With a cache of important paintings with well documented provenance, acquired largely from the late Dr Joseph Brown, buyers hungry for pieces fresh to the market were out in force. It was not an auction for bargains however, with the quality of the pieces forcing prices well above pre-auction estimates.
The cover lot, Ethel Carrick Fox's Buying Flower's , (Lot 286) most certainly aided by Mrs Kingston's meticulous record keeping of its passage from France to Melbourne, achieved $310,000 on the hammer or $367,350 including buyers' premium, far in excess of the $90,000 - 120,000 pre sale estimate.
Models in the Garden (Lot 224) by Rupert Bunny sold for $51,000, compared to a $30-45,000 pre sale estimate.
Three John de Burgh Perceval paintings on ceramic tiles achieved $21,000, (Lot 229) $31,000 (Lot 230) and $21,500 (Lot 231) respectively and the two John Peter Russell works on paper were keenly sought after at $22,000 (Lot 240) and $29,000 (Lot 241).
A record was set for a Vassilieff gouache, with Man and Woman (Lot 216) being knocked down for $24,000.
Whether it be Mrs Kingston had a good eye for a bargain, or that works featured in a sale of such quality commanded a premium, Septimus Power's Cocker Spaniel (Lot 272) sold for $9,000 on the hammer, having been purchased from Joel Fine Art in 2006 for $4,400.
The handsome prices were by no means limited to the paintings, in fact some extraordinary prices were achieved for the furniture and decorative arts. A small Chinese carved panel, not even illustrated in the catalogue was purchased by the buyer of the cover lot for $32,000. The panel had been estimated by many parties at a fraction of that price.
As would be expected, the fine ceramics were chased wholeheartedly with a Klytie Pate jar selling for $22,000 and a 'Famille Rose vase purchased in 2004 from the Estate of Mrs Kingston's friend and fellow collector, John W Kenny selling for $26,000. An Adam style serving table, a gift from Mr Kenny, sold for $6,000 and the George III secretaire bookcase was knocked down for $14,800.
It was unarguably a canny decision on the part of the Estate executor Peter Walsh to engage Aingers for the sale. Staging the sale in situ, and with most helpful, approachable, personnel on hand, the Estate was showcased to its full extent.
Many auction houses now choose to 'cherry pick', or just offer the more valuable pieces and disseminate the lesser pieces to other venues. By offering all pieces together the integrity of the collection is maintained and no doubt, price and cache is enhanced.
The sale achieved $1,300,000 on the hammer, surpassing the pre-sale estimate of $800,000-$1,200,000.
