One of the country’s premier galleries, León Gallery, ends the year with a momentous auction that saw significant works of art and collections put under the hammer, many of which broke records.
Artists, critics, collectors and art enthusiasts gathered on December 5 for León’s Kingly Treasures Auction 2015. The auction’s top sellers were Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Four Women (1964) sold for P23.9 million, Ronald Ventura’s In Memorial (2001) for P16.4 million, Benedicto Cabrera’s Sabel (2003) at P11.7 million, Ang Kiukok’s Door (1978) at P10.5 million, and Torogan (1985) for P9.9 million and Blue Harbor (1966) for P9.3 million, both by Jose Joya.
The Tinio-Gabaldon Cabinet of the 19th Century broke records and is now the highest selling Philippine furniture to date after it was sold for P15.8 million. This elegant work made of kamagong and lanite once belonged to the most landed family in the Philippines.
Romulo Olazo’s Diaphanous B-LXXVII, the biggest Olazo to be sold at auction, went for P5.8 million, now the highest selling work by the late artist. Also included in the auction were modernist master H.R. Ocampo’s Talking Birds which was sold for P5.3 million, and zen master Lao Lianben’s Wood Void which hammered for P5.1 million.
Contemporary artists Jigger Cruz and Andres Barrioquinto also saw their works sold at record amounts with Cruz’s Blares of the Opposite going for P6.7 million, while Barrioquinto's Into the Fray fetched P3.11 million.
The Kingly Treasures Auction was the fifth successful auction of Leòn Gallery for this year following The Jim and Reed Pfeufer Collection, The Asian Cultural Council Philippines Art Auction, Spectacular Mid-Year 2015, and The Magnificent September Auction 2015.
With four successful and very significant auctions and the record-breaking finale with Kingly Treasures Auction, it was indeed a banner year for León Gallery.