The first installment of Sotheby’s Aussie Art sale achieved A$5.7m. Part 1 of the Sotheby’s Australian Art sale has one standout star–Ivon Hitchens–who sold two paintings for far above the estimate range.
Figure on a Blue Cushion was estimated at between A$25-35,000 but sold for A$150,000. Flowers on a Blue Jug had a stronger estimate at A$70-90,000 but even that proved to be low with the picture finally going for $204,000.
A work attributed to John Glover clearly convinced more than one bidder of its authenticity. The estimate was in the A$30-40,000 range. Yet when the bidding was finished, someone had paid A$105,600 for it. Authenticated Glovers did well too. One of the artist’s landscapes Sunrise, Shropshire had a A$20k high estimate but a A$57,600 price tag.
Paintings by Jeffrey Smart led the sale at A$870,000 and Sidney Nolan at A$552,000. Charles Blackman’s White Cat’s Garden at Night sold for A$240,000 which was just above the high estimate without the premium including.
Arthur Streeton’s Mernda Hill also bested the estimates to sell for A$132,000, a good premium over the A$95k high estimate Sotheby’s placed on the work.
