Yes, it’s true, the auction season is well and truly upon us. Once these sales are over, we will have the usual wait until March for more fine art from our favourite Australian auctioneers.
Here are some other news first:
On Sunday, 20 November, we are appraising artworks to help raise funds for charities supported by the Rotary Club of Ryde.
The appraisals are held in a very special venue: Addington House, which is the oldest complete settler’s cottage in Australia. You’ll find the details in our Art Events.
We are now members of the Art Consulting Association of Australia, which promotes high professional and ethical standards in art consulting and brings together some of Australia’s most respected art consultants. More information on the ACAA website.
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For one of the final Dave’s Faves of the year, I am grouping Bonhams and Sotheby’s together, hope they don’t mind… Bonhams offer 43 lots in their 21st November Australian fine art sale in Sydney (which is followed by the Paddy Bedford artist estate sale and Aboriginal art auction on the same night). Sotheby’s present 64 lots in their Melbourne auction on November 22nd. |
Sotheby’s, lot 7, Ethel Spowers
, Wet Afternoon, 1929
Bonhams have a cracking selection of small oil paintings by some of Australia’s 19th century masters. I have selected eight which come from a private Perth collection and two others listed in this sale.
Lot 1 – Rupert Bunny, The Haystack, est. $ 3,500-4,500. That Monet Feel for little money
Lot 2 – Ethel Carrick Fox, Luxembourg Gardens c. 1908, est. $ 7,000-9,000. Comparable work at the NGA. Just look at that light!
Lot 3 – Emanuel Phillips Fox, Cassis, South France, est. $ 20,000-30,000. Enchanting Emanuel
Lot 7 – Tom Roberts, Dandenong Landscapes, 1922, est. $ 18,000-25,000. A late work and a great work
Lot 8 – Walter Withers, Coming Home, Eltham Road 1899, est. $ 18,000-25,000. A moment captured beautifully
Lot 9 – Frederick McCubbin, Evening with Horses, Mt. Macedon, Victoria, c. 1906, est. $ 9,000-12,000. Scenic and scintillating
Lot 12 – Charles Conder, The Adriatic 1903, est. $ 18,000-25,000. You might be bidding against Barrie Humphries for this one
Lot 13 – Tom Roberts, Como – Chiasso (Valley of Chiasso), 1913, est. $ 10,000 – 15,000. Wow – book me on the next flight to Italy
Lot 38 – John Peter Russell, Santa Marguerita, est. $ 18,000-25,000. Mediterranean splendour
Lot 41 – Walter Withers, The Road Home, est. $ 12,000-15,000. So you didn’t manage to buy lot 8 – this one will make up for it
From Sotheby’s offering, I have chosen a rather more eclectic selection.
Lot 3 – Charles Blackman, The Bouquet. Est. $ 65,000-85,000. Poise, pose, posy
Lot 4 – William Robinson, the Good Sorts, 1997, est. $ 16,000-20,000. Ceramics to make you smile
Lot 5 – Margaret Olley, The Yellow Room, 1991, est. 70,000-90,000. Mellow
Lot 7 – Ethel Spowers, Wet Afternoon, 1929, est. $ 20,000-30,000. Glad I brought my brollie
Lot 20 – Jeffrey Smart, Second study for containers and silos at Livorno, 1990, $ 80,000-120,000. Superb example beautifully contained.
Lot 42 – Howard Arkley, Hedge on Street Corner, 1988, est. 160,000-190,000. The Bold & the Beautiful
Lot 51 – Attributed to John Hunter, Emu of New South Wales, circa 1790-1800, est. $ 15,000-20,000 (subject to GST). An important and attractive historical document
Lot 60 – William Delafield Cook, Leaves, 1973, est. $ 50,000-60,000. Sublime
Lot 61 – Pablo Picasso, The Acrobats, 1905, est. $5,000-10,000. An important early print, conservation required
Lot 62 – Lucien Freud, Portrait Head 2001, est. $40,000-60,000. Simply stunning etching by the master