WEBB’S - PRESS RELEASE

Don Binney to be sold for Christchurch.

Dick Scott, historian and author, has consigned a major work by leading artist Don Binney to an auction at Webb’s on 29 March and the proceeds are to go to Christchurch. The work is estimated to fetch $250,000.

The owner of Don Binney’s Kotare over the Ratana Church, Te Kao 1964 has consigned this work into the auction and instructed Webb’s to pay the entire funds the Christchurch appeal. Of extraordinary significance and coming to the market for the first time since its original purchase in 1964, this work is one of Binney’s great masterpieces from the mid-1960s’ period. Extensively reproduced and exhibited, this is unquestionably the most important work by this artist to ever be offered publicly at auction in this country. The owner of this work described its release to an exhibition of New Zealand painting at the Commonwealth Institute of London in 1965 and then its release in 2004 to a tour of New Zealand public galleries as “seeing off a family member”. After owning the work for over 50 years, the owner has now found a purpose with enough justification to release the work permanently.

“I was stunned by this extremely generous gesture” said Sophie Coupland, Webb’s Head of Fine Arts. “It is unprecedented within memory for a work of this significance to be sold entirely for charity. Simply having the opportunity to market such an important work is exciting and with the added charity factor, the work has every chance of achieving a new record price for the artist”.

Dick Scott purchased the work from Ikon Fine Art in 1964 for a figure of 50 guineas. At the time the dealer, Rodney Kirk Smith, took copies of Dick Scott’s recently published book on wine as part payment.
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