HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Hamish, Ross, James, Ben, Leigh and Nellie wish all our clients, friends and colleagues the very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - we look forward to seeing you all in 2010. A+O closes on the afternoon of the 22nd of December (we could possible be found at Galbraith's that day) and re-open on the 18th of January. We can be contacted on our cell phones and, incidentally, Ben will be in the Nelson region over the break and will be doing a little bit of work - his cell phone number is 021 222 8183.

TOP 10 PRICES REALIZED FOR THE 2009 AUCTION YEAR

The Australian Art Sales Database has released its results for 2009 including the top 10 sales at auction for the calendar year. In just its third year in business ART+OBJECT is delighted to claim the highest number of top 10 sales (with four) for all the major auction houses in New Zealand with its sales of Bill Hammond's Flag, Shane Cotton's Wake, Colin McCahon's Waterfall and C. F Goldie's The Old Sentinel. For the full list go to http://www.aasd.com.au/Top10NZ_ThisYear.cfm

A+O Posts Strong Results to End Year

In the last three weeks ART+OBJECT has traded over 1.5 million dollars in art across three sales: Important Paintings and Contemporary Art on November 26th, New Collectors' Art on December 10th and The Private Collection Sale onsite at 61 Randolph Street on December 13th. Some outstanding results were acheived across these sales as the market showed more resilience and depth than many of us expected. This is especially true at the top end of the market where previously the air was assumed to be pretty thin. However, there was a string of results which we feel deserve special mention and which highlight the strength of an area of the market which is frequently overlooked and neglected: prints and multiples. Robin White has produced many of this country's most iconic images such as Sam Hunt at the Portobello Pub (1978), yet White was anything but prolific as a painter, often preferring the more democratic print medium. In a wonderful private collection of 31 New Zealand prints, six of her most classic screenprints featured including Florence and Harbour Cone, Mangaweka and White Oystercatcher at Harbour Cone all of which were editions of 50. Carrying estimates of $4000 - $6000 each which may have been on the light side yet nonetheless reinfocred by past results, they sailed beyond these realising unprecedented prices of $13 500, $10 406 and $14 906 respectively. As with the photography market, it seems at long last that collectors are now willing to pay five figure prices for iconic images irregardless of their multiple nature, if the condition is top notch.

New Judy Millar Auction Record Set

The Private Collection onsite sale at 61 Randolph Street yesterday witnessed Judy Millar's beautiful painting from 2002 Special Treatment, realize $35 061. A small but spirited crowd turned up on a Sunday afternoon for what was A+O's final sale for 2009. The Millar was an especially strong work and it was reassuring to see the secondary market recognising this.

A+O HQ 4:43pm 10/12/2009, afternoon of Final Sale (on-site)

One thing we could never claim to be is poorly fed. Another Annie Coney special.

A Private Collection, 61 Randolph Street

Chris Heaphy's 100 panel 'Merri', in situ

ART+OBJECT's final sale of the 2009 year goes on view this Friday at 61 Randolph Street, Newton, literally just around the corner from A+O HQ. Viewing hours are Friday and Saturday 11:00am - 4:00pm, and Sunday before the sale at 4:00pm sharp from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. The auction will also be held onsite and not at A+O. The full catalogue is online now and hard copies will be available at the viewing.

Yellow Jogger Easily Sets New Record for Hanly's Work at Auction

Pat Hanly's marvellous Yellow Jogger (1981) has sold to the high bidder on the night for its reserve of $160 000 ($182 496 inclusive of premium). The previous record for a Hanly at auction was $115 000 set in Wellington back in 2006. A record price was also set for the work of A. Lois White when her Decorative Panel realised $67 000 ($76 420). Other strong results on high-profile lots included Goldie's The Old Sentinel $228 120, Dick Frizzell's This is no Shadowland $59 730 and Michael Illingworth's Adam and Eve $150 560. The sale is shaping as A+O's highest grossing auction in its history with the total currently at $1 15o ooo.