Important Paintings & Contemporary Art

6:30PM 3 Abbey Street, Newton, Auckland

Art+Object is delighted to report a sale total of $2 840 000 achieved under the hammer in one of the strongest auctions in recent years. With the addition of post-sale results a final sale total of over three million dollars is now imminent. The result constitutes the company’s fifth 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 Fiona Pardington, Peter Stichbury, Michael Parekōwhai, Robert Ellis, Tony de Lautour, Sam Mitchell, Gregor Kregar and Seung Yul Oh.

Heated bidding was evident throughout the auction with a good crowd turning out and almost 400 bidders registered to bid on the app. The auction began strongly with clusters of editioned works by Michael Parekōwhai and Paul Dibble all selling well. One of the stars of the evening was Fiona Pardington, who was represented by three consecutive lots. Davis Kea Wings (Above), fresh from a recent appearance at the landmark Toi Tū Toi Ora exhibition, sailed beyond its top estimate of $80 000, eventually selling for $133 300, almost double her previous record price at auction. Captive Female Huia duly followed suit, selling for $86 485.

One of the highlights of the catalogue was the inclusion of works from the estate of Wellingtonian’s Gordon and Elizabeth Orr. Top price from their collection went to the much-admired 1965 Te Henga landscape which brought $240 240, against its estimate of $120 000 - $170 000. The artist’s later ‘Bird’ painting Apapane Kilauea, from the collection of Ron Sang, also excelled, selling for over double its estimate when it made $258 258.

Further high and record prices in the main body of the catalogue included: Michael Parekōwhai’s Koura from his iconic ‘Kapa Haka’ series which set a new record for his work at auction when it made $216 215; Stephen Bambury’s Necessary Correction XVIII realizing $72 070; Colin McCahon’s charcoal Necessary Protection drawing selling for $99 100; and Robert Ellis’s Motorway Journey making over seven times its bottom estimate in a prolonged bidding battle between the room and the internet when it sold for $78 075.

Thank you to everyone who attended and participated in the auction. A full list of prices realised is available here.