03/09/2001

Robert Gemmell Hutchison’s oil painting, The Pet Rabbit, sold for $ 53,190 (€ 58,670) against an estimate of $ 14,490-21,740 (€ 15,990-23,900) at Phillips' Edinburgh Scottish sale on the 25th August and became the highest seller of the day. Dr Chris Brickley, head of the picture department at Phillips accounted for the strong sale: “This image was fresh to the market, having been bought by the vendor’s father and remained in the family ever since”. Jack Vettriano’s A couple dancing on a beach sold for $ 40,000 (€ 44,140) against an estimated $ 14,500-21,800 (€ 15,990-24,000). Joseph Farquharson’s Blinding Drifts, sold for $ 40,000 (€ 44,140) three times its estimate as did George Leslie Hunter’s Fife landscape with a hammer price of $ 36,740 (€ 40,450) and James Mackintosh Patrick’s November Afternoon, Carse of Gowrie made $ 43,430 (€ 47,810) against an estimate of $ 14,500-21,800 (€ 15,990-24,000). (Andrew Moore)