Top quality paintings for 25th anniversary auction

Media release - January 20

Top quality paintings for 25th anniversary art auction

Some fine Australasian paintings go under the hammer at Watson's for their special 25th anniversary charity auction in Christchurch on March 11.

Watson's Auctioneers are staging the major auction to highlight 25 years as one of New Zealand's leading auctioneers.

Some of the paintings in March are by Dora Meeson, Sydney Lough Thompson, Tom Esplin, Blythe Fletcher, Tony de Latour, Annie Elizabeth Kelly, Sue Cooke, Michael Smither, Peter Robinson and Joanna Braithwaite.

They plan to have a specially commissioned painting for the anniversary night which is expected to attract significant overseas interest.

Watson's record for the highest price paid for an item was an Australian painting.

Knud Bull's famous Australian painting of the George 2 shipwreck was sold to the Australian government in 2001 for $244,750.

Over the years, Watson's have had produced strong prices for traditional works including $19,500 for a painting by John Gibb, Waikawa Bay, Picton.

They have also sold paintings by Doris Lusk ($33,000), Margaret Stoddart, Peter McIntyre, Rudy Gopas, Tom Esplin, Ester Hope, Sydney Lough Thompson, Ralph Hotere, Sir Tosswill Woollaston, Pat Hanly, Bill Hammond, Michael Smither, Richard Killeen and Russell Clark.

Auctioneer Barry Watson said the March 11 auction will be one of the most interesting seen in Christchurch.

``We are having a painting of a household name especially commissioned which will attract substantial interest in New Zealand and from overseas,'' he said.

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Media advisory. For further information, interviews or photos/camera shot, please contact: Barry Watson Ph: 03 3660236

Kip Brook, Word of Mouth Media NZ Ph: 03 374 5426

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