Exciting times in the fine art auction world: competition is as stiff as ever to attract the best pictures by Australia’s leading auctioneers.
2015 provided us with the third highest total of art sales at just above $110 million dollars, showing steady gains in 2013 and 2014. 2016 looks set to better last year’s result, probably by a healthy 5% to 10%.
Sellers are being tempted by these more favourable conditions to offer their best paintings to market. Consequently, the final round of the top tier fine auctions for 2016 is looking very enticing, starting with Bonhams on 22 November, Sotheby’s on 23rd, Christies on 29th November, and Deutscher + Hackett on 30th November. These will be the last major sales for 2016.
Christies Australian art sale will be held in London, whilst the other majors will take place in Sydney.
Bonhams’ Sydney viewing is from 18 to 21 November at the NCJWA Hall, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra, and at the Bonhams premises at 97-99 Queen Street, Woollahra, and of course online at the Bonhams website.
The auction will be held on Tuesday, 22 November, 6.30 pm, at the NCJWA Hall.
The first 39 lots are from the estate of John Fairlie Cuningham who bequeathed 60% of his estate or about $15 million, to the Foundation of the Art Gallery of New South Wales, and proceeds from this sale will also go towards the Foundation, making this the largest bequest ever to the AGNSW.
So here are the first of Dave’s Faves, for the Bonhams sale. The Sotheby’s edition will follow shortly.