An unreserved auction. Highest bid is the sale price. The Silich Collection: Visions of New Zealand is the largest collection of historical paintings by a single vendor ever offered for sale at International Art Centre. The online auction includes over 235 entries. The breadth of collecting and number of works included by artists of the early Dominion such as Charles Blomfield, William Menzies Gibb, John Gully, William Kirkwood and John Douglas Perrett is a testament to David’s commitment to fostering a truly remarkable collection.
Despite living most of his 73 years in Europe, David Silich (1944 - 2018) remained a proud New Zealander. This is reflected in his art collecting and his philanthropy. A generous benefactor, he supported both his old school, Whangarei Boys’ High School, and the University of Auckland, where he had completed a degree in Mathematics in the mid-1960s. Once he and his Swiss wife Corina made the decision to purchase a farm here a decade ago, he had a vision to build a major collection which would combine excellent but undervalued traditional landscapes with bold modernist works. Knowledgeable, and with a keen eye, he chose works that to him expressed the unique characteristics of this country and its people.
The auction will be on view at 202 Parnell Rd from Thursday 23 May until the night of the auction Tuesday 28 May. Please note there will be no weekend viewing available for this auction.