N.Z. art proves popular

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 11

N.Z. art proves popular

NZPA staff correspondent London A collection of early New Zealand topographical watercolours and drawings proved popular when they were offered at auction at the London rooms of Sotheby’s. In all, 22 works were up for auction, coming mostly from individual private owners in Britain and Europe. The top price of $2760 was fetched by an album of water-colours of views in New Zealand by T. Octavius Hurt. The album of 65 watercolours over pencil, mostly of South Island scenes, was compiled by Octavius Hurt during his stay in New Zealand from 1861 to 1871. It was sold to a private buyer. Of the total of 22 lots, seven were unsold and four went to New Zealand buyers. Massey University bought a series' of four lithographs

by V. Adam and De Villain for $276 called “Voyage de la Corvette L'Astrolabe.” New Zealand private purchasers also bought works by Major-General Horatio Gordon Robley (“A Chief of the Ngatimaru Tribe” and “A Woman of the Ngaiterangi Tribe”) for $644; by E. A. Chapman (“Lake. Taupo, North Island”) for $782; and by Major M. Bullock (“The White Terraces of Rotomahana, North Island”) for $460. A water-colour by Dorothy Kate Richmond called “A Mother and Child,” dated 1909, fetched $1035, and Margaret Olrog Stoddart’s “On The Coast.” another watercolour, dated 1905, was sold for $920. The rest of the lots were bought either by private purchasers or London dealers, a spokesman for Sotheby’s said.