D+H RECORDS HIGHEST TOTAL FOR AN INDIGENOUS ART AUCTION IN AUSTRALIA IN ALMOST 20 YEARS
Following enthusiastic attendances at viewings in Sydney and Melbourne the fortnight prior, Deutscher and Hackett’s first live auction for 2025, Important Australian Indigenous Art, opened the year on a triumphant note – realising the outstanding total of $4,222,309 (inc. BP) from the 75 lots offered.
Significantly, this result not only establishes a new record for an Indigenous art auction in Deutscher and Hackett’s history, but notably represents the highest total achieved for an Indigenous art auction in this country since 2007 – attesting to D+H’s position as the clear market leader in the sale of Indigenous Art at auction.
As Crispin Gutteridge, Head of Indigenous Art, notes ‘The result reaffirms the continuing strength of the local market and embraces the growing international demand for Australian Indigenous art, with 25% of works purchased by overseas buyers.’
Attracting the attention of passionate collectors worldwide, this eagerly anticipated auction once again witnessed an active room, complemented by fervent bidding across telephone and internet platforms with national – and particularly international – participation. Indeed, elevated clearance rates of 144% by value and 80% by volume demonstrate the strength of the current market and the ever-increasing appreciation for quality works by Australia’s finest Indigenous artists.
Strong competitive bidding saw the stunning catalogue cover lot, Emily Kam Kngwarreye’s Untitled (Awelye), 1992 sell for $1,196,591 (inc. BP) and ten new artist auction records achieved, including for Doreen Reid Nakamarra whose Untitled, 2007 sold for $208,636 (inc. BP) against pre-auction estimates of $30,000 – 40,000.
TOP FIVE RESULTS
EMILY KAM KNGWARREYE
UNTITLED (AWELYE), 1992
ESTIMATE: $400,000 - $600,000
Sold for $1,196,591 (inc. BP)
LIN ONUS
ARAFURA SWAMP IV, 1996
ESTIMATE: $300,000 – $400,000
Sold for $368,182 (inc. BP)
ALBERT NAMATJIRA
ARAFURA SEA AT DARWIN, 1950
ESTIMATE: $60,000 – $80,000
Sold for $233,182 (inc. BP)
DOREEN REID NAKAMARRA
UNTITLED, 2007
ESTIMATE: $30,000 – $40,000
Sold for $208,636 (inc. BP)
EMILY KAM KNGWARREYE
YAM FLOWERS, 1994
ESTIMATE: $50,000 – $70,000
Sold for $165,682 (inc. BP)