22/01/2002

Bonhams was the first of the big auction houses to hold an auction this year with their sale of Marine paintings on the 16th of January. The sale was held at their new prestige offices at New Bond street, London with a 400 lot Marine auction, divided into two sections. The first section comprised Marine artefacts (model boats and shipping ephemera), while the last section consisting of approximately 200 painting and prints of seascapes made a sale total of 75%. Though most of the paintings sold at low prices, the top seller of the day was cause for celebration. Robert Salmon’s (1775-1845) A Regatta off New Brighton in the River Mersey, signed by the artist and dated 1845, an oil on board measuring 42 x 61 cm sold for $ 143,240 (€ 162,760) against an estimate of $ 42,980-71,630 (€ 48,830-81,390). According to the auction house the bidding was fought out all the way between two private (i.e. non gallery) bidders. (Andrew Moore)