A number of auctions of Aboriginal art have taken place over the last couple of weeks producing a number of sales.
The 13th November Arnaud Serval Auction of Aboriginal Art held in Geneva by Koller Auctions included paintings by highly regarded artists including Ronnie Tjampitjinpa, Clifford Possum Tjapaltjarri, Emily Kame Kngwarreye and Rover Thomas.
Fetching the highest price of the sale was a painting by Ronnie Tjampitjinpa which sold for EUR 49,290 against an estimate of 49,290 “ 65,720. A Gloria Petyarre artwork made EUR 6570. More disappointing were two Rover Thomas paintings which sold for EUR 4920 each.
The highlight of the 19th November Bonhams Australia auction of Aboriginal Art was the AU$ 122,000 inc. premium against an estimate of $100,000-$150,000 achieved for Emily Kngwarreye’s Wild Anooralya.
A number of Aboriginal artefacts sold included a collection of objects from Western Australia which fetched AU$ 39,040 and an early North Queensland shield that made AU$ 30,500 against an estimate of $30,000-$35,000.
The only Indigenous work in the Sotheby’s Australia 20th November Important Australian & International Art held in Melbourne was a work by Gordon Bennett titled Australian Icon (1989). Estimated to sell for $50,000-$70,000, this painting found a new home with a final price of $60,000 (IBP).
