Hapless owners of Rolf Harris paintings are trying to flog paedo’s art at knock-down prices
Giant portrait of Maori chief among beast's creations that have plunged value in wake of his conviction for child sex offences in 2014
UNFORTUNATE owners Rolf Harris paintings are being forced to flog them at knock-down prices following his conviction for child sex offences.
And following his 2014 conviction prices for his paintings have plunged.
Yet after one auction house managed earlier this year to get £7,5000 for one painting bought for £45,000 - four more sellers have come forward.
Manchester-based Robson Kay Associates have been approached by owners of a 6ft by 4ft oil painting of a Maori chief produced by the Australian painter in 1984 and a smaller 1971 pen and ink self-portrait.
They carry a guide price £20,000 and £3,000 respectively, around half of what they were worth before Harris’ fall from grace.
What’s more the former Animal Hospital host - caged at specialist sex offenders nick Stafford prison - stands to personally profit if the sales go ahead.
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The Artist's Resale Rights (ARR) awards the artist of an original painting that sells in the secondary market, such as auction, 4 per cent of the sale price.
Mr Kay, who received an abusive email in the wake of the first Harris sale in August, said that is possible more collectors will come forward.
He said: "Four different owners of Rolf Harris paintings have approached us on the back of the previous sale.
"All of them are in the same boat. They bought a picture in good faith prior to his convictions.
"Quite understandably they no longer want these works hanging on their walls and they are worth far, far less than what they paid for them.
"Their only other option is to quite literally throw them in the bin so they have approached us to sell them for whatever we can. They know they are likely to make a loss from the sale.
Kay says he doesn’t believe he is doing anything wrong by selling the pieces, adding: “To our mind it is not morally inappropriate for us to be doing this, as we are offering a service to the owners who need our help, not Mr Harris
"Our attitude is that these clients are private individuals who bought a piece of art in good faith when Rolf Harris had a reputation of being a respected artist.”
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