Seventy-two out of 77 artworks from New Zealand's most significant corporate collection sold at auction this month for more than $800,000 and more works sold afterwards.
Richard Thomson of auctioneers International Art Centre in Auckland said the sale of some works in the Fletcher Trust collection was outstanding and someworks had sold subsequently.
"There were five new auction records set. It was the highest percentage sale of paintings in an auction in recent times," he said as 93 per cent of the works were sold on the night whereas the average is only around 70 per cent.
"Lots of works achieved above-estimate, most notably the Raymond McIntyre that made $103,000 against its $40,000 to $60,000 estimate and a new auction record for that artist."
The collection was made up of more than 550 works. Much f it was displayed at Fletcher Building's headquarters at 810 Great South Rd. But walls inside the building are being demolished in favour of open-plan offices.
Only three works, by Ralph Hotere, Pat Hanly and Milan Mrkusich, were left to be sold.
"The sell rate is up to 94 per cent of the offering. All three unsolds are available for negotiation.
"It really was an amazing event: as an auctioneer, nothing is more exciting than hands up all over the room, on the phone and coming through on the internet.
