Peter Stichbury s Lily Donaldson (Lot 21) sold for $45,625.00 (including premium), and established a new record for the artist. The pre auction estimate had been $28,000 - 38,000.
Heather Straka's pair of portraits King Tawhio (Lot 19) and The Virgin of Seven Sorrows (Lot 42) sold for $18,820 each against the estimate of $15,000-20,000 and $86,687.50 was paid for Don Binney's Kokako, Tiritiri Matangi (Lot 33). Gregor Kregar, Coloured Gnome Trio sold for $6,387.50 (Lot 25) and his trio of ceramic dogs sold rather conservatively for $798, $285 and $456 each.
Michael Parekowhai's two key pieces Rainbow Servant Dreaming (Lot 18) and the cover lot, Kapa Haka, (Lot 24) sold for $12,546 and $47,906 respectively.
New Zealand's contemporary buyers are being spoilt for choice with this Collection and recent offerings from various Collectives. It has become apparent that there is very keen support for this sector of the art market. It will be interesting to see if some of this interest is picked up across the Tasman, as it has been some time since there has been a significant contemporary collection offered as a stand alone.
Some fresh interest for the contemporaries seems to be emerging at some of the auction houses, with Bonhams Goodman expanding this section in their last sale with some very satisfying results for works by artists such as Amanda Marburg and Noel McKenna.
