Menzies Sell Brett Whiteley Painting for New Auction Record
On 26 November 2020 in Sydney, Menzies offered the painting with the highest auction estimates for an Australian work ever: $5 million to $7 million. Brett Whiteley’s Henri’s Armchair, 1974-75, was presented in a stand-alone black tie event. It was attended by vendor Elizabeth Evatt and family members with front row seats and film crews […]
“Dumb” thieves steal Singo’s Boyd Artwork
The Australian, 24 November 2020, by David Murray Thieves have stolen an Arthur Boyd painting worth $120,000 from adman John Singleton’s home on the NSW Central Coast, but art auctioneers say they would have been off taking the TV. …. David Hulme, an art valuer from Banziger Hulme Fine Art Consultants, said the painting lost […]
Menzies Auction 19 November 2020
This time last year, in 2019, according to Australian Art Sales Digest, $71 million dollars worth of art were sold at auction in Australia. To date, it is $43 million. However, in something of a stupendous comeback from the difficulties of lockdowns and amidst great success in auction sales, the high estimates of the offerings […]
Dave’s Faves from the Deutscher + Hackett auction – Nov 20
The catalogue for the highly anticipated Deutscher + Hackett auction of Australian and International Fine Art titled “Twenty Classics of Australian Art” has created a lot of excitement for many art aficionados, including ourselves. We can’t wait to view the collection in person, and “Dave” had a lot of fun picking his favourite works from […]
Dave’s Faves Sneak Preview Summer Auctions – 2020
Art sales at auction have been extremely successful in the last several months, defying predictions. The fine art sales of Deutscher + Hackett in July, and in September at Smith & Singer, Shapiro’s, Leonard Joel and Davidson Auctions all reported total sales values of well over 100%, eclipsing their pre-sale high estimates. So we are […]
Double No Trouble at Smith & Singer
A few years ago, 30 people at a major fine art auction, like at the Smith and Singer sale on Wednesday evening, September 2, would have looked like a looming disaster. However, stand-in auctioneer, Stuart Davies, chief auctioneer of Sotheby’s International Realty, assured the audience that they were prepared for a large number of phone […]
Dave’s Faves for the Smith & Singer Art Auction Sep. 2020
In the first auction of spring 2020, Smith & Singer (formerly trading as Sotheby’s) offer 55 lots in their 2 September sale held live in Sydney. It may look like a small sale by number of lots, however the pre-sale estimates of $4,219 million to $5,781 million tell the true story: most lots are packing […]
Successful Start for Smith & Singer
Of late, there has been much discussion about the success of online art sales at lower levels of the market. However, we have been holding our breath for the most important test, at the top end of the Australian art market. Would that confidence extend to the highest echelon of art buyers prepared to spend […]
Dave’s Faves Deutscher + Hackett 15 July 2020
The first very major auction season is well and truly upon us, with many of Australia’s most enthusiastic and discerning art collectors having to wait some considerable time for the main event. A big part of this is the Deutscher + Hackett auction on 15 July in Melbourne. A healthy 129 lots include some of […]
Dave’s Faves Menzies 9 July 2020
Menzies Auctioneers will hold their fine art sale on 9 July 2020 in Sydney, their first live auction after the suspension of public gatherings. Personal viewing is available as is usual both in Melbourne and Sydney prior to the auction: in Melbourne from 24 to 28 June at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra in Sydney […]