KEY POINTS:
The auctioneer's slogan "As good as Goldie" still holds its meaning. Works by New Zealand's most recognised artist, Charles Frederick Goldie, hit the high spots at recent auctions, with the International Art Centre achieving a spectacular $400,000 for a portrait of Hori Pokai, on the market for the first time since 1948.
Taking 13.5 per cent buyer's premium and GST into account, that amounts to $454,000 - a price that may well set a benchmark for the rest of the year.
Last year's highest price went to Webb's for Noughts and Crosses by Colin McCahon, which sold for $325,000 ($371,000, with premium and GST). This week, Webb's sold a smaller Goldie, from the Richard and Rhoda Potton colonial collection, for $160,000, and another in its sale next Monday could well hit the same mark.
The Potton sale, and the International Art Centre's offering just before Easter, proved that the market for colonial paintings remains strong.
A pair of Charles Blomfield oils of the Pink and White Terraces - a popular 19th century subject, until they were destroyed by the Tarawera eruption - went for $160,000 at the centre.
Another high-flyer was Gottfried Lindauer's Ana Rupene and child from 1879, which hit $86,000, while another Blomfield, of the Auckland Domain in 1879, went for $70,000.
All up, the International Art sale finished close to $2 million, while the Potton sale will top $800,000.
Very different works are up at Art+Object tonight, with around 90 lots by such artists as Shane Cotton, Bill Hammond, Seraphine Pick and et al, followed by a very good collection of pottery, glass and jewellery, mostly by New Zealand artists. Look for works from the Crown Lynn factory - not cups and saucers and eggcups, but unique designs by the likes of Frank Carpay and Ernest Shufflebottom. Like pieces by early studio potter Olive Jones and contemporary giant Len Castle, such works are increasingly collectable.
Finally, on Monday Webb's have an exceptionally strong collection on offer, with McCahons, Fomisons and a wall hanging by Bill Hammond. Called Fortified Gang Headquarters, it is quintessential Hammond and has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.
The sale includes many works by Michael Smither, most of them from the collection of that wonderful writer Maurice Shadbolt. For those interested in Smither's work, the artist - a close friend of Shadbolt - will give a talk at the gallery at 2pm on Sunday.
COMING UP
Tonight: Art+Object, contemporary art and glass, ceramics and jewellery; Webb's, antiques and decorative arts.
Monday: Webb's, important art including works from the Maurice Shadbolt collection.
Tuesday, April 15: Cordy's, antiques and art.
Thursday, April 17: Art+Object, photography.
Tuesday, April 22: International Art Centre, contemporary art under $10,000, plus foreign and collectable art.
May 1: Art+Object, 20th century design.
May 11: Dunbar Sloane, militaria.
May 12: Dunbar Sloane, Maori artefacts.
May 13: Webb's, contemporary art; Cordy's, antiques and art.
May 14: Webb's, modern design; Dunbar Sloane, New Zealand historical, jewellery.
May 15: Dunbar Sloane, posters and art.
May 24: Webb's, A2 art.
May 27: Cordy's, art.
