Art auction market report: February 2004
In February 2004, ArtSell recorded 320 auction lots from 3 auction houses, of which 265 sold (83% sell-through). The 265 sales with a published price total $1,407,650, with a median of $3,343 (USD at the sale-date rate). The top sale was Robert Ballagh, “MY STUDIO 1969”, at $123,437 (Whyte's). 15 artists set a new high compared with every earlier result in the database.
Lots offered
320
3 houses
Sold
265
83% sell-through
Total
$1.4M
265 priced sales
Median
$3.3k
priced sales
Top sales
Top American artists
Ranked by total of priced sales in the month; region from the artist’s recorded nationality.
| # | Artist | Total sold | Priced sales | Top result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Scott American | $19,287 | 1 | GOLD PAINTING 8/93 — $19,287 |
| 2 | Frank Egginton British | $4,629 | 2 | DUNDONALD, COUNTY DOWN — $2,829 |
| 3 | Emil Bisttram American | $750 | 1 | Kachina Doll — $750 |
| 4 | David Salle American | $550 | 1 | Untitled — $550 |
| 5 | Stephen Parrish American | $425 | 1 | Fishermans' Houses Cape Ann — $425 |
| 6 | Albert Abramowitz American | $375 | 1 | Breadline — $375 |
| 7 | Blanche Lazzell American | $375 | 1 | Tabletop Still Life — $375 |
| 8 | Ben Shahn American | $325 | 1 | Paris Review Series — $325 |
| 9 | Richard Lindner American | $225 | 1 | Untitled — $225 |
| 10 | Lila Norma Shelby American | $190 | 1 | Oriental Still Life with Dolls and Vases — $190 |
Top European artists
| # | Artist | Total sold | Priced sales | Top result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Robert Ballagh Irish | $127,294 | 2 | MY STUDIO 1969 — $123,437 |
| 2 | James Humbert Craig Irish | $79,977 | 5 | SUNDAY IN CONNEMARA — $43,717 |
| 3 | Daniel O'Neill Irish | $54,004 | 2 | A WESTERN FAMILY — $38,574 |
| 4 | Markey Robinson British | $53,618 | 8 | THE AVENUE — $12,601 |
| 5 | George Campbell Irish | $51,432 | 4 | MEMORY OF THE MAAM VALLEY — $30,859 |
| 6 | Basil Blackshaw British | $50,146 | 2 | ORCHARD — $27,002 |
| 7 | Cecil Maguire British | $43,717 | 5 | CROSS STREET, GALWAY — $19,287 |
| 8 | Mildred Anne Butler British | $35,874 | 4 | CATTLE RESTING IN WOODLAND and CATTLE GRAZING BENEATH TREES (A PAIR) — $14,144 |
| 9 | Maurice Canning Wilks Irish | $34,459 | 6 | FIGURES ON THE STRAND, COUNTY DONEGAL — $8,358 |
| 10 | Patrick Hennessy Irish | $33,945 | 3 | FAREWELL TO IRELAND — $25,716 |
New artist records
The artist’s best price this month exceeded every earlier priced result for them in the ArtSell database (artists with at least three earlier priced results).
| Artist | Work | Price | Previous high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sir John Lavery | THE HOUSE-TOPS, TANGIER Whyte's | $48,860 | $24,538 (3 earlier) |
| James Humbert Craig | SUNDAY IN CONNEMARA Whyte's | $43,717 | $30,623 (23 earlier) |
| Daniel O'Neill | A WESTERN FAMILY Whyte's | $38,574 | $31,515 (16 earlier) |
| George Campbell | MEMORY OF THE MAAM VALLEY Whyte's | $30,859 | $21,428 (44 earlier) |
| Patrick Hennessy | FAREWELL TO IRELAND Whyte's | $25,716 | $6,455 (3 earlier) |
| Barrie Cooke | LYING Whyte's | $20,573 | $4,719 (3 earlier) |
| Cecil Maguire | CROSS STREET, GALWAY Whyte's | $19,287 | $13,632 (17 earlier) |
| Nano Reid | OLD TOWN WALLS Whyte's | $19,287 | $15,311 (7 earlier) |
| Mildred Anne Butler | CATTLE RESTING IN WOODLAND and CATTLE GRAZING BENEATH TREES (A PAIR) Whyte's | $14,144 | $4,602 (6 earlier) |
| Mark O'Neill | TARTAN CHAIR Whyte's | $11,572 | $10,129 (4 earlier) |
| Neil Shawcross | RED NUDE Whyte's | $10,286 | $3,817 (4 earlier) |
| John Skelton | AT THE START Whyte's | $7,329 | $5,379 (9 earlier) |
| Estella Solomons | SELF PORTRAIT IN BLUE COAT Whyte's | $6,686 | $4,719 (11 earlier) |
| Norman J. McCaig | SAFELY HOME Whyte's | $6,429 | $5,771 (39 earlier) |
| Henry Healy | LEESON STREET BRIDGE, DUBLIN Whyte's | $4,115 | $3,240 (6 earlier) |