Downturn hits art auction hard

Aboriginal Art Directory | 26.03.09

Author: Gabriella Coslovich
News source: The Age

From the Age:

Barely half of the 265 works offered at Deutscher and Hackett's inaugural Aboriginal art auction last night sold, fetching a total of $1.3 million, including commissions.

Executive director Chris Deutscher, who had been hoping for a $2 million sale, was disappointed.

"I think we all know we are heading into uncharted waters," he said. "There were a lot of works that we were sure would sell. I would have predicted a 70 per cent sale rate. It was patchy and a lot of the middle to high priced works didn't sell.

"But I am certain there will be strong after-sales. People are hounding us."

One of the few moments of levity on the night was the sale of Emily Kame Kngwarreye's sprawling 1995 work Untitled (Alhakere).

URL: http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/downturn-hits-art-auction-hard/2009/03/25/1237657001209.html

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Contact Details

Gallery: Deutscher and Hackett Melbourne
Email: info@deutscherandhackett.com
Telephone: +61 3 9865 6333
Address: 105 Commercial Road South Yarra Melbourne 3141 VIC