Sydney, 15 October 2012
Strong Results were achieved for artefacts at Sotheby's Australia's major Aboriginal & Oceanic Art sale held on Monday, 15 October 2012 in Sydney. Important Aboriginal & Oceanic Art comprised 110 lots and sold for $668,400 including buyer's premium or 50% by value and 48% by volume. A Fine Parrying Shield from South East Australia sold well above the high estimate of $12,000 selling for $33,600 IBP (estimate $8,000-12,000, lot 2).
According to Sotheby’s press release, this auction was a unique opportunity for Australian and foreign collectors to acquire rare and historically valuable objects. Indeed, the series of photographs titled “Picturesque New Guinea”, by J.W. Lindt, broke the records of the artist, for it was purchased for $93,600, while it had been previously estimated between $60,000 and $80,000. This collection is entirely unique of a kind, for it offers an overview of the landscapes, tribes and colonial development of former Australia, under the British protectorate.
An early work by Aboriginal artist Yala Yala Gibbs Tjungurrayu was sold for $45,600, which confirmed initial estimation (between $30,000 and $50,000). The artist was one of the most mysterious founders of Western Desert Art in Papunya.