‘Modest’ auction in London

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33521, 30 April 1974, Page 10

‘Modest’ auction in London

A modest collection of early New Zealand pictures will go under the hammer at Christie’s, London, next month, in a sale of offerings of “The Americas, The Pacific and South Africa,” reports the London correspondent of “The Press.”

None of the New Zealand items could be called outstanding, although an 1894 George Taylor water-colour ;of a rural scene, backed by an anonymous mountain and labelled “Eagle Flats, Wallusi, Near Auckland,” is in spite of the Wallusi mystery, expected to attract between £lOOO and £2OOO — about half what the top pictures in the catalogue might bring. A 1937 Samuel Birch water - colour, “Hamarana Springs, Rotorua,” is expected to fetch £5OO, and; in the £3OO to £4OO ranged are three oils by Charles! Blomfield.

One, not particularly notable, called “New Zealand Coastal Landscape,” is a fussy view of Waitemata Harbour with a backdrop of Rangitoto, and. perhaps, the rudiments of Queen Street in the foreground. The other two are small, 12in by 9in, gems of the “Pink and White Terraces.” They are the diamonds among the gravel, but Christie’s belief is that connoisseurs will not be tempted to spend more than £4OO for the two.

Although there is a mediocre Hoyte and a Gully in the rest of the collection, none of it is considered likely to spark a scramble. The 23 works have been accumulated in the 16 months since the last New

Zealand sale, and reflect the long-acknowledged evaporation of the sources of New Zealand material on the London market. In all, Christie’s will put up 230 lots, and expect them Ito fetch a total of £BO.OOO to £lOO,OOO.

1 There will be no Old Master prices, and the top i money-maker is expected to be a foot-square oil on card by the American illustrator, Norman Rockwell. This minor work, in the 'style of one of Rockwell’s “Saturday Evening Post” covers, is entitled “The Soda Fountain.” and signed “to my young friend Marjory.” It could go to £4OOO, according to Christie’s.