Saleroom: Military matters in demand

By DON MILNE

Art's appeal, for many collectors, lies in particular genres. For some it is maritime subjects - an interest that will be catered for by at least two Auckland sales linked to the America's Cup, at Dunbar Sloane and Webb's. For others it is military matters, and rarity adds a healthy premium to values.

So it was at the International Art Centre's sale late last month, when three watercolours by Horace Moore-Jones came up. Trooper Moore-Jones was an official war artist with the Anzacs at Gallipoli. A big collection of his works is held in the Australian War Memorial Museum in Canberra.

Moore-Jones, who came to New Zealand in 1885 at the age of 17, was no spring chicken at Gallipoli. But he survived only to die in a hotel fire in Hamilton in 1922.

The estimate on the watercolours was set low, between $2000 and $4000. They went for $19,000 ($21,137.50, with 10 per cent buyer's premium and GST) to a private New Zealand buyer, after strong Australian competition.

Militaria - although not in the form of art - also ruled at Dunbar Sloane's Wellington antique sale this month, in the form of a Victoria Cross awarded to Lieutenant Arthur Frederick Pickard for bravery in bringing help to British wounded at Rangiriri in 1863.

Under constant Maori fire, Pickard crossed and recrossed the parapet to bring water to the wounded. In his later career, which included service to royalty, he received several foreign orders, miniatures of which were included in the sale.

The collection, highlighted by the historic Victoria Cross, went to an English buyer for $190,000 ($211,375, with premium and GST). Permission has been sought for it to be sent overseas.

In other recent highlights, the International Art Centre sale set auction records for several artists. Two oils by Peter Siddell, whose magical works went for higher than previous auction records, at $60,000 ($66,750) and $80,000 ($89,000).

A more abstract but fine Central Otago landscape by Taranaki artist Michael Smither went for $41,500 ($46,168.75), an auction record for this artist, and an 1888 watercolour of Wellington from Brooklyn by Christopher Aubrey also set an auction record, of $75,000 ($83,437.50).

Dunbar Sloane's Auckland sale last week was comparatively low-key, with top prices of $60,000 for an oil by Pat Hanly from his Golden Age series and a view of Milford Sound by John Gibb, which went to Te Papa.

An 1869 view of the Waitemata Harbour from Grafton by J. B. C. Hoyte will stay in Auckland, after collector Sir James Fletcher topped an Australian bid of $37,000 by $500.

Coming up: Cordy's next art and antiques auction is on September 10; Webb's big three-day sale (art, jewellery and decorative arts) is the following week, September 17-19, with an affordable art sale planned for October 29; the International Art Centre's next sale is on November 7.