Saleroom: Big names for marathon

Rita Angus’ Portrait of Jean Angus, the Artist’s Sister

Even for the most ardent auction addict, there can be such a thing as an embarrassment of riches. Today is surely it.

It kicks off at 11 this morning with the first instalment of Dunbar Sloane's huge New Zealand sale, with New Zealand-made jewellery, silver, specimen boxes and so on.

At 4.30pm, Sloane's goes on to a fine collection of New Zealand historical art, furniture and ship models, including pieces by the great cabinet-maker Anton Seuffert and what is probably the earliest dated piece of furniture made in this country.

Then at 6pm Webb's has its first big art sale of the year. Included in the 267 lots are some exceptional works by all the big names - McCahon, Hanly, Hotere, Hammond and, not least, Rita Angus. There is a good selection, too, of works by artists with Maori or Polynesian links, Shane Cotton, John Pule, Michael Parekowhai and Robyn Kahukiwa among them.

Sloane's marathon - some 950 lots in all - stretches on into tomorrow morning, with New Zealand and souvenir ceramics, folk art and kiwiana. Many of the works come from the collection of Christchurch antique dealer Deric Blackler, who saw the importance of works that reflect our colonial heritage.

The flora and fauna of New Zealand, Maori designs and motifs, and our varied selection of native timbers, were all inspiration to local craftsmen, many of them immigrants like Seuffert.

New Zealand gold and greenstone also featured, along with such exotica as huia beaks, bullock horns and wild boar tusks.

Bohemia-born Seuffert's fame travelled abroad. A writing cabinet consisting of 30,000 pieces was given by the citizens of Auckland to Queen Victoria in 1862; it is said to be still in use in Buckingham Palace.

Sloane's have a wine table by him, one of only five on its original base and in remarkable condition. No estimate is given in the catalogue, but it would be surprising if it changes hands under $100,000.

At the other end of the scale of craftsmanship, although high on originality, is a bedside stand made from whale bones. Consisting of three shelves and a candle holder, it is inscribed "R. Coly, Nth Spit 1838". North Spit is now called Aramoana; Coly was probably a deserter from a French whaler; and, in a macabre touch, the piece was formerly owned by collector Tim Jamieson of Aramoana, who was one of those killed there by David Gray in 1990.

Equally macabre is a self-portrait of Lionel Terry - looking remarkably like Colonel Buffalo Bill Cody - the deluded obsessive who killed an elderly Chinese man to draw attention to what he called the yellow peril.

On to more serious works, at Webb's. Self-portraits are always of interest, and there are several here by Richard McWhannell, an early example by Dick Frizzell, and a very pleasant watercolour by Rita Angus. Portraits of other artists also feature. Edward Bullmore depicts Michael Illingworth like a rather smug Genghis Khan, and Barry Lett portrays Tony Fomison.

Fomison himself is represented by several works, the most notable being Hill Top Watcher from 1976. Webb's estimate that at $120,000 to $150,000, while the only work by Illingworth, Eve figure in landscape with pictures, has an estimate of $160,000 to $220,000.

An exceptional Pat Hanly from his Showgirl series of 1961 is estimated to sell within about the same range as the Fomison, but top price for the evening could be contested between Bill Hammond's Camouflage, an enamel on three hinged panels (estimate $190,000 to $260,000), and Colin McCahon's Untitled-B2 from 1973 ($200,000 to $300,000).

Of the next tier of present artists, Shane Cotton seems to be rising fastest on the market.

There are five of his works in this sale, with the most notable titled 1964, a work from 1994. Webb's estimate this large work at $100,000 to $150,000; will it set a new level for him?

A note for buyers - both Webb's and Sloane's incorporate a 12.5 per cent buyer's premium this year.

With GST on the premium, that means an additional 14.06 per cent on the hammer price. Cordy's and the International Art Centre will keep their premium at 10 per cent, adding, with GST, 11.25 per cent to the selling price.

* Coming up:

Cordy's next art and antiques catalogue sale is on April 19.

Dunbar Sloane has a fine and applied art sale in Wellington on April 20-21. Its next Auckland contemporary art sale is on May 4, with historical art set down for May 25.

Webb's next A2 sale will be on May 17-19, with affordable art on the Wednesday.

The International Art Centre's next collectable art sale is on Tuesday, May 31.