Submitted by aarAdmin on Fri, 04/12/2019 - 00:00
With everyone including the auctioneer keeping their fingers crossed, Ian Fairweather’s Barbecue, 1963 (lot 23) set an auction record for the artist when it was knocked down for $1.4 million ($1.708 million including buyer’s premium) at Deutscher and Hackett’s Sydney April 10 sale, which totalled $9 million or 100 per cent by value and 87 per cent by volume.
Unlike Sotheby’s failed attempt the night before to sell Charles Blackman’s Sleeping Alice, his Alice on the Table (lot 9) sold for $1.35 million ($1.647 bp) and everyone heaved a collective sigh.
When million dollar plus paintings go under the hammer, usually the rest of the auction runs without a hitch.
Another auction record was set for the late Bronwyn Oliver when her sculpture Unity, 2001 (lot 2) went under the hammer for $330,000, well above the catalogue estimate of $200,000-$250,000.
There were other highlights including woodblocks by Cressida Campbell – lot 1 The Ebro, Gore Bay, 1987, knocked down for $80,000 a price well above the catalogue estimate, and lot 81, one of 99 limited edition screenprints entitled The Verandah from the same year, which brought $12,000.
This also followed on from the Sotheby sale when two of her woodblocks set new auction record of $201,000 and $260,000.
A small number of works from the estate of Singapore-based Australian architect, the late Kerry Hill, sold either above or within the estimate range.
The best return was lot 35, Ian Fairweather’s Sea Anemones, 1957 which changed hands for $280,600 ($200,000-$250,000 estimate), while two of Donald Friend’s works – Balinese with Cage Birds c1975 and The Health and Hobbies Fitness Camp c1963 respectively brought $26,840 and $34,160.
Likewise, two of Robert Klippel’s works Collage, 1993 and No.459, Painted Wood Construction, 1985 showed satisfying results, respectively changing hands for $15,860 and $10,980.
