The fascinating and often contradictory patterns in collecting taste were ever present at our recent Fine Art & Photographic Auction as both the old and new sold well to discerning collectors. Traditional and importantly fresh works by Sydney Long, Vida Lahey , Hilda Rix Nicholas, Jess Traill and Adelaide Perry all sold well above their estimates to confirm the ongoing academic and aesthetic appeal of traditional paintings that hit the mark for collectors seeking to fill “that gap in the collection”, whether they be private or public buyers. But the appetite for the contemporary was also in play with a dozen or so very interesting results.
Robert Jacks’ very early and large scale work Possibly Happiness 1966, lot 64, sold well above reserve for $10,370 (IBP) as did the rather small work, lot 271A by the British artist Thomas Hamilton, that sold for $7,320 or more than six times it estimate. Sculpture also fared well with the almost life size bronze in two parts by Brett Harrison Allen, lot 71, selling for $6710 (IBP). However one of the more interesting moments in the auction was when three works by the German/American artist Josef Albers were offered for sale. The three screen prints, lot 269(illustrated) -271, were all conservatively estimated and realised a combined total of $7,808 (IBP). The geometrically designed abstract works in pale yellow, gray and white tones hit a chord with contemporary collectors and were snapped up by phone-bidders on the night. The auction realised in excess of $650,000 (IBP) with a very strong sale rate of 77% by lot and 86% by value. Leonard Joel invites you to sell with us both traditional and contemporary works of art for our forthcoming fine art, graphics and photography auctions.
For enquiries please contact senior art specialist Nicole Salvo on 03 8825 5624 or e:nicole.salvo@leonardjoel.com.au