A well-appointed affair

Salcedo Auctions’ well-attended vernissage presaged the world record-breaking success of its latest marquee auction.

Manila’s collectors and cultural tastemakers gathered last 15 September for the much awaited vernissage of Salcedo Auctions’ The Well-Appointed Life sale. Hosted by Salcedo Auctions founders Richie and Karen Lerma, the blockbuster affair attended by noteworthy guests enjoyed the Peruvian cocktails inspired by the Lermas’ recent summer family trip to South America.

The enthusiastic mood of the affair augured the spectacular auction results that unfolded last 27 September, which saw the world record-breaking sale of Annie Cabigting’s An Afternoon With Rothko, closing at P22.19 million. 

Among the exceptional results included Fernando Amorsolo’s 1939 masterpiece Rice Harvest — Cooking the Noonday Meal, selling for P9,344,000; National Artist BenCab’s Sabel closing at P8,760,000; Mauro Malang Santos continuing his strong showing with a final price of P8,760,000 for Vendors, and P2,336,000 for Mother and Child.

The frenzied bidding for Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s untitled early work sent its price soaring to P5,606,400 — an extraordinary 1,700 percent increase from its low estimate. Fellow modernist, Fernando Zóbel, achieved a price of P4,088,000 for Acento,  while Lao Lianben’s Inner Voice (1984) reached P5,256,000, underscoring collector discernment in identifying key modernist works.

Further energizing the sale were the final prices for Pacita Abad’s Pandu Dewanata III (P5,256,000), Bernardo Pacquing’s Pernickety  (P2,336,000), National Artists H.R. Ocampo’s Revelation-P and Jose Joya’s Black Magic closing at P4,088,000 and P2,803,200 respectively.

After such an exciting sale, Salcedo Auctions is now accepting consignments for fine art, jewelry, antiques and rare collectibles for its year-end marquee event — Under the Tree: The Wish-List Auction 2025, happening on 29 November.