AUCTION OF KEBBLE ART SHATTERS WORLD RECORDS

26 world records shattered as new levels of South African art are established at Graham’s.

The evening sale of the highly important auction of the prestigious art collection of the Late Roger Brett Kebble was led by Auctioneer and Curator of Graham’s Fine Art Gallery, Graham Britz, who has over 21 years experience in auctioneering, at the up-market venue in Hyde Park, Summer Place. Over 800 people attended the auction with registered bidders from South Africa and several phone bidders from the United Kingdom, America, Bermuda and Australia. Greeted with champagne, the guests arrived in black tie from 18h00, awaiting one of the most significant sales South Africa has ever seen.

Graham’s highly publicised and anticipated sale totalled R53,763,050* selling 93.23% of the 133 lots that came under the hammer; the highest result ever achieved at a South African auction. The nine lots that failed to reach their reserve will be sold by private treaty by Graham’s Fine Art Auctioneers. Graham Britz is positive that this will result in a 100% sale of the entire collection and interest has already been shown in these lots by several persons that were unable to attend the auction.

Some 26 world records were achieved, including R3,850,000 for Preller’s Christ Head and R660,000 for Volschenk’s The Valley of the Kaffirkuils near Riversdale. This exemplifies a maturing market that is better informed and more discerning.

The auction was described as a “watershed sale” by Britz, who set a new precedent for South African fine art sales globally. “The best prices were realised for many of the works, which directly illustrates the value of the individual pieces and we could clearly see the market’s change of taste to Modernist Post War paintings”, he said, highlighting the unequivocal results seen for Douglas Portway’s Abstract Landscape at R418,000; Norman Catherine’s Dreamwalker achieving R330,000 and Stanley Pinker’s Trapeze in the Sky reaching R495,000.

Graham’s intend to raise the bar of auctioneering in South Africa, and shall now hold an annual auction, taking entries from September till the end of December for selective sales of works of importance. “Less is more”, explains Britz, “People who want to realise the best prices for their works will have to be patient and wait for each annual sale so that the market is not over-supplied with mid-range works. In the Bearish market that we are seeing now, patience is the key. In the anticipated Bull market, I would like to see us increasing to two sales annually”.

Graham’s intends to hold a sale of South African Fine Art each year. This will include a Day Sale of works on paper and entry level pieces; an Evening Sale which will focus on works by top masters and works of great significance, and an Afternoon Sale the following day for Post War and Contemporary Art.

Graham’s Fine Art Gallery prides itself on the level of research and attention that is given to each individual work and this concept is evidently extended into Graham’s Fine Art Auctioneers. The catalogue produced for this illustrious event boasts large scale, full colour, high definition reproductions of every artwork included in the Roger Brett Kebble auction and all significant works and artists were written on by art academics; creating not only a beautifully produced catalogue, but also a highly informative and compelling art reference book. Graham’s is comprised of a young, dynamic team of graduates with expertise in their area of work, which ranges from intensive research and writing, valuations, procurement, portfolio management and administration.

As a new Auction House, Graham’s has set the bar high for other vendors in the market, creating an initial stir with the sale of the collection of the controversial late Roger Brett Kebble. As sited by the Graham’s team; “although there may be associated negativity with the previous owner of this collection, there is nothing negative about beautiful art.”

All realised auction prices will be available to view at: http://www.brettkebbleartcollection.co.za/

(*All prices include the Hammer Price inclusive of Buyer’s Premium excluding Taxes.)