The passion of Rae Rothfield permeated the crowded auction room and with more than ten Sotheby’s staff working the telephone table, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. From the start, collectors vigorously displayed their support, setting the tone for the night as Clement Meadmore’s Scronch (Lot 1 ) sold for $57,340 against a pre-sale estimate for $25,000-35,000. A tonal masterpiece, estimated at $35,000-45,000, Clarice Beckett’s The Bus Stop (Lot 5 ) sold for $79,300.
The current exhibition of Antony Gormley at the Royal Academy, London, ensured aggressive bidding in the room and five telephone bidders set alight the Gormley sculptures (Lot 8 ) Meme CXLVI and (Lot 9 ) Meme CXLIX. The two masterful petite sculptures by Gormley estimated at $80,000-120,000 each, sold for $213,500 and $225,700 respectively, the latter setting an Australian auction record price for the artist.
With an estimate of $350,000-450,000, the market appeal for Brett Whiteley paintings remains unquenched, with the dramatic early work Wendy under the Shower (Lot 10 ) going for $439,200.
The finely balanced sculpture by Lyn Chadwick Winged Figures II (Lot 11 ) estimated at $80,000-100,000 was met with frenzy by four telephone bidders before selling in the room for $183,000 while Maquette for Reclining Figure II by Henry Moore (Lot 20 ) sold for $103,700 against an estimate of $70,000-90,000.
Rarely seen in Australia, Disco (Lot 22 ) estimate $40,000-60,000, a small bronze by world renown Italian sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro sold for $48,800 and was probably the most astute purchase of the evening.
The highly refined work of Akio Makigawa drew heavy support. The first of the two works both of which were titled Cycle of Life II (Lot 34 ) estimate $12,000-18,000, sold for $25,620 while the second, (Lot 35 ) estimated at $15,000-20,000 sold for $41,480
One of the most stunning results was Flora Exemplar (Lot 72 ) by Melbourne based and internationally acclaimed sculptor Andrew Rogers. Estimated at $5,000-7,000, Flora Exemplar, a visually intense refined sculpture that is full of movement sold for $85,400, an auction record price for the artist.
Inge King was represented by the mesmerizing small sculpture Bush Family (Lot 38 ). Measuring only 33.5 cm in height with an estimate of $6,000-9,000, it sold for $26,840 after no less than ten telephone bidders were exhausted.
Like most of the lots offered, the intricate and highly appealing sculpture No. 264 by Robert Klippel (Lot 17 ) with outstanding provenance and supporting literature, estimated at $20,000-30,000 caused further excitement when it sold for $85,400.
Joy Hester Woman Resting (Lot 46 ), estimate $6,000-9,000 sold after a barrage of bids for $36,600 and Le Chat by David Larwill, estimate $5,000-7,000 (Lot 67 ), a work on paper, sparkled, selling for $19,520.
Sculpture by Rick Amor, Mike Parr, Arthur Boyd and Deborah Halpern were also keenly purchased. It was refreshing to witness the market desire for quality sculpture, an art form sometimes overlooked in the Australian art market. Sotheby’s outstanding Rothfield results have thankfully recalibrated the importance of sculpture and its influence on the history of art.
With a pre-sale low estimate of $1,528,300 (215 Lots) the auction totaled $2,343,651, 153% sold by value and 79% sold by lot.
The auction certainly was a celebration of one of Australia’s pioneer collectors of modern and contemporary art.
Sold prices include buyer's premium.
