Webb’s Takes First Rank Position

Webb’s Takes First Rank Position

Market results for 2013 place Webb’s in first-ranked position as we have sold significantly more art by value than has any other New Zealand auction house and have gained substantial growth in market share.

Over the year, Webb’s has transacted art sales under the hammer totalling $7.6 million, $1.9 million or 32% ahead of our nearest competitor. Webb’s also holds the majority of the top-ten sales across the auction industry – 66% more than does our nearest competitor – and, of the year’s transactions above $100,000, Webb’s share is equal to 163% of that of our nearest competitor.

Webb’s results for 2013 include the highest price achieved for both a contemporary painting and a work by a living New Zealand artist in half a decade. Further, the year’s final sale of Important Paintings & Contemporary Art, held in late November, achieved a total in excess of $2.0 million, the highest sale turnover of the season.

These results confirm the effectiveness of the Webb’s bespoke sales strategy, our privileged market position, the fine art connoisseurship of Webb’s team of specialists and our ability to consistently deliver excellence for our vendors in the sale of high-value artworks.

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

IMPORTANT PAINTINGS AND CONTEMPORARY ART

The final sale for the year of Important Paintings & Contemporary Art held in late November achieved an outstanding result with a sale total in excess of $2 million, the highest grossing fine art sale for the season.

The highest selling lot of the evening was Bill Hammond’s Farmer’s Market, which achieved a total of $328,750.
This is the highest price for the work of a living New Zealand artist to have been paid in the last 5 years; the result joins Bill Hammond’s record price of $330,781 which was achieved in 2008 when Webb’s sold Fortified Gang Headquarters. In addition to Farmer’s Market, one further work exceeded $200,000 and three works exceeded $100,000 alongside new auction record prices for the work of Shane Cotton and Jude Rae.

TOP FIVE RESULTS

1. Bill Hammond, Farmer’s Market.
Achieved $328,750.

2. Charles Frederick Goldie, One of the Old School, Wiripine Ninia. Achieved $240,000.

3. Gottfried Lindauer, Mrs Huria Whakamairu. Achieved $176,000.

4. Michael Smither, Elizabeth with Sarah and Joseph. Achieved $152,000.

5. Shane Cotton, The Painted Bird.
Achieved $117,000.

RECORDS ACHIEVED

1. Shane Cotton, The Painted Bird. Achieved $117,000: New auction record for a work from the artist’s mid-career period

2. Gottfried Lindauer, Huria Whakamairu. Achieved $176,000: New auction record for a female portrait by the artist.

3. Kushana Bush, Turnbunkle Squat. Achieved $8,800: New auction record for the artist’s practice.

4. Jude Rae, The Fold (Study). Achieved $38,100: New auction record for the artist’s practice.

5. David McCracken, Untitled. Achieved $30,500: New auction record for the artist’s practice.

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