Highlights from the Auctions at Sotheby’s & Deutscher + Hackett
The next two Fine Art Sales from Sothebys and Deutscher + Hackett promise an absolute feast of great art. In a bullish art market of course we are bound to see vendors tempted to sell exceptional works of art. If the stock market jitters subside, I think we are going to observe another wave of […]
Judging the Warringah Art Prize
Last week, David was very privileged to be invited along with sculptor Christine Simpson to judge this year’s Warringah Art Prize. With almost 300 entries, it was our task to whittle these down to a selection of around 100. After all day Sunday judging, we had decided on 93 works for the final hang. The […]
Birds of A Feather Flock Together
Recently, a client showed us some rare birds indeed. The tightly rolled paper turned out to be ten watercolour works by Australian bird painter H. Hepburn Calvert. They obviously had been rolled up since 1919 when they were originally painted and seemingly never framed. Finally, they were allowed to reveal their rarely seen beauty: Stunningly […]
Australian art on record roll
We don’t think that we can say much more about the Sotheby’s sale last week that hasn’t already been said in the national press. With a sale of $ 22 million, this has clearly set a significant benchmark in the history of Australian art and will be referred to as much as the previous record […]
Hot Fine Art Auctions Coming Up
There are some fabulous and outstanding art sales coming up in Melbourne and Sydney, with works from a few hundred dollars, for example Ray Crooke’s The Dancer, lot 473, at Lawson-Menzies, with estimates of $ 400 – $ 600, or Lionel Lindsay, Juno’s Bird, lot 355, estimate $ 300 – $ 500. To Deutscher and […]
One Phone Call Saved $20,000 Art Collection From Being Dumped
Recently, a lady rang Banziger Hulme Fine Art Consultants about several artworks that she had purchased from a garage sale some 13 years ago in Killara – for the princely sum of $ 50. However, when David Hulme started to ask the owner if she could decipher some of the signatures on the paintings, it […]
The Story of Australian Printmaking – Great Exhibition: NGA
Last week, we had the great pleasure to escort prominent cast paper artist Ruth Faerber to Canberra for the opening of “The Story of Australian Printmaking 1801 – 2005” which runs until 3 June at the National Gallery. This gave us a very good opportunity to look around the National Gallery. We thought the layout […]
Secrets of the back….
Recently, a client contacted us regarding two drawings on paper she had inherited from an aunt. The family story was that these drawings of trees were by Frederick McCubbin (1855 – 1917). McCubbin, as you may or may not know, was one of the founders of the Heidelberg school and a major figure in the […]
Deutscher-Menzies auction
Here is our preview of the upcoming Deutscher-Menzies auction, scheduled for 13 March 2007, and David’s comments on some of our favourites: Lot 13 – Clarice Beckett’s special hazy effect always makes her work a little dreamy and romantic. Perhaps it’s just getting too close to my wedding anniversary. I also like what looks like […]
Archibald Prize
The winner of this year’s Archibald Prize is John Beard with the portrait of installation artist Janet Laurence. The Sulman Prize goes to Philip Wolfhagen for his work “Winter Nocturne IV”. And the winner of the Wynne Prize is: David Disher with “Axis of Elvis”. And another announcement: Check this Saturday’s “Weekend Australian” for coverage […]