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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Davidson Auctions Takes Online Bidding to New Heights
Perhaps not since the time of World War II have Australians felt so strongly about the comforts of home, while many are trapped in overseas countries with little chance of returning quickly. Home then becomes a haven and shelter, a place to feel safe and secure. With share markets declining everywhere, perhaps we seek solace […]
Colonial – Contemporary: Colville Gallery Auction in Hobart
Wandering through the large colonial art collection at the Tasmanian Art Gallery and Museum, one is immediately assured of its gravitas and sense of history. Some of Australia’s most significant paintings reside here, including Benjamin Duterreau’s “The Conciliation” from 1840. Tasmania has long been a natural magnet for artists, from John Glover through Tom Roberts […]
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, […]
Monumental Art: Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s First at Art Basel
In a first for Art Basel which concluded on 16 June 2019, paying for a stand at the world’s most prestigious art fair, has become somewhat easier (if you are accepted into the fair by the vetting committee in the first place – 290 this year from 34 different countries). Art Basel director Marc Spiegler […]