Leonard Joel’s groundbreaking sale of contemporary art
Even though room audiences in major art auctions have shrunk over the last few years, no auctioneer would have been quite prepared for zero attendees for a major sale of fine art. Recently introduced rules on property inspections and art viewings as well as auctions to restrict gatherings of people meant that Leonard Joel managing […]
First major COVID- 19 online-only auctions achieve good results
While the coronavirus lockdown removed live auction bidding, many of the Australia and New Zealand auction houses have continued sales with online-only auctions, while others have closed their doors until the crisis passes. Prior to the lockdown, there were three possible auction formats: live only, both live and online and online-only, with the latter being […]
Dave’s Faves for the Leonard Joel Auction on 5 May 2020
For their 100 year anniversary, Leonard Joel Auctions in Melbourne have put together a celebratory auction titled “Centum” (Latin for “hundred”) with 100 works by 100 living Australian artists. They range from masters like John Olsen and Tim Storrier to mid-career artists such as Euan MacLeod and Peter Booth, to younger artists including art market […]
Dave’s Faves for Deutscher + Hackett Auction 27 Nov. 2019
The last auction for the year at Deutscher + Hackett on 27 November features two collections which couldn’t be more different, and wonderfully demonstrate D+H’s brilliant range in their offering. Lots 24 to 34 contains works from the Mainland Collection of Contemporary Asia Pacific Art; it was assembled with the idea of “The art of […]
Sotheby’s Fine Art Auction 20 November 2019
Sotheby’s present 79 lots in their spring 2019 auction, with some truly outstanding offerings. We are particularly captivated by lot 26, “Woman in a Salon”, William Dobell’s portrait of Helena Rubinstein, founder of the eponymous cosmetics empire. What an extraordinary woman and life – and what a striking painting by one of our most incisive […]
Dave’s Faves: Bonhams ‘Fairwater’ Auction – Sept 22, 2019
We all love a good home contents auction, but “Fairwater” in Point Piper is not just any old home, but the ultimate Sydney harbour front mansion on 11,000 m2 of manicured grounds. The largest privately-held property on Sydney harbour was owned by the Fairfax publishing dynasty for over 100 years. This year the family sold […]
Dave’s Faves for the Menzies Auction September 2019
The Menzies Fine Art Auction on 26 September in Sydney promises some very interesting offerings among its 125 lots. There are a number of works on paper by international greats such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol with a Mick Jagger portrait and Banksy (fear not, it won’t be shredded after the hammer comes down). Aboriginal […]
Dave’s Faves for the Deutscher + Hackett Auction August 2019
The Deutscher + Hackett fine art auction on 28 August features very important artworks from two outstanding art collections. These collections span two very different, yet important times in Australian art history: early modernism and contemporary Australian art, and complement each other beautifully in our view. They are also both great examples in how to […]
Dave’s Faves for Sotheby’s Auction August 2019 – Banziger Hulme
Among the 87 lots offered at Sotheby’s sale of Important Australian Art on 27 August, there are several multiple offerings from a number of Australian masters – including not surprisingly Arthur Boyd, Hans Heysen, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Streeton, Norman Lindsay and William Dobell. More surprising perhaps is the appearance of four works by Cressida Campbell. […]
Breaking Records: Australian Women Artists at Davidson Auctions
Numerous hammer prices at multiples of the estimates, auction records for six female artists, and a number of sleepers made for a very exciting auction for both sellers and buyers at Davidson Auctions’ Fine Art sale on Sunday, 21 July 2019. Robert Davidson, principal of the highly respected and well regarded Sydney boutique auction house, […]