It was a sad day for the arts in Australia when Sydney art collector and philanthropist John Schaeffer passed away at the age of 79 just a few weeks ago after being hit by a vehicle.
This planned sale of almost 500 lots at Leonard Joel spans a wide spectrum: not just art including paintings and sculpture, but also glassware, furniture, carpets and a great array of other decorative items, owned by one of Australia’s great collectors. It offers us a unique insight into John Schaeffer’s collecting habits, and the quality is, as one might expect, outstanding.
Dave’s Faves have been selected purely from the art section of the sale, however, we would encourage you to look through the entire offering. You may just find that particular gem…
Among the surprises are three small works on paper created by Queen Victoria in the 1830s, and some of the sculptures are simply breathtaking.
The artworks and items can be viewed in person in Sydney, from Thursday, 20 August – Monday, 24 August, from 10 am to 4 pm, at Leonard Joel, 36-40 Queen Street, Woollahra.
The auction his held in 2 parts on Tuesday, 25 August 2020, at the Leonard Joel premises at 36-40 Queen Street, Woollahra:
Lots 1 – 254 are sold from 1 pm, and lots 300 – 517 from 6 pm, where all “Dave’s Faves” are to be found.
We would be delighted to assist and advise you if you are interested in any of the lots. Contact us by phone or email.
And Dave’s Faves are:
Lot 368 – Gustave Courbet, La dame a la mouette (the woman with the seagull), plaster, diameter 73 cm, estimate $20,000-40,000. The last artwork French Master Gustave Courbet created before he diedLot 372 – An Italian white marble copy of the “Rondanini Medusa”, mid 19th century, height 60 cm, est. $40,000-60,000. Magnificent Marble MedusaLot 385 – Lucien (Charles Edouard) Alliot, Dancer with Ball, c1930, bronze, glass on marble base, height 30 cm incl base, est. $1,000-2,000. Catch me if you canLot 386 – Alfred Drury, Griselda, 1907, bronze on green marble plinth, height 38 cm, est. $3,000-4,000. No Grizzles about GriseldaLot 390 – An Italian bronze of the Dancing Faun of Pompeii, 19th century, height 84 cm, est. $2,000-4,000. Remembering my last visit to PompeiiLot 395 – Cyrus Edwin Dallin, Nude sleeping in the Landscape, 1903, bronze, height 93 cm, width 79 cm, depth 85 cm, est. $30,000-50,000. The Supine meets the SublimeLot 398 – Louis-Ernest Barrias, Jeune Fille de Bou Saada, 1890, marble, bronze inlay with pearl and turquoise, height 48 cm, est. $50,000-70,000. Gold is going upLot 402 – William Reid Dick, Portrait bust of a young girl, 1919, bronze on stone base, height 50 cm, est. $4,000-6,000. Timeless, seamlessLot 409 – Alfred Drury after Aime-Jules Dalou, Head of La Boulonnaise, c1879, marble, onyx base, est. $100,000-150,000. Subdued SerenityLot 410 – Pierre Felix Masseau, L’Emprise, c1897, bronze, dark brown patina, height 80 cm, est. $40,000-60,000. Exhibited AGNSW 2010Lot 414 – Frederick Hollyer after Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, An Angel playing a flageolet, pastel over a photographic base, 72.5 x 60 cm, est. $25,000-35,000. Pre-Raphaelite DelightLot 417 – Elizabeth Dickson (Bessie) Gibson, Luxembourg Gardens, oil on panel, 18.2 x 23 cm, est. $4,000-6,000. In the Gardens with GibsonLot 429 – HRH Queen Victoria, A Fairy visiting the Nursery, 1835, pencil and watercolour on paper, 18.5 x 16 cm, est. $5,000-7,000. Who knew Queen Victoria could paint?Lot 431 – HRH Queen Victoria, Still Life of Roses, 1849, work on paper, 23 x 18.5 cm, est. $6,000-8,000. Exquisite still life from good Queen VickyLot 434 – Maxwell Ashby Armfield, An Epitaph for England, Tempera on gesso ground, 37.5 x 62 cm, est. $9,000-15,000. Does anyone remember Brexit?Lot 441 – Dante Gabriel Rossetti, The Lover – Study for “The Blessed Damozel”, 1878, work on paper, 34 x 82 cm, est. $50,000-70,000. An excellent buy for the provenance aficionadoLot 447 – Jan Portielje, Wilt Gil Ze? (Do you want it), oil on canvas, 111 x 78 cm, est. $40,000-60,000. Wilt Gil Ze? Yes I do!Lot 449 – William Thomas Strutt, Spring Cleaning 1892, oil on canvas, 66.5 x 102.5 cm, est. $65,000-85,000. Fine art conservation 1890s style
