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 […]
Ian Fairweather’s Auction Record Shines at Deutscher + Hackett
Rarely has the Cell Block Theatre at the National Art School seen so many art industry personalities, insiders and habitués as at the Deutscher + Hackett’s fine art auction on 10 April 2019. Many would have been there to observe how Charles Blackman’s Alice on the Table (lot 9) fared, after the artist’s Sleeping Alice […]
Colonial Art: A Rare Journey at Deutscher and Hackett
Nicolas Baudin’s extraordinary journey came full circle as 13 artworks created on his expedition to Australia between 1800 and 1804 made their epic return to this country more than 200 years later, to be auctioned at Deutscher and Hackett in conjunction with rare book dealers Hordern House in Melbourne on 28 November 2018. Before offering […]
Hot or Not? at Sotheby’s on a Chilly Sydney Winter Night
On an evening in Sydney with an arctic chill in the air, Sotheby’s sale of Important Australian Art in Sydney on 28 August 2018 did break a number of Australian auction records. But one still has to wonder about the random nature of selling art in the auction room, which can particularly be observed in […]
David Hulme on ABC TV NEWS
On the ABC news on 16 June 2018, David Hulme comments on the art of Del Kathryn Barton and a new record price achieved at auction for one of Australia’s most sought after artists. “Art valuer David Hulme said collectors were beginning to see the value in women’s art. He said Barton’s work “appeals to […]