Going Going Goldie!, New Zealand's most expensive auction painting Sat, 09 Apr 2016

International Art Centre's 6 April auction saw a record-breaking result with the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction in New Zealand. International Art Centre already held that position when C F Goldie's Kawhena painted in 1892 was auctioned in 2013. This was Goldie's first Maori portrait and fetched $732,800 at the time.

Three years passed and another record was achieved in 2015, when International Art Centre offered Horace Moore Jones' Simpson and His Donkey. This work commemorated bravery at Gallipoli, and was expected to fetch around $300,000. It sold for $492,000.

This week, Goldie's last painting, a 1941 portrait of Wharekauri Tahuna aged 102 made a spectacular $1,175,000 under hammer, with premium, $1,377,000. Intense media and public interest throughout the viewing resulted in spirited bidding both in the room and on the telephones. Over a period of ten minutes, with mounting excitement, the bid climbed from $600,000 to $1,175,000 . History was made and the rooms filled with applause as a bidder in the room, acting on behalf a friend secured Goldie's final portrait.

Prices throughout the sale were exceptional with a Goldie pencil drawing achieving the highest price for a work on paper by that artist. Sold under hammer for $80,000, far in excess of its $15,000 - $25,000 estimate. Once again, this work remains in New Zealand.

The 300 strong crowd reveled in an evening of unparalleled excitement, responding with cheers each time a record was achieved. It certainly was a golden night to remember and sets a new benchmark for auctions in New Zealand. A tremendously gratifying result for International Art Centre in our 47th year of business.