Boyd, Lloyd Frederic Rees, Doris Lusk, Raymond McIntyre, Isabel Jane Field, Uta Uta Tjangala and a large-scale work by Ralph Hotere are included in the sale. The artworks have been held in the loan collection at Auckland Art Gallery for more than 25 years.

Administrators for Mossgreen have told clients of the collapsed auction house they must pay almost $1.8 million in fees before they can have their goods returned.

Clients are furious and confused as to whether they can be charged a fee – levied at $353 per lot – to have their own property returned. The decision affects clients of Mossgreen who consigned artworks and other collectibles, but whose items were not sold before the auction house went under and hence remain in Mossgreen's possession. Clients who consigned multiple items are being billed thousands of dollars.

"I think it's highway robbery," said Tom Lowenstein, the high-profile accountant who helps manage the affairs of artist Charles Blackman among many others.

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Peter Rowland, the Melbourne society catering company ranks among the top six unsecured creditors, after the auction house Mossgreen fell into voluntary external administration last month. Around $166,000 is owed to the catering company who sent its executive director Steven Abela to the first creditors' meeting. There were 330 creditors identified at the meeting last week who were told no law required trust accounts for the auction proceeds. The names of the creditors are a who's who from across Australia, ranging from passionate collectors, socialites, low key business tycoons to deceased estates.

One of country's most well-known auction houses is in liquidation. It follows the Australian owner of Mossgreen-Webb's being put into voluntary administration just before Christmas. Melbourne-headquartered Mossgreen, which bought Webb's auction house in Parnell in 2015, owes A$12 million ($13.1m) to 400 creditors. Administrators, James White, Andrew Sallway and Nicholas Martin of BDO in Australia, said last week that Mossgreen's assets amount to about A$3m and that they do not yet have details of any New Zealand creditors.

One of Sydney's most enduring and endearing old school art dealers, Ray Hughes, has died. Hughes died at the Nepean Hospital in Penrith on Thursday of respiratory failure after a bout of pneumonia, with his son Evan by his side. The 72 year old had suffered poor health for nearly a decade, giving up his much loved cigarettes in 2008 and later, reluctantly, his even greater love, red wine. For more than 45 years the larger-than-life dealer was a key figure on the Australian art scene, opening his first gallery in Brisbane in 1969, when contemporary art was still, in Hughes' word, something best looked at in private. He expanded into Sydney in the mid-1980s, running galleries in both cities for a short while before consolidating in the multi-storey Surry Hills building that he was canny enough to buy in 1987, when the suburb was more seedy than trendy. He ran a gallery there until Christmas 2015, when his declining health and the decision of co-owner Evan to pursue a different career path led them to close the doors.

Mossgreen art auction house and gallery has debts of $12 million and when asked about the chances of creditors getting their money back, a former director said "it doesn't look good". Administrators BDO told 50 anxious people at the first creditors' meeting there were "circa 400" owed money and that Mosssgreen had assets of just $3 million. Toorak businessman Jack Gringlas? confirmed to Fairfax Media that his family company Jadig Investments is the biggest creditor, being owed $6 million. The Age understands another vendor is owed $400,000 from art and furniture sold at auction.