Saleroom: Tendency to wait and see

By DON MILNE

Worldwide reaction to the atrocities in the US, plus uncertainty over the local economy, made for relatively low-key sales at Webb's last week - despite the quality on offer.

Buyers still stunned by the ghastly images from America may not have had their minds fully on local art. Some may also have been wondering if world recession is on the way, or if New Zealand is set to experience an economic blip influenced by such problems as Air New Zealand, as reason to tighten the purse strings.

Last Monday's debacle, too, in which auctioneer Ross Millar was confronted by a group of belligerent and threatening Whanganui Maori as he sought to sell an outstanding collection of early photographs, would also not have helped the mood.

Gallery director Peter Webb pulled that sale, rather than have a full-on, politically charged confrontation.

But the question remains - who owns such works? The descendants of pioneer photographer W.H.T. Partington, in whose possession his prints and glass plates have been for around 100 years, and who were offering them for sale legally? Or some present-day Maori, who claim exclusive rights to such images of what may be their ancestors?

It seems that Partington paid many of his photographic subjects, for what is now a unique historic record of how some Maori lived at the end of the 19th century.

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the argument (and how about Goldies and Lindauers?), the cat is truly among the kereru. And the photographs will be sold - now privately, by negotiation and to absentee bidders, rather than by public auction.

Tuesday's art sale, by comparison, was relatively quiet. Better, Webb conceded afterwards, than he might have hoped for. "There were a few factors against us." But still nearly a third of the 150-odd lots on offer were passed in or sold subject to the vendor's approval of a lower price than the set reserve.

As usual, many sales were negotiated after the auction. A colourful McCahon, Kaipara Flat, Written, for instance, reached only $60,000 on the night, against an estimate of $80,000 to $110,000. It sold the next day for $70,000 (before buyer's premium of 10 per cent and GST).

A seminal work by Grahame Sydney, painter of the moment, went for $53,000 - probably a record at auction for this artist. And a fine John Gully of Mt Taranaki, which reached only $30,000 on the night, went for $50,000.

Thursday night saw the sale of the Moorcroft pottery collection of retired banker Rex Roberts.

Collected around the world over the past decade, the 180-odd pieces attracted strong attention, with many absentee and telephone bids - including some from England.

Many prices went well above estimates, with the peak $8750 for a pair of rare William Moorcroft Macintyre vases from around 1912 (estimate $4000 to $5500).

Not a bad return for a $2100 purchase in Napier six years ago, said the vendor afterwards over a glass of champagne. He has kept just seven or eight of his favourite pieces.

Coming up: Cordy's next catalogue sale is October 16.

Webb's have an affordable art auction on October 30, with the last major sale of the year on December 11.

The International Art Centre's next sale, again in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, will be on November 8. Entries look good at this stage.

Dunbar Sloane is promising a major art offering at his inaugural sale in his new gallery and saleroom in St Marks Rd, Newmarket - just around the corner from Webb's. The dates are November 13 and 14.