Following weeks of unprecedented conditions within the fine auction industry and beyond, we are thrilled to announce that on Tuesday 5 May our Centum auction delivered exceptional results, with competitive internet, phone and absentee bidding at all price levels achieving an 80% sale rate and a total hammer of $771,962 (IBP). Leonard Joel’s Managing Director, John Albrecht, took to the rostrum as the auction was live-streamed to an audience bidding at home.
Centum featured 100 carefully curated works by important leading, living Australian artists, with a balanced representation of male and female artists. These results have proved that the current social-distancing restrictions are no obstacle to our collectors, and we would like to sincerely thank each of our bidders and vendors. This auction was the first of its kind at Leonard Joel but certainly not the last, with planning underway for our next contemporary art installment.
Centum generated the first secondary market results for Melbourne based artists Kate Tucker and Tom Adair, with both pieces selling above their high estimates. An auction record was set when a work on paper by Peter Tyndall sold for $9,300 (IBP), far exceeding the $1,600-2,000 estimate and the previous record of $1,380 (IBP).
Other highlights of the evening included John Olsen’s watercolour and pastel on paper, ‘Torres Strait’ 2006 selling to an online bidder for $80,600 (IBP) and energetic bidding resulting in a hammer of $27,280 (IBP) for Ben Quilty’s ‘Self Portrait (Paris Riot)’ 2014, more than double its high estimate.
Olivia Fuller, Leonard Joel’s Head of Art, is thrilled with the outcome and is very excited to continue to evolve the concept of dedicated contemporary art sales at Leonard Joel in the near future.
6 May | Australian Art Sales Digest | Leonard Joel Smashes It With Groundbreaking “Centum” Sale Of Contemporary Australian Art Amidst Unprecedented Restrictions On Fine Art Auctioneers