The most popular work in the sale was probably also by one of the most unfashionable artists, Petrus van der Velden. In the 70s & 80s it seemed everyone wanted works by van der Velden, but today they have become saleroom dinosaurs.
Except for Tuesday night, when Mountain Stream, Otira Gorge (Lot 34) estimated at $30,000 - 40,000 made $41,000 + BP. His small Self Portrait (Lot 39) sold for $6,700. Perhaps New Zealanders are waking up to the importance of this artist whom some described as the 'God father of New Zealand Painting', although two other works by the artist were not sold.
Charles F Goldie's A Noble Relic of a Noble Race - Atama Paparangi (lot 33) fetched $245,000 + BP, the second highest auction price in NZ this year, the highest being $252,000 at International Art Centre's July auction, also for a Goldie. However the second Goldie in the sale, Te Aitu Te Irikau - An Arawa Chieftainess (Lot 37) estimated at $210,000 - 260,000 is under negotiation
Colin McCahon's A Poem of Kaipara Flat (Lot 28) estimated at $110,000 - 150,000). was passed in on the night but was sold post auction for $85,000 + BP
There was keen interest in two works by Robert Nettleton Fields. His Still Life, c. 1931 (Lot 18) estimated at $4,000 - 6,000 sold for healthy $14,000 + BP, and his Self Portrait (Lot 17) went for $10,000 + BP, the second and third highest prices paid at auction for the artist.
A new record was achieved for Douglas Badcock's Across Lake Hayes to Wakatipu (Lot 60)which sold for $27,000 + BP, the previous record being $8,200 set by International Art centre in 2005.
On the night around 60% of the works by number were sold on the night, and no doubt auctioneer Richard Thomson is been busy with negotiations on the unsold lots. In contrast to the 115 lot offering of mainly 19th & 20th Century paintings, International Art Centre is now gearing up for a large sale of Contemporary, Modern, Foreign & Collectable Art well in excess of 200 lots on 26 November
