Lot 46: CHARLES BLOMFIELD (1848 - 1926) Pink and White Terraces, Rotomahana - A Pair

Name: CHARLES BLOMFIELD (1848 - 1926) Pink and White Terraces, Rotomahana - A Pair
Brand: International Art Centre
SKU: 7474cf0936
Price: 30000 NZD

Est: $40,000 NZD - $60,000 NZDSold:

International Art CentreAuckland, New ZealandMay 19, 2020

Item Overview

Description

CHARLES BLOMFIELD (1848 - 1926) Pink and White Terraces, Rotomahana - A Pair, Oil on canvas, Signed & dated 1885, 34 x 60cm

Artist or Maker

Charles Blomfield

Literature

Charles Blomfield has long been recognised as the most popular early New Zealand painter of the Pink and White Terraces and the surrounding region of Rotorua and Lake Tarawera. This fine pair of works featuring two separate views of the Pink and White Terraces, dated 1885 pre-date the 1886 Tarawera eruption. Blomfield first visited the region during a camping trip in December 1875, commenting that Tarawera and it's Terraces were exceedingly beautiful and graceful. Returning in 1883 he spent six weeks documenting the Pink and White Terraces and their surroundings. Blomfield's meticulous sketches and finished paintings are some of the most important historical records we have of the region. It was reported that by September 1885 orders for his work had been received from throughout Europe, America, Australia and other places. Following the Tarawera eruption, Blomfield realised that the paintings he had made of the Terraces were a valuable record, and declined to sell them. He went on to paint and sell scale copies of these works, for which the prices soon trebled. The story of the Tarawera eruption is a dramatic chapter in New Zealand's history. Eleven days before the eruption, both Maori and European visitors, including the famous Guide Sophia, reported seeing a ghostly Maori war canoe paddling across Lake Tarawera. Guide Sophia consulted her tribe's tohunga, or priest, Tūhoto Ariki, and he interpreted the phantom canoe as a bad omen. He believed Maori would be punished for exploiting the area for money without paying due respect to their ancestors. In the early hours of 10 June, 1886 Tūhoto Ariki's prophecy was fulfilled. At Te Wairoa village, about eight kilometres away from the Terraces, people were woken after midnight by a series of violent earthquakes. Around 2 am Tarawera erupted with fountains of glowing lava and a cloud of ash up to ten kilometres high, through which intense lightning flickered. At Te Wairoa, more than sixty people sheltered in Guide Sophia's sturdy hut, which remarkably survived the eruption. Later, craters on the south-west side of the mountain blasted open and a crack 17 kilometres long emitted tons of mud and ash. The Tikitapu bush was completely covered by ash and earthquakes were felt throughout the North Island with the noise of the eruption heard as far south as Blenheim. At the time, many Aucklanders thought they were hearing distant cannon fire. Blomfield decided to see the devastation for himself and returned to the area in October to paint several scenes of the terrible destruction. A world away, fourteen Charles Blomfield paintings were being greatly admired in South Kensington, London at the 1886 Colonial and Indian Exhibition. This major exhibition, which in the words of the Prince of Wales was intended to: stimulate commerce and strengthen the bonds of the British Empire was opened by Queen Victoria and received over five million visitors. Charles Blomfield died at his residence in Wood Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland in 1926. These two fine works, held in the same family collection for 135 years, provide an accurate historical record of the beauty and splendour of the region. They were painted just a year prior to the Tarawera eruption.

Provenance

Same family collection since purchased by the current owners family, 1885 Facsimile letters to the owners from the artist post 1886 eruption affixed verso

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: MasterCard, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

FREIGHT & PACKING
International Art Centre arrange door to door delivery both
nationally and internationally at the buyer's expense. Please arrange insurance on your items prior to them leaving our premises. Feel free to contact us for a quote.

Auction Details

Important & Rare Art

International Art Centre

May 19, 2020, 06:00 PM NZST

202 Parnell Road Parnell, Auckland, 1052, NZ

Explore This Auction

Terms

Buyer's Premium

25.12%

Bidding Increments

From:	To:	Increment:
$0	$49	$5
$50	$99	$25
$100	$299	$50
$300	$999	$100
$1,000	$4,999	$250
$5,000	$9,999	$500
$10,000	$19,999	$1,000
$20,000	$49,999	$2,000
$50,000	$99,999	$5,000
$100,000	$199,999	$10,000
$200,000	$599,999	$25,000
$600,000	$999,999	$35,000
$1,000,000+		$50,000

Conditions of Sale

Conditions of Sale and A Guide to Buyers

The highest bidder shall be the buyer. In the event of any
dispute as to the bidding in respect of any lot, that lot may be
offered again at the discretion of the auctioneer whose decision
shall be absolute and final.

