Front Cover: Peter Stichbury Preston Proudlove acrylic on linen, 2007 (detail) 1220mm x 915mm, $28,000 - $38,000

ENTRIES ARE NOW INVITED FOR FORTHCOMING SALESAN INVITATION TO CONSIGNThe team at Webb’s looks forward to the year ahead and invites entries for a suite

of sales to be held in March including: fine art, jewellery and watches, Maori and

Oceanic arts, applied arts, modern design, fine wine and rare books.

Results at Webb’s in 2009 confirm that quality works of art, especially those in

excellent condition and with superior provenance, are selling well. Equally, the

markets across the collecting genres of jewellery, antiques, wine and books remain

sound and stable.

Professionalism is the foundation of Webb’s success. With 10 expert staff and

well-resourced business and marketing services, Webb’s provides the most

effective and diverse auction sale options in the country.

Specialists will be visiting the main centres to appraise pieces. For a discreet,

no-obligation appraisal, please call 0800 22 00 77.

New Zealand’s Premier Auction House18 Manukau Road Newmarket, PO Box 99 251 Auckland 1149, New Zealand 0800 22 00 77 +649 524 6804 +649 524 7048 (fax) auctions@webbs.co.nz

www.webbs.co.nz

CALENDAR OF SALES

14 MAR Bethunes@Webb’s

29 MAR Fine Wine

29 MAR Antiques and Modern Design

30 MAR Important Works of Art

31 MAR Fine Jewellery and Watches

24 MAY Maori Artifacts and Oceanic Arts Including over 300 pieces deaccessioned from a USA museum

15 JUNE Important Collectors’ Motorcycles

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DICK FRIZZELLOcean Beachoil on canvas1050 x 1350mm$35,000 - $45,000

MILAN MRKUSICHPainting 150

oil and wax on board1950

680 x 930mm$25,000 - $35,000

A MAGNIFICENT POU RAHUIProvenance: Private Collection, New Zealand250 x 145 x 135mm$10,000 – $20,000

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EXTREMELY RARE PRE-CONTACT REI PUTA (whale-tooth amulet)Provenance: Private Collection, New Zealand95 x 40 x 12mm$20,000 – $40,000

MICHAEL SMITHERFern Frond

acrylic on board1200 x 875mm

$55,000 – $75,000

SEA URCHIN VESSEL BY CHRISTOPHER DRESSERManufactured by Linthorpe art pottery, 1879 – 1882$3,000 – $4,000

MARQUESAS ISLANDS' TIKI, STONE CARVED FISHING GODProvenance: Formally on loan to Auckland War Memorial Museum170 x 130 x 90mm$20,000 – $30,00

POOLE STUDIO CHARGER, NICOLA MASSARELLA

Limited Edition, Picasso Technique,diameter. 410mm $1,200 – $2,000

RITA ANGUSLiliesoil on board600 x 500mm$50,000 – $70,000

STANLEY PALMERTowards Whangarei Headsoil on linen1620 x 2250mm$25,000 – $35,000

A 19TH CENTURY MINTON MAJOLICA

MONKEY TEAPOT$700 – $1,000

TOKI POU TANGATAProvenance: Private Collection, New Zealand240 x 340 x 65mm$15,000 – $25,000

TONY FOMISONInward Eyeoil on canvas330 x 410mm$25,000 - $35,000

Executed on three monumental canvases, Blackout Movement is representative of the shift in scale, palette and iconography that occurred in Shane Cotton’s work following his year as the Frances Hodgkins fellow in 1998. Falling into the loose group of ‘Kenehi (Genesis)’ paintings, Blackout Movement presents the viewer with a sprawling expanse of black that is tempered by a string of symbols and words. Blackout Movement elegantly addresses some of Cotton’s key concerns including his poignant exploration of the relationship between the colonial missionaries and the Ngapuhi iwi. The title of the work explicitly alludes to this tumultuous relationship, referring to an early nineteenth-century prophetic sect in the Hokianga of the same name. The first spiritual leader of the sect was Penetana Papahurihia, a direct descendent of visionary seers, who was one of many Maori to incorporate aspects of Christianity into their traditional rituals following European contact.1 The phrase ‘Blackout Movement’, which was also used by Cotton for the title of an exhibition in 2001, can similarly be seen to recognise the tradition of black paintings in New Zealand’s art history, punctuating the oeuvres of artists such as Petrus van der Velden, Colin McCahon and Ralph Hotere.2

Jemma Field, exert. For full essay see www.webbs.co.nz

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1 Lara Strongman, Ruarangi: The Meeting Place Between Sea and Sky – A Consideration of Shane Cotton’s Work 1993 – 2003, pp.15 – 32 in Shane Cotton Survey 1993 – 2003, exh. cat. City Gallery Wellington, 2003 (Victoria University Press), p.26.

