The cover piece, Blackman's The Game of Chess 1956 (Lot 33) sold at the lower end of the estimate of $600,000, or $720,000 IBP, having been contested by a number of bidders in the room and on the phones, but ultimately selling to a phone bidder.
The total pre-auction estimate for the sale had been $2.8-3.9 million, however the failure to sell the Von Guerard and the Blackman selling at the lower end of the estimate impacted markedly on the final result.
The ever ebullient Tim Goodman quipped to Geoffrey Smith that he would like some more Ellis Rowans for the next sale - and indeed he would when some of the pieces were bid to as much as $31,200 IBP each. Displayed to stunning effect in an artist specific 'room' at the auction viewing, the works were in impeccable condition and keenly sought after by a number of successful committed bidders. The very conservative estimates of $2,500-3,000 and $4,000-6,000 saw many bids left on the books and spirited bidding from both the room and the phones.
Adrian Feint's Panel for Overmantel 1945 (Lot 28) sold for $25,200 IBP against an estimate of $10,000-15,000.
The notable Margaret Preston Wattle, (Lot 25) sold for $116,400 IBP against an estimate of $80,000-120,000 and the particularly vibrant Albert Namatjira Ghost Gums Central Australia (Lot 30) was bid up to $51,000 in the room against an estimate of $35,000-50,000.
Rupert Bunny's Le Volant Dechire, (Lot 18) saw spirited bidding take the hammer price to $240,000 against an estimate of $170,000 -190,000. The painting was secured for Perth fertility specialist, Bruce Bellinge, who seems to have quite a penchant for Bunny, securing another at Sotheby's earlier in the year.
As expected the 19th century photographs by John H. Jones did invoke institutional interest, selling to the Bendigo Art Gallery for $36,000, including premium and International and Contemporary offerings fared well with Emily Floyd's Í Don't Understand' (Lot 56) setting a record for the artist selling for $4,700 having been offered with a $1,500 - $2,500 estimate.
The crowd in the room was quite thin for Bonhams and Goodman's last offering under the company banner, however as always, an extremely active phone table contributed to the success of the sale. It was also notable to see a number of Sotheby's staffers attending the auction, no doubt 'champing at the bit' for the transition to begin.
