PAINTINGS SOLD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 255, 28 October 1942, Page 4

PAINTINGS SOLD

CHURCHILL AUCTIONS

RESPONSE DISAPPOINTING

At least one man was happy when he left the Churchill Auctions to-day. He was Mr. J. W. Watson, factory manager of Heard's, Ltd., who had come with the express hope of buying a fine oil painting by John Weeks, "Old Paris," which had aroused keen interest. He bought the painting for £20, four pounds less than the sum at which it was valued. Mr. Watson, who is a private collector, also bought a water colour by the same artist for £5. The painting "Old Paris" realised the top price in the sale of paintings in the first hour after the auctions opened at noon. No other work brought anything like this sum, 36 paintings, including a collection of 60 small water colours which were sold together, bringing about £130 in the first hour.

The response from the public was disappointing, fine works of art by New Zealanders, both contemporary and of the early days, being sold for pitifully small sums. A water-colour of Old Russell, with a fleet of American whalers in the harbour, by J. C. Hoyte, was worth £20, said Mr. Coakley, the honorary auctioneer, but it was knocked down to Mr. W. Goodfellow for £7 10/. Another by C. N. Worsley, of Rotten Tommy, Mt. Blackburn, realised £5. "In my opinion that's the best buy so far," said the auctioneer. "It's worth £20." The collection of 60 water-colours painted by M. Elwes about 1880-90, realised only £11. "That's only 3/ each," Mr. Coakley protested. But he could not get a higher price. According to some comments from those present, however, it might have been more profitable to have split up this collection.

"A Brescian Sea," in oils, by H. H. La Thangue, the Royal Academician, was sold to Mr. F. N. Ambler for £10, though it was considered to be worth £50 at least. "Why, if you went outside painting walls with a brush you'd get 35/," said Mr. Coakley, in trying to get £5 for some fine work by contemporary artists. In some cases no sale was made as the prices offered were too low. Three moderns which realised fairly good prices (as prices went.) were "Lion Rock, Piha," by I\. Vane (£9), ' The Cabaret," by J. Turkington (£8), and "Kumara," by the late Dr. J. C. Duncan (£6 10/). New Zealand Books A total of £391 10/ was realised yesterday. A little short of £100 was brought in by the sale of New Zealand books. Here, again, there was not the enthusiasm that should have attended the sale, although a few rare volumes brought high prices. "The New Zealanders Illustrated," by G. F. Angas, a fine folio of 1847, containing 60 hand-coloured engravings of Maori subjects, was sold for £36. Buller's "History of the Birds of New Zealand," two volumes second edition, brought £17. A copy of "Passport to Hell," by Robin Hyde, with two letters attached, and an original manuscript poem, brought £8. However, a large number of autographed works by contemporary New Zealand authors were sold at less than £1 apiece.