Glory days

If ever anything told the story of the dominance of Auckland in the art market, it is the preview of the recent fine art sale at Dunbar Sloane. These auctions have never been chic, but the down-home approach has proved very successful in the past. Even a year ago a preview of a Dunbar Sloane auction would have a swarm of people looking, comparing and discussing the merits of Michael Eaton or perhaps Joan Fanning. This weekend there was a trickle. Apart from one stunning, but badly framed, Truth from the King Country: Load bearing structures by McCahon, there was little to look at. A million years ago Dunbar senior’s father Dunbar would have a packed room rolling on the floor, or rolling their eyes, with his extravagant commentaries on how cows were the measure of a good landscape and its value on the block, and the more cows the better. It’s hard to imagine there’ll be many laughs, or gasps, in the room when this lot goes under the hammer.
Image: Preview of the most recent Dunbar Sloane art auction