2 Ibid.

SHANE COTTON Blackout Movement (2001) oil on 3 stretched canvases, signed 1600mm x 4800mm$200,000 - $300,000

2009 IN REVIEWForecasting a precautionary approach to spending at the beginning of 2009, the art

market braced for difficult times. Art at auction in New Zealand, however, remains

healthy and moderate: a happy state when one considers the downturn in the

northern hemisphere, where auction houses recorded a plunge in sales figures in

2009. Gross turnover for the New Zealand auction market sits at approximately

$15.5 million* for 2009, down 18% on 2008 but approximately equal to the ten-year

average. Against this, Webb’s can report an increase of 15% in gross turnover

since 2008. With a decrease in supply, competition at Webb’s delivered excellent

results for clients who offered the right works at the right time and excellent results

were achieved for several single-owner collections including a major private

collection of contemporary art. Webb’s results support an overall trend for steady

if restrained growth.

Jewellery continues to be a significant area of interest with record prices achieved

in 2009 for superb diamonds and luxury watches reflecting a counter-cyclical trend

where buyers seek to place cash into commodity-valued objects. This might also

be true of the vintage motorcycle market which Webb’s continues to lead with

remarkable results. Equally, institutional quality Maori and Oceanic artifacts set record

prices and exceed all expectations. Fine wine sales continue to grow with a demand

for quality product resulting in record turnover, whilst Webb’s rare books department,

offering prestige stand-alone sales, consistently achieves 90%+ sale rates by volume.

Please contact us if you would like to discuss the current market for works of art,

jewellery, Maori artifacts and Oceanic arts, antiques, vintage motorcycles, books,

wine or collectables.

Sophie Coupland, Director

Note: Prices realised are inclusive of buyer’s premium and GST on the premium, rounded to the nearest $100.* Reference: www.aasd.com.au

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Diamond and Pink Tourmaline Necklace$36,000

A Magnificent Gold Presentation Sword $43,300

Frances Hodgkins The Farmer’s Daughter (Portrait of Annie Coggan) $262,300

A George I Walnut-Fall Front Bureau $10,500

Michael ParekowhaiKapa Haka (Hiwera)

$48,000

A 19th Century Monumental Hunting Table or Sideboard in Mahogany$6,400

Eric CraigNew Zealand Ferns: 167 Varieties, a ‘blue book’$6,500

A Nephrite Hei Tiki$5,300

Colin McCahon Northland $94,700

Peter StichburyLily Donaldson$45,600(Record price for the artist at auction)

Colin McCahon Truth from the King Country: Load Bearing Structures, Series 2 $79,800

1938 Macallan Single Malt Whisky $4,700

A Whalebone Rei Puta from the

Frances Ryman Collection $140,200

A Magnificent Necklace Set with Marquise-cut Fancy Yellow Diamonds together with White Diamonds. $37,000

A Pair of Crown Lynn Wharetana Moko Bookends $4,500

Don Binney Kotare Over Hikurangi

$251,000(Record price for the

artist at auction) Charles Frederick Goldie

A Happy Thought, Te Aitu te Irikau,

A Noted Arawa Chief-tainess

$182,500

1948 Indian Chief $65,500

A Ceremonial Hoe (Canoe Paddle)

attributed to Jacob William Heberley

$15,200

Katherine MansfieldThe Letters of Katherine Mansfield, John Middleton Murry’s working copy$14,400

Colin McCahonBlack White French Bay$185,350

A Magnificent Loose Emerald-cut Diamond of 5.09ct. $120,000

Ranfurly Medalpresented to Malcolm Ross by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly$7,100

Michael ParekowhaiRainbow Servant Dreaming$12,600

A George II Sterling Silver

Coffee Pot $7,700

Pendeloque-cut Diamond of 5.713ct. $150,000

Colin McCahon French Bay $142,600

ROLEX, a Gentleman’s All 18ct Yellow Gold

Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Wristwatch

$55,900

Hans Wegner Table and 10 Chairs

$22,300

Sydney ParkinsonParkinson’s ‘Endeavour’ Journal

$9,900

A Taxidermy Elk $4,600

A Fine Waka Huia by Jacob William Heberley

$32,700

1990 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti ‘Romanee-Conti’

$10,800

Colin McCahon If You Can Afford a

Psychiatrist$79,800

Paul HartiganThe Phantom$57,000(Record price for the artist at auction)