New Zealand Art Auction Sale Reviews

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Three works by Charles Frederick Goldie were the much lauded highlight of the final Important, Early and Rare sale for 2014 at the International Art Centre on 29 October, 2014. And it was certainly encouraging for the auctioneer when a call for an opening bid of $300,000 for the most expensive portrait was met with two hands in the air. Three bidders fought strongly for this work, <i>Wharekauri Tahuna - A Chieftain of the Awara Tribe</i>, and it finally realised $355,000 hammer.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 31-Oct-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

Triple gold in Auckland to International Art Centre

Three works by Charles Frederick Goldie were the much lauded highlight of the final Important, Early and Rare sale for 2014 at the International Art Centre on 29 October.

The three Maori portraits had prime spots in both the NZ Herald and the late night television news and bidding on these lots was amongst the strongest of the sale.  What was interesting is the depth of buyers for Goldie's work in New Zealand.  Despite the fact that his work comes up fairly frequently and achieve some of the highest prices in the auction market in New Zealand, there are consistent buyers for his work. 

Auction records tumbled at the sale of 77 works from the Fletcher Trust Collection, New Zealand's best known corporate art collection at the International Art Centre last night. The painting which attracted the most interest at the viewing was the "Self Portrait" by Raymond McIntyre and the low estimate of $40,000-$60,000 enticed three telephone bidders to compete to the hammer price of $88,000, setting a new auction record for the artist.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 11-Sep-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

Auction Records Tumble at Fletcher Trust Sale at the International Art Centre

Since its inception in 1962, the Fletcher Collection has been renowned for collecting the highest quality examples of both colonial and contemporary New Zealand artwork. Therefore there was always going to be strong interest when such a collection decides to part with a significant number of works, 77 in total. This collection is New Zealand’s best known corporate collection and the fact that it is still together when a lot of other collections were disbursed in the 1990s is remarkable.

At the beginning of the Art + Object sale of <i>Important Paintings and Contemporary Art</i> in Auckland last night, the auctioneer announced there were 9 telephone bidders for lot 77, <i>Hampstead Terraces</i>, by the Indian painter Frances Newton Souza. The bidding for the lot opened at $23,000 with all the action from the phones apart from a lone NZ room bidder who put in a couple of bids around the $50,000 mark, and it was the internationals who competed to reach the hammer price of $72,000.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 08-Aug-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

Auction fever for Indian artist Frances Newton Souza at Art + Object

Spirited bidding in the hands of a capable auctioneer characterised the Important Paintings and Contemporary Art Sale at Art + Object.   A nice mix of contemporary artworks along with some good photography, sculpture and the surprise inclusion of some traditional works rounded out a midwinter catalogue with something for everyone. 

The highlight of International Art Centre’s <i>Important, Early and Rare</i> sale was the rare painting (most sales are of prints) by Eileen Mayo, <i>Sea Holly</i>. With a cult following of dedicated buyers in New Zealand, Australia and Britain, and the work looking better when viewed than the catalogue illustration, the lot was contested by several phone bidders and a very determined room bidder who finally secured the work for $47,250 (hammer) creating a new auction record for the artist.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 07-Aug-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

World class example of British Modernism to stay in New Zealand

Over the last month or so questions have been raised in the media about the ‘rockstar’ New Zealand economy and whether this still exists.  In these fickle times and with an election looming, the art market is always very susceptible to small fluctuations and strong, confident bidding can seem like a distant memory.

Luckily the International Art Centre’s (IAC) Important, Early and Rare Sale had a large amount of lower and attractively priced works which despite a smaller than usual turnout in the room, still flew out the door.

Last night, Webb's Auction in Auckland were the first to conduct an auction under changes to the New Zealand Fair Trading Act which amongst other provisions, prohibits auctioneers taking bids from the chandelier. The changes had the effect of speeding up the selling rate, including a very good result for Grahame Sydney, <i>Sunset Near Omarama </i> which achieved the second highest price at auction for his work, reaching $145,000 (hammer).
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 01-Aug-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

Inaugural test of amended Fair Trading Act auction rules at Webb’s Important Paintings sale

Prior to the start of last night’s Important Paintings sale at Webb’s, most of the audience would have been unaware they were witnessing history in the making. 

The 31st of July  2014 ushered in a new reality for auction houses in New Zealand as  changes to the Fair Trading Act which came into effect in June 2014 heralded significant changes for auctioneers.

Paintings that are fresh to the market create competition between buyers, and for their <i> Important, Early and Rare</i> sale in Auckland on 10 April, 2014, International Art Centre had sourced two paintings by the very rarely offered artist Raymond McIntyre, from the family of the artist. The stunning untitled portrait of actor Phyllis Cavendish had never been offered for sale, and the few comparable portraits in existence are in public collections.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 11-Apr-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

Rare Raymond McIntyre portrait bowls over the bidders at International Art Centre

In the Auckland auction scene, the International Art Centre is a different kind of place.  The focus is mainly on historical and traditional artworks.  The auctioneer treats the audience like friends with chatty banter and the audience gives a round of applause and a cheer when a good price has been achieved.   

The vendor for the first 29 lots at the Art + Object <i>Important Paintings and Contemporary Art</i> sale in Auckland on April 3, was the cheekily named ‘StripClub’ art group and these lots provided the sale with a lively start. Highest price for this group of works went to auction darling Liz Maw, whose work <i>The Rose</i> sold for $13,000 against a low estimate of $8,000.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 04-Apr-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

‘StripClub' Success at Art + Object

As the auction start time ticked on past 6.30pm, at the Art + Object Important Paintings and Contemporary Art sale in Auckland on April 3, auctioneer Ben Plumbly advised we were waiting for the arrival of the cheekily named ‘StripClub’ art group who were the vendors of lots 1-29. It was lucky he did as they provided the sale with a lively start. 

A mix of contemporary and a few traditional paintings were included in the first major New Zealand art sale of the year at Webb’s in Auckland on 27 March. Although a few individual lots shone, overall the rest of the sale proved to be a tough sell on the night. There was a rapid bidding duel for the highest price lot, the absolutely stunning Colin McCahon, Kauri Trees, Titirangi, which went from $210,000 to $352,000 in about 40 seconds.
By Briar Williams in Auckland on 28-Mar-2014 Exclusive to the AASD

McCahon’s Kauri trees stand tall at Webb’s

A mix of contemporary and a few traditional paintings were included in the first sale of the year at Webb’s. Although a few individual lots shone, overall the rest of the sale proved to be a tough sell on the night.

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