In the first auction of spring 2020, Smith & Singer (formerly trading as Sotheby’s) offer 55 lots in their 2 September sale held live in Sydney.
It may look like a small sale by number of lots, however the pre-sale estimates of $4,219 million to $5,781 million tell the true story: most lots are packing a punch price-wise.
The cover lot is setting the tone: lot 12, Brett Whiteley’s White Corella, 1987, is estimated at $600,000-800,000. This is the first time this painting is offered on the open market since its original purchase by one of Australia’s most famous sports stars (see Dave’s Faves to find out who exactly), so you may need your A Game to secure this one.
If you are into wildlife, there are more wonderful animals by notable Australian and international artists on offer: Olsen giraffes, Arthur Boyd cockatoos, Nolan with a Horse (with Kelly of course) and a Camel (obviously with Burke), Elioth Gruner and John Kelly cows, and last but not least a Giant Panda by Pop art giant Andy Warhol.
There is also no shortage of enchanting landscapes, like E. Phillips Fox’ South of France to make you dream of travels past and hope of future ones, and beautiful nudes, Norman Lindsay marrying it with the bird theme in The Peacock Robe.
The sale is on view in Sydney from Wednesday, 26 August to 2 September at 30 Queen Street, Woollahra.
The auction is held on Wednesday, 2 September, 6.30 pm at the NCJWA, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra.
We will be attending the auction in person, and would be delighted to assist you with astute pre-purchase advice and due diligence prior to the auction, and represent your interests on the night. Just contact us to discuss further.
David found numerous “Dave’s Faves”, and here are all 20 of them:
Lot 3 – John Olsen. Giraffes, watercolour, 61 x 71.1 cm, est. $25,000-35,000. Head and Shoulders above the RestLot 5 – Margaret Olley, Basket of Mandarins, 1965, oil, 61 x 76 cm, est. $40,000-50,000. Oranges are Not the Only FruitLot 12 – Brett Whiteley, White Corella, 1987, oil, 106.3 x 91.1 cm, est. $600,000-800,000. Greg Norman’s Former BirdieLot 15 – Lloyd Rees, Western Landscape 1958-61, oil, 62 x 81 cm, est. $120,000-160,000. Pastel Coloured ParadiseLot 16 – E. Phillips Fox, In the South of France, ca 1911, oil, 37.8 x 45.5 cm, est. $45,000-65,000. Parlez-vous Phillips Fox or Does Phillips Fox Speak to You?Lot 18 – Penleigh Boyd, Springtime, 1921, oil, 70.5 x 83.5 cm, est. $50,000-70,000. Wattle You Do?Lot 19 – Frederick McCubbin, The Campfire, Mount Macedon, c1908-10, oil, 25.5 x 35 cm. McCubbin’s on Fire once againLot 20 – Hans Heysen, In the Ranges, watercolour, 31 x 37.5 cm, est. $10,000-15,000. In the Range of $10k-15k looking like a Very Good Buy
Lot 21 – Albert Namatjira, Glen Helen Gorge, c1945-51, watercolour, 28.8 x 39.4 cm, est. $38,000-45,000. Gorgeous GorgeLot 23 – Elioth Gruner, Colour Note (with Cows), 1917, oil, 21.5 x 23 cm, est. $30,000-40,000. The Grass should always be GrunerLot 29 – Norman Lindsay, The Peacock Robe, 129, watercolour, 35 x 27 cm, est. $35,000-55,000. Rhapsody in BlueLot 33 – Akio Makigawa, Untitled, 1999, stainless steel, edition 1 of 6, 48 x 100 x 48 cm, est. $20,000-30,000. Akio is the Number 1 SeedLot 37 – Tim Storrier, Evening Light 2007, synthetic polymer paint, 76.3 x 183.2 cm, est. $70,000-90,000. Feeling the Heat?Lot 38 – Sidney Nolan, Gympie, 1948, enamel paint, 91.5 x 122 cm, est. $120,000-160,000. Gympie … Musta HavaLot 42 – Pablo Picasso, La fete de la patronne. Ces dames medisent de Dega, reduit a un tiers de profil, 1971, etching, edition 2/50, 36.5 x 49 cm image, est. $3,000-5,000. P…P… Pick up a Picasso…PabloLot 43 – Andy Warhol, Giant Panda, 1983, screenprint, AP 25/30, 96 x 96 cm paper size, est. $70,000-90,000. This Panda is Pandering to my every WhimLot 49 – Albert Tucker, Image of Modern Evil, 1944, gouache and ink, 24 x 29.5 cm, est. $35,000-55,000. About a Light Year ahead of its TimeLot 50 – Sidney Nolan, Kelly and Horse, oil on paper, 30.5 x 25.5 cm, est. $10,000-15,000. Horse PlayLot 53 – Justin O’Brien, The Kiss of Judas, 1969, oil and gold leaf, 50 x 58 cm, est. $60,000-80,000. Air Kisses only pleaseLot 55 – Yvonne Audette, Bathers No. 2, 2001, oil, 117 x 152 cm, est. $45,000-65,000. Australia’s Lee Krasner
