Online auctions come of age
MANILA, Philippines — It’s kinda cute,” giggled Shelly Stewart, played by a pre-Sex in the City Jessica Parker, surveying a Japanese plate in the auction scene of The First Wives Club. “It’s sublime!” growled society grand dame Gunila Garson Goldberg (played by a pre-Downton Abbey Maggie Smith.) As Shelley rocked side to side in girlish indecision, Gunila delivered the coup de grace — “Jackie O had one just like it!” Up went Shelly’s arm, like one of those good-luck Chinese cats, bearing a paddle, to the tune of $145,000 in 1990 dollars.
At last weekend’s León Exchange auctions, it appeared that strictly-online sales had come of age, laced with almost the same kind of glamor and desire as León’s quarterly live auctions.
“White Houses” by Mauro Malang Santos — signed and dated 1980 (lower right), tempera — was auctioned off for P625,000.
The first day covered paintings from a whole spectrum of artists: master artists working on paper, in watercolor or pen and ink; or in smaller, more accessible sizes. There were, for example, a Fabian de la Rosa of a fashionable lady; a Guillermo Tolentino of a nude satyr, several Juvenal Sansos, and three enchanting Anita Magsaysay-Hos (including a rare woodcut print from the mid-20th century.) Alongside them were collectible works from the 21st century exploring contemporary themes such as politics and LBGT concerns that all did a roaring business.
“The king of Mabini art, Cesar Buenaventura” as Jaime Ponce de Leon put it, however did consistently well, with several of his works landing in the six-figures. A largish scene, “Planting Rice,” for example, fetched P303,000 — premium included. Cesar, incidentally, does have quite a pedigree. He’s the second son of the drawing master, Teodoro Sr., of the first faculty of the University of the Philippines School of Fine Arts, newly established by the Americans at the turn of the century. “Cesar is finally getting his due,” emphasized Ponce de Leon.
A 19th century Ilocos commode with double-headed eagle in narra and later bone inlay (P467,000)
To be expected, the Malang works also did well; with a work titled “White Houses” in tempera (an egg-based watercolor that the moderns favored), ringing in P625,000.
It was the second day, however, that underlined the buoyant online-auction market, with much interest piqued for books and furniture.
The clear leaders of the pack were several outstanding pieces of “Baliuag” furniture, known for its elegant carpentry and floral-patterned bone-inlay. “The Baliuag pieces were of tremendous interest in this sale,” said Ponce de Leon. One highly unusual triangular table (with a matching armchair) sold for over P800,000; a Sheraton-style sideboard for almost P600,000. A chest of drawers with an Augustinian double-eagle carved on both doors went for P470,000. Antiques expert Toto Gonzales said, “There was a vogue for having lavish Middle-Eastern-themed inlay in the early 20th century and this piece may quite possibly have been one of them. The inlay would have been added to this piece of much older vintage.”
A Baliuag corner table in narra and bone circa 1920 (P817,000)
“Maybe all this has something with the current atmosphere of ‘More is more’,” Ponce de Leon chuckled.
“The carpets sold quite well, too,” he noted, adding that the rugs were all from a distinguished family’s collection.
Various rare books, including a Fernando Zobel title, the “Sketchbook,” an Edades commentary by Rod Paras-Perez and stashes of hard-to-find volumes on Sanso, Joya, and BenCab also fetched tidy sums.
A 19th century Sheraton three-drawer table in narra and Bone (P584,000)
On the other side of town, happy families reigned at ArtCube: Daniel de la Cruz and wife Monica celebrated their 24th anniversary — yes, an astonishing quarter of a century — at a collectors dinner hosted by Luis Ojeda and Lori Juvida. On the walls were remarkable works by Alee Garibay (daughter of Emmanuel), for an exhibit recalling E.M. Forster’s Room with a View, in a modern, equally forlorn, 21st-century Manila way.
