Although the room was not full to capacity, a frenetic phone table suggested that many of the bidders may have stayed in Sydney for Thursday’s presentation of the Gleeson Estate.
Those buyers in the room who had ventured out on a grim Melbourne Monday night were given the opportunity to buy many of the works without reserve, and on many occasions this heightened bidding activity over lots.
Bonhams and Goodman would have been delighted that the cover picture, Whiteley’s ‘Justine’ has now found a good home with Sydney dealer, Michael Nagy, albeit at the lower end of the estimate - $800,000.
The Blackman piece ‘The Stairs’ which was highlighted in the auction preview article was knocked down on the hammer for $60,000 after being contested by four bidders.
Tucker’s ‘The Footballer’s’ seemed exceptionally good buying at $300,0000 by Melbourne dealer John Playfoot, as did an enormous H.S Power which was knocked down to Sydney dealer, Denis Savill for $32,000 against a pre-auction estimate of $45-65,000. Savill took full advantage of some of the very reasonable prices buying many items and having the referral bid on Lloyd Rees's ‘Afternoon in Tuscany’ at $90,000.
Melbourne dealer Bridget McDonnell bought a small Hilda Rix Nicholas for $16,000 and created an auction record for Douglas Watson, with her winning bid of $5,500 for his nude, ‘Carla’. The important Gleeson work, ‘Sea Wrack..’ from Kurt Barry’s estate had several bidders and was sold for $120,000.
However, the night was not all about bargains. A small John Peter Russell watercolour was chased up to $21,000 against an $8,000-12,000 estimate; a Drysdale drawing ‘Soldiers, Albury Station’, also sold for $21,000 against a low estimate of $8,000-12,000 and a Frances Hodgkinson watercolour was bid up to $26,000 hammer against a $10-15,000 estimate.
Tim Goodman displayed masterful auctioneering when a beautiful Elioth Gruner seascape faltered around $20,000, eventually selling for $36,000.
The market for Bill Henson photographs was well supported with all pieces exceeding estimates. The selection of contemporary pieces from Amanda Marburg and Noel McKenna were also well supported, and all sold.
The two sets of Andy Warhol tiles far exceeded pre-auction estimates selling for $23,000 and $20,000. A small sculpture by the creator of Melbourne’s infamous “Yellow Peril”, soared to $17,000 against an estimate of $6,000-9,000.
All eyes are now on Sydney, for Thursday’s Estate of James Gleeson auction.
