At the Sunday Fine Art Sale on September 23rd 2012 an eclectic auction of some three hundred works of art and sculpture generated some equally diverse results. Both traditional and more contemporary works were sought by a buying audience that after every auction are becoming more discerning and more focused on what they want. A Fred Williams gouache, lot 33, realised $26,400 (IBP) against a low estimate of $15,000 and signalled the start of very strong results for works that were well priced for a generally less buoyant art market. The result was followed by an equally interesting result for lot 78, a very small study in oil by Frederick McCubbin that realised $9,600 (IBP) against a conservative low estimate of $5,000.
One of the more contemporary works on offer was lot 99, a very fine work on paper by Howard Arkley from his untitled suburban house series which sold for $19,200 (IBP). The fresh international offering that Leonard Joel has become famous for in collecting circles presented some very interesting bidding duels. One of the most coveted works of the auction and modestly priced was Paul Quinsac’s Spanish Nude, lot 200, that more than doubled its estimate to sell for $6,000 (IBP). Equally, two very fine and rare works by the English artist William Anderson, lots 206 ad 207, both went to an international collector for a total of $26,400 (IBP) – the two works were in superb original frames and fine condition. In a similar vein two small works lot 36 and lot 40 by Haughton Forrest, not a pair but almost could have been, realised $9,600 (IBP) and $7,200 (IBP) respectively. Nicole Salvo, Assistant Head of Art, commented, “despite the challenging conditions works fresh to the market and sensibly priced enjoyed the attention of buyers keen to reward sellers with sensible expectations”.
Entries of fine Australian and International art are now being sought for our early December 2012 auction.
Enquiries
John Albrecht
Head of Art
Tel: (03) 8825 5608
Email: John Albrecht
Nicole Salvo
Assistant Head of Art
t: 03 8852 5624
e: Nicole Salvo
Email: nicole.salvo@leonardjoel.com.au