Important Paintings & Contemporary Art

6:00PM 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland

Art+Object is delighted to report a sale total of $2 614 171 achieved under the hammer and one of the strongest auctions in recent years. The result constitutes the company’s fourth consecutive sale total in excess of two million dollars in this category of auction and witnessed new record prices at auction for the work of Dick Frizzell, Séraphine Pick, Michael Parekōwhai, Gordon Walters, Martin Basher, Johl Dwyer, Jack Trolove, André Hemer and Amanda Gruenwald.

The auction began with the Ellipsis Group Collection, which sold well with works by Fiona Pardington ($7000 - $10 000) $12 612, Johl Dwyer ($6000 - $9000) $9310, Jack Trolove ($10 000 - $16 000) $21 620, and Nicola Farquhar ($5000 - $7500) $7510, all exceeding their top estimates.

Twelve of the fourteen works consigned from the collection of esteemed Wellington gallerist Janne Land sold on the night, including Ralph Hotere’s Avignon painting bringing $66 065.

The main body of the catalogue began very well with works by Paul Dibble selling strongly throughout the catalogue and frequently exceeding their top estimate. His three-part Soft Geometric realized $30 130, against $18 000 - $26 000. Works by Judy Millar $16 815 ($9000 - $14 000), André Hemer $22 820 ($18 000 - $26 000) and Amanda Gruenwald $21 620 ($10 000 - $16 000) all found strong support in the saleroom. All three works by Colin McCahon sold well with his fine South Canterbury Landscape painting realising $312 310, against $250 000 - $320 000.

All of the high-profile catalogue highlights realised strong and record prices including: Dick Frizzell’s iconic Self Portrait as a Serious Artiste $134 535 ($80 000 - $120 000); Michael Parekōwhai’s Hīwera $207 207 ($120 000 - $180 000); Michael Smither’s Thomas with Beach Umbrella $204 210 ($160 000 - $240 000); Séraphine Pick’s A Place of Passage $87 085 ($80 000 - $120 000); Rita Angus' Hill Landscape $84 085 ($65 000 - $85 000); and Gordon Walters’ Mokoia $648 650 ($500 000 - $750 000).

A full list of prices realised is available here.