First up on June 8 is the collection of British/New Zealand architect Martin Hill (1925-2006) who arrived here in 1952 with a collection of British and Continental ceramics by leading practitioners Dame Luce Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach and Michael Cardew.
On June 9 ART+OBJECT will offer the collection of kiwi cinematographer Michael Seresin, who over a number of decades assembled a superb collection of vintage 20th-century photographs by Andre Kertez, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Bill Brandt, Brassai, E.J. Bellocq, Mario Giacomelli, W. Eugene Smith, Baron Adolph de Meyer, Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Eugene Atget and many other highly collectable photographers. The collection spans the early 20th century to the 1960s.
Hamish Coney, managing director of ART+OBJECT, said that such collections are rarely found in New Zealand. “Usually collections of this caliber would be offered in London or New York and local collectors would miss the pleasure of viewing, enjoying and bidding on these in the flesh. ART+OBJECT is thrilled to be able to offer these superb collections here and invite international collectors to participate via LiveAuctioneers.com. We will be making sure we can accommodate their condition report and information requirements,” said Coney.
The Martin Hill Collection of international Ceramics began in the Arts and Crafts village of Ditchling, Sussex where the architect grew up in the 1930s. Ditchling, founded by well known artist and typographer Eric Gill, holds a seminal position in the British Arts and Crafts movement in the early 20th century. In this environment the Hill family came into contact with artists such as Frank Brangwyn and the work of leading studio potters Bernard Leach, Shoji Hamada and Michael Cardew was seen, discussed and in some cases acquired.
The collection contains what the auction house describes as museum quality examples of the work of Lucie Rie, Hans Coper, Bernard Leach and Shoji Hamada and the influence of this collection on the development of New Zealand studio pottery was significant, according to Coney. “This collection was well known in international circles in the 1960s. Bernard Leach on his visit to New Zealand in 1962 made a point of inspecting Martin Hill’s collection,” he said.
Michael Seresin is perhaps best known as an international cinematographer on such films as Bugsy Malone, Angela’s Ashes, Midnight Express and Harry Potter the Prisoner of Azkaban. His career spans some 35 years and numerous major motion pictures. His decades-long collaboration with director Alan Parker has resulted in many classics including Birdy, The Life of David Gale, Fame and Angel Heart.
For many years Michael Seresin has been a collector of vintage 20th-century black and white prints. Over the decades his keen eye has appreciated and located some of the foundation images of art photography by leading practitioners.
The entire collection toured New Zealand public galleries in 2005 under the title “Another View.” Coney describes the collection as a near archive collection of the major figures of 20th-century art photography. “Photography has been one of the star performers of the New Zealand auction scene in the last three years. Just like the Hill collection it is a rare occasion for a collection of such pedigree and rarity to be offered in New Zealand,” said Coney.
For details contact Hamish Coney, Managing Director, ART+OBJECT, 3 Abbey St., Newton, Auckland, New Zealand. Tel: +64 9 354 4646 email hamish@artandobject.co.nz.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