The auctioneer has the right -
(i) to refuse any bid;
(ii) to advance the bidding at his absolute discretion;
(iii) to place a reserve on any lot;
(iv) to place a bid or bids on behalf of the seller;
(v) to withdraw any lot from sale;
(vi) to require a successful bidder to pay forthwith the
whole or any part of the purchase price.

The auctioneer acts as the agent of the seller and neither he
nor the seller shall be responsible for any defects or faults in
any lot or for any errors of description or for genuineness or
authenticity of any lot and no compensation shall be paid in
respect of same. From the time of lot being sold, such lot will be the
responsibility of the buyer.

Successful bidders are required to pay for purchases
immediately on completion of sale unless otherwise arranged.
All intending buyers are required to register for a bidding
number prior to auction commencing. Subscribers can use
their permanent bidding number. We reserve the right to ask
for identification if you are a first time client of International
Art Centre.

Each lot shall be paid for and removed at the buyers expense
by no later than 5:00pm Thursday 21 May 2020 unless otherwise
arranged failing which the auctioneer and/or the seller shall
have the right to forfeit any deposit paid by the buyer and to
resell the lot either by public or private sale and any deficiency
on costs of resale shall be borne by the defaulting buyer.
No lot may be collected whilst auction is in progress. Payment
can also not be made until completion of auction.

SUBJECT BIDS
When the auctioneer declares a lot 'subject' this means the
bid is below the set reserve and is subject to vendor accepting,
rejecting or negotiating the bid. International Art Centre will
endeavour to make contact with the vendor immediately after
sale or the following day. If the bid is accepted, the highest
bidder is obligated to make purchase.

ESTIMATES
Estimates are provided for each entry and act as a guide only.
They are prepared well in advance of sale and are subject to
revision at any time. Estimates are based on hammer price and
do not include buyers premium.

ABSENTEE BIDS
Absentee bidding arranged - please refer to absentee bidding
in back of catalogue Fax to (09) 307 3421 or post to PO Box 37
344 Parnell before 3pm day of sale. Please do not be offended
if a member of our staff ask for your credit card details as
security.

Absentee bids can also be left via our website to registered
members. Our website www.fineartauction.co.nz acts as a
useful auxiliary to the catalogue but we recommend inspection
or a condition report prior to leaving a bid. Our staff will gladly
supply you with a condition report on any lot.

TELEPHONE BIDS
Telephone bidding available to subscribers and registered
bidders. There is no charge for this service.

PAYMENT FACILITIES
Eftpos: Available for transactions depending on your daily
limit.

Bank deposits: Bank instructions on invoice if paying by direct
debit. Quote the Lot number(s) purchased and surname as reference.

Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard with a 2% surcharge.
International Art

International Art Centre no longer accepts cheque or cash payments in excess of NZ$10,000.

PROTECTED OBJECTS ACT
Art objects over 50 years old made by an artist or maker born
in or related to New Zealand may be protected New Zealand
objects, and therefore require permission from the Ministry
for Culture and Heritage in order to be exported. Applications
for permission to export can be made at https://mch.govt.nz/
nz-identity-heritage/protected-objects/exporting

FREIGHT & PACKING
International Art Centre arrange door to door delivery both
nationally and internationally. Please arrange insurance on
your items prior to them leaving our premises.

OTHER ENQUIRIES
Should you have any questions relating to the sale or if we can
be of any other assistance please contact us during business
hours on (09) 379 4010, Toll Free 0800 800 322 or email
info@internationalartcentre.co.nz

BUYERS PREMIUM
17.5% Buyers premium plus GST on premium applies to all
lots (20.12% including GST) + Invaluable 5% fee (Total 25.12% including GST)

BUYERS PREMIUM

BUYERS PREMIUM
17.5% Buyers premium plus GST on premium applies to all
lots (20.12% including GST) + Invaluable 5% fee (Total 25.12% including GST)

FREIGHT & PACKING

Get Invaluable on Your Phone

Download the app via text link to get instantly notified if you’re outbid and receive auction reminders so you never miss out!

Bid On-the-Go!

Download the Invaluable app and never miss an auction from your iOS or Android device.

As the world's leading online auction marketplace, thousands of auction houses use Invaluable to deepen relationships with millions of clients around the world. Stay connected to the things you love with curated items and auctions sent to your inbox.

You can unsubscribe at any time. View ourPrivacy Policy.