Original cartoons on the block

It's always interesting when a new player enters a market. Although Cordy's isn't a new auction house, or even new to specialist art sales, over the years art has become rather secondary to its main business of antiques, collectables, ethnic art and estate sales.

Now new owner Andrew Grigg, from Wellington, has given the familiar rooms in Great South Rd a facelift and air-conditioning (oh joy!), and a strong commitment to regular, stand-alone art offerings. That includes New Zealand and international pottery and glass, two fields in which Grigg has an interest.

Last week's first offering of 200 works of art attracted good, if not overwhelming, interest. In the sculpture, pottery and glass sale the following morning an exceptional price was paid for a wonderful Ann Robinson Nikau cast glass vase.

Robinson is one of the few New Zealand artists with a strong international reputation - she sits alongside ceramicist Keith Murray in the view of many modern design experts - and this piece from 1995, estimated to sell from $14,000 and $20,000, went for $30,000 ($33,375, with buyer's premium of 10 per cent and GST).

Among the paintings, Michael Smither's Angel with a dark heart went for $16,000 and a very good John Gully of an alpine pass sold for $20,000.

Webb's affordable art sale next week ranges widely, with some 264 works on offer. Many attractive paintings and prints are here, with a small collection of sculpture and most are at prices around $1500 and under.

An interesting feature of this sale is some 18 printer's proofs from the collection of Sarah Kentish-Barnes, lithographer and former assistant to Marian Maguire at Paper Graphic Fine Print Studio in Christchurch. The artists include John Reynolds, John Pule, Bill Culbert, Gretchen Albrecht and Barry Cleavin.

The International Art Centre's collectable art auction the following week also has plenty of variety in more than 200 lots. Nearly a fifth of them are original cartoons from the collection of Rosie and Michael Horton. Many are by the late Sir Gordon Minhinnick, cartoonist for more than half a century for the New Zealand Herald, of which Michael Horton was managing director from 1971 to 1996. Lots of chuckles here, especially from the Muldoon years - the great Min detested the man but loved drawing him.

Works by two of Minhinnick's successors at the Herald, Malcolm Evans and Laurence Clark (who drew as Klarc), are included, as well as some by rivals Neville Lodge, Peter Bromhead and Tom Scott.

Most estimates are around the $300 to $800 mark, while the highest price is expected to be for the original for a Punch cover of 1982, by Ed McLachlan. Its estimate is $2000 to $3000.

Coming up:

Tuesday, May 16: Webb's, affordable art; Cordy's, monthly antiques and art
Wednesday, May 17: Webb's, jewellery
Thursday, May 18: Webb's, oriental art
Tuesday, May 23: International Art Centre, collectable art
Tuesday, May 30: Dunbar Sloane, Auckland, investment and affordable art