Goldie painting of kaumātua Wharekauri Tahuna sells for more than $3.75m
Thoughts of a Tohunga, a portrait of Wharekauri Tahuna, a Ngāti Manawa tohunga or priest, was painted by Goldie in 1938 and sold for more than $3,757,000.
It was the highest auction price for any Goldie in New Zealand art history. The painting was done nine years before Goldie died in 1947 and art commentators believe it was his best work. It was thought it could bring a floor price of up to $3.5 million, but the final result made it one of the most prized Goldie paintings sold at auction in New Zealand. Whakekauri Tahuna was one of the last tattooed men of his generation.
International Art Centre director Richard Thomson said there was significant interest in the painting even before the auction began. He said it was considered a Goldie masterpiece and the sale on Tuesday had created New Zealand art history. The Goldie painting was the first in New Zealand to sell for more than $3 million.
"In 2016 we sold a Goldie for $1,175,000 which was the first Goldie to sell for more than $1 million. Since then we have sold 15 Goldies for more than $1 million."
Bidding began at $2 million and there were 16 bids, some by telephone, some on the internet and some by bidders at the gallery.
Auctions