2022 has been a banner year for Salcedo Auctions which has established itself as a space that draws together a community passionate about art—and stays connected to the wider global art community; this, while bringing the distinct Filipino identity to the global culture feast.
Anita Magsaysay-Ho, ‘Women Fishing,’ mixed media on board, 1971, sold for PHP 26,864,000 at the ‘Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles’ auction last June 2022.
At the forefront of the 2022 sales was the Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s 1971 masterpiece, Women Fishing, which sold for PHP26,864,000—the highest price for a Magsaysay-Ho in her distinctive “ink blot” style.
This was followed by the benchmark sales of six of Ramon Orlina’s Tower Club glass masterpieces that set one record after the other in Salcedo Auctions’ back-to-back marquee events in March, June, September, and November.
Ramon Orlina’s Tower Club collection sold at benchmark prices at Salcedo Auctions.
This year also saw new world records set overall and based on size for abstractionist Romulo Olazo. Two distinct works from his renowned Diaphanous series, the 48 x 48 inch Diaphanous 71719, and the 42 x 84 inch Diaphanous B-CXIVIII sold for PHP 11,680,000 and P14,016,000 respectively.
As the primary global resource of Juan Luna y Novicio’s works, Salcedo Auctions achieved a new record for his work on paper based on size, with the sale of his watercolor masterpiece Reclining Warrior dated 1887. Sold for PHP 2,102,400, this significant historical artwork commanded the highest price for any Luna painting sold in the Philippines in 2022.
Romulo Olazo, ‘Diaphanous B-CXIVIII,’ acrylic on canvas, 2010, sold at world record price of PHP 14,016,000 at ‘The Well Appointed Life’ auction.
In The Well Appointed Life auction last September, Salcedo presented two rare early works of National Artist Ang Kiukok from the collection of the late Rufus Colefax Phillips III, a former USAID director, diplomat, and published author. These 1957 works from the Banana series were once exhibited at the pioneering Philippine Art Gallery, and sold for a combined total of PHP 9,110,400.
A famous award-winning British actress once owned the rare and important 1969 mixed media oeuvre from National Artist BenCab’s Scavenger series, done during the artist’s significant London period. Earlier acquired from the Greenwich art gallery that mounted BenCab’s early solo exhibition, it sold for PHP 4,088,000.
Ang Kiukok, ‘Bananas #3,’ oil on wood, 1957; (Right) ‘Bananas #4,’ oil on wood, 1957
Many early works of preeminent Filipino artists went on the block, done in the early years of the artists or during their transition stage. Most notable of these was the first catalogued painting by the postwar abstractionist Fernando Zóbel—an untitled 1948 bodegón which sold for PHP1,284,800—higher than 100 percent of its published estimate. Pioneering abstract expressionist Lee Aguinaldo’s untitled 1963 piece fetched P2,569,600—the highest price achieved for the artist based on size.
Fernando Zóbel, ‘Untitled (Bodegón), oil on canvas, 1948; (Right) Lee Aguinaldo, ‘Untitled,’ oil on canvas, 1963.
The sculptural bench dated 1977 by National Artist Napoleon Abueva sold for an unprecedented PHP3,036,000 in the November Under the Tree sale, the highest price in an auction for the sculptor.
The late modernist Justin Nuyda’s Search Mindscape: Break of Dawn went for PHP 9,344,000 in the same auction, the proceeds of which the Nuyda family donated to the Search Mindscape Foundation and the Philippine Cancer Society.
(Left) Ayni Nuyda of the Search Mindscape Foundation and Dr. Rachael Rosario of Philippine Cancer Society, before Justin Nuyda’s ‘Search Mindscape: ‘Break of Dawn’.’
Mauro Malang Santos’s ‘Yellow Vendor’ sold for PHP11,096,000 at ‘The Well Appointed Life’ auction last September.
Among the solo exhibitions at Salcedo Private View this year, Ronald Ventura’s Beastmaster left a mark in Philippine contemporary art. His vernissage drew a sizable crowd of art lovers on a Sunday afternoon.
Salcedo Auctions’ first major auction of 2022, Important Philippine Art and Furniture, Including Ethnographic Art in March, saw its highest sales of National Artist José Joya’s Festival and BenCab’s untitled work dubbed as the Woman with Bilao—both selling for P17,520,000. These were followed by exceptional sales of Orlina’s Power of Coalition for P5,139,200; National Artist J. Elizalde Navarro’s Ubud, My Bali Series ‘94 for P3,036,800; National Artist Federico Aguilar Alcuaz’s untitled green abstract artwork for P4,788,800; Ferdie Montemayor’s untitled piece for P1,168,000; and colonial furniture pieces such as the Ah Tay ilustrado matrimonial bed for P1,168,000 and the Bulacan tambol aparador for P1,401,000.
Jose Joya, ‘Festival,’ acrylic on canvas, 1985 sold for PHP17,520,000 at the ‘Important Philippine Art and Furniture, Including Ethnographic Art’ auction last March.
(Left) Ah Tay ilustrado matrimonial bed sold for PHP1,168,000; (Right) Bulacan tambol aparador from the 19th century, sold for PHP1,401,100
Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles auction in June achieved an impressive 90 percent clearance rate, headlined by Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s world record sale for Women Fishing and BenCab’s untitled piece from the Scavenger series. These were followed by Ang Kiukok’s Reclining Figure, which sold for P9,928,000; Orlina’s Flight to the New Frontiers, which sold for P4,672,000; J. Elizalde Navarro’s Summer Storm, which sold for P2,102,400; Roberto Chabet’s Objects VII, for P1,752,000; and Betsy Westendorp’s 207-1983, for P1,168,000.
BenCab’s untitled 1969 piece from the ‘Scavenger’ series belonged to a private collector from the United Kingdom. The piece sold for P4,088,000 at the ‘Finer Pursuits: Important Philippine Art & Rare Collectibles’ auction last June.
The Well Appointed Life sale in September had a beautiful Manansala, an untitled piece by the National Artist depicting women vendors, from the collection of one of the founders of the Friends of Manansala Foundation. Another banner sale was Ronald Ventura’s Beasty Eyes. Both sold for PHP17,520,000. Malang’s Yellow Vendor sold for PHP11,096,000.
Joann Bitagcol, Liza Ilarde, Myrza Sison, Pauline Juan, Devi De Veyra, Alex Vergara at ‘The Well Appointed Life’ vernissage last September.
Vicente Manansala, ‘Untitled (Vendors), oil on canvas, 1978; (Right) Ronald Ventura, ‘Beasty Eyes,’ oil on canvas with fiberglass and resin, 2021
Closing the auction year, Under the Tree: The Wish List saw Ramon Orlina’s Triumvirate equaling Salcedo’s benchmark price for the artist. National Artist Fernando Amorsolo’s Tinikling sold for PHP2,102,400 and Ventura’s untitled hyperrealist piece depicting hands for PHP1,752,000.
Salcedo Auctions chairman and chief specialist Richie Lerma at the yearend ‘Under the Tree The Wish List’ auction last November.
Fernando Amorsolo, ‘Tinikling,’ oil on wood, 1940. Sold for PHP2,102,400 at the ‘Under the Tree The Wish List’ auction last December.
Salcedo Auctions gears up for 2023 with plans for more banner art works.
Consignments to the “Important Philippine Art & Furniture” auction scheduled in March 2023 are being accepted. To inquire, send an email to [email protected] or call tel. no. (+63917)591-2191.
