Smith & Singer

Smith & Singer In the News

Arthur Boyd for private sale

13 September 2022

ARTHUR BOYD

Smith & Singer are delighted to offer Arthur Boyd's Old Mine Shaft (1959) for private sale.

Arthur Boyd’s evocative landscape subjects of the late 1950s occupy a special place within the history and development of landscape painting in Australian art.  As the artist remarked to the author, these paintings directly referred to the naturalistic images created in the late nineteenth century by Charles Conder, Frederick McCubbin, Tom Roberts, and Arthur Streeton, who found inspiration in bush and bay subjects located in close proximity to their own domestic environments.

Many of Boyd’s compositions from this period focused on rugged claustrophobic bush scenes showing tangled scrub amidst a profusion of native wildflowers and grasses, as well as the more sunny and open landscapes of Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula.  In each of these detailed studies Boyd took particular delight in expressing the tactility and disorder of the Australian bush, whereby the application of thick pigment with both the front and back of his paint brush was further worked to create a surface rich in a variety of textures.

One of the most famous of Boyd’s images from this period is the sensuous and delightful Old Mine Shaft (1959), which within Australian art historical terms, shares parallels with Frederick McCubbin’s Lost (1886, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne).  The work elicited particular praise from Franz Philipp, who declared: ‘There are other, more open, sunny and optimistic bush landscapes; one of the finest is Old Mine Shaft.  The foreground is open, the thickly textured weave of grasses and weeds spattered with the red and white of wildflowers; the colour-flick of a child’s dress (“The lost child”) and of “bluebirds” adds further accents of brightness.’

Old Mine Shaft represents a rare opportunity to acquire a major composition from one of Australia’s most influential and beloved artists. 

Pictured above 

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999 
Old Mine Shaft (1959)
oil on composition board
68.2 x 91 cm
For private sale 
© Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2022

Invitation to Consign Important Australian Art

8 September 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

Consign now to our forthcoming auction of Important Australian Art.

In 2021, Smith & Singer achieved seven of the 10 highest prices for art at auction in Australia that were combined with excellent sold rates and performances against estimates.

Building on the resounding success of our August auction of Important Australian Art, which achieved the highest total for a mixed vendor sale as well as the two highest prices at auction for the year to date, our carefully curated November 2022 auction will include significant examples of historical, modern and contemporary Australian art.

Smith & Singer's November auction is now open for consignments.  A number of exceptional works are already consigned, including Lin Onus' magnificent and confronting Ten Little Niggers (1992) (estimate $400,000–600,000, pictured above), an image that powerfully blends Indigenous and Western references with startling originality. 

To participate in this sale, please contact our highly experienced specialists for a confidential appraisal.  
You may also use our appraisal estimate form

  

Pictured above 

LIN ONUS 1948-1996   
Ten Little Niggers (1992) 
synthetic polymer paint on canvas  
182.5 x 244 cm  
Estimate $400,000–600,000
© Lin Onus Estate/Copyright Agency, 2022 

Invitation to Consign – Important Jewels, Watches & Medals

7 September 2022

IMPORTANT JEWELS, WATCHES & MEDALS

Consign now to our next auction of Important Jewels, Watches & Medals that will take place in Sydney in December 2022.

This auction will build on the resounding success of our August Important Jewels & Watches sale, which realised a total of $1,343,127, our highest since 2019, and demonstrated that demand remains strong for diamonds, coloured gemstones and jewels and watches by the world’s leading jewellery brands and watchmakers.  A number of important pieces sold, including this spectacular square emerald-cut diamond ring (estimate $120,000–140,000, sold for $147,273, pictured above).

Smith & Singer offer unique and unparalleled access to local and international collectors.  Contact our specialists now for a confidential appraisal.

For more information, please contact: 

MELBOURNE 

Rebecca Sheahan 
Specialist, Jewels & Watches  
+61 (0)3 9508 9900
[email protected]

   

SYDNEY

Emma Finn  
Specialist, Jewels & Watches    
+61 (0)2 9302 2402  
[email protected]

Pictured above 

Diamond Ring
The square emerald-cut diamond weighing 5.06 
carats is claw-set in platinum, size L, signed 21Creations. 
Estimate: $120,000–140,000 
Sold for $147,273

 

Financial Review  |  Gabriella Coslovich

The magical panoramas of Venice and the brushwork of Australia’s most famed impressionist, Arthur Streeton, are a combination guaranteed to spark bidding rallies at auction. 

AUCTION RECORD RESULT IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

27 August 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

Smith & Singer are honoured to announce that at Wednesday night’s auction of Important Australian Art a new world auction record was achieved for John Kelly.

For the past three decades, John Kelly has developed a distinguished reputation in Australia and internationally for his work which combines his unique intellect and humour.

Consigned from a private collection in Brisbane, John Kelly’s magnificent and monumental Man Lifting Cow (1) 1994 generated enormous interest during viewings in Melbourne and Sydney that transferred into deep and frenetic bidding on the evening.

John Kelly is represented exclusively by Smith & Singer.

 

Pictured above 

JOHN KELLY born 1965
Man Lifting Cow (1) 1994
oil on canvas 
180.5 x 150 cm
Estimate $150,000–250,000
Sold for $355,909
© Courtