Saleroom: Sellers the key to a lucrative market

Dunbar Sloane will auction a number of Clarice Cliff items in November.

Most of those who follow art sales are buyers, who fall into many categories.

There are the first-time buyers finding out what they like, and the seasoned collectors, most with specialist interests; the institutions which, alas too rarely, look to fill holes in public collections; the bargain-hunters, many of whom are looking to sell on for a quick profit; the long-term investors; and the bigger dealer galleries aiming to build up stock that will bear solid margins.

But what about the sellers? With four auction houses working actively in the Auckland art market, competing for stock has become a major undertaking.

Probably most stock comes from individual sellers - the collector who has run out of wall-space and decides to cull the works, for instance, or the couple moving from the family home into an apartment or rest home, with less space than before.

Estates provide many works; descendants may decide to sell everything rather than argue over individual pieces, or they may keep the cream, the most valuable or loved pieces, and send the rest for auction.

Artists' estates, with the contents of their studios, can be prolific sources - witness the success of the International Art Centre with works by the Otago painter William James Reed.

Most fascinating are the individual collections, often amassed over many years and offering an insight into the taste of one person or, quite often, a couple.

So the collection of eminent jurist Sir Ivor Richardson and his wife Jane caused a stir at Dunbar Sloane in Wellington earlier this year, and some of the original cartoon collection of publisher Michael Horton and his wife Rosie drew much interest at the International Art Centre in May.

Webb's have two such collections coming up soon in stand-alone sales. The first, from the collection of Aucklanders Neil and Jean Smith, includes works by Colin McCahon, Rita Angus and Don Binney; the second, the Jim Fraser collection, offers what Webb's describes as "a fascinating snapshot of much of the most risk-taking and exciting art produced in this country in recent times".

The collection theme comes up at Webb's major auction this month too, through several works by 19th-century painter and early rugby star Thomas Derby Ryan entered by his grandson. Likely to sell for rather more are paintings by Michael Illingworth, Colin McCahon and Gordon Walters.

Cordy's sale last month saw a deserved record price for Guy Ngan, $36,000, for Sundance, a fine big painting, well publicised in a television auction programme. The many good works on offer failed to attract a big audience, although there was a plethora of absentee bids and many sales.

A week later, the International Art Centre had a near-full house, with good prices for traditional landscape works by such painters such as Douglas Badcock and Peter Beadle.

Finally, Wellington-based auctioneers Dunbar Sloane may once again have its own rooms in Auckland. There is a strong possibility of additional space at 18 St Marks Rd, next to its previous gallery, perhaps in time for its big auctions in November.

Coming up: September 19: Webb's fine art, followed by jewellery and decorative arts.

October 3: Cordy's, antiques and art.

October 30 or 31: International Art Centre, fine art.

October 31: Webb's, Neil and Jean Smith collection; New Zealand paintings, photographs, posters and art publications and catalogues.

November 7: Cordy's, art and antiques.

November 9: Webb's, Jim Fraser collection; recent New Zealand art.

November 20/21: Cordy's, fine and applied art.

November 20/21/22: Dunbar Sloane, Auckland; ceramics (including more of the van Hessen Clarice Cliff collection), New Zealand historical, fine art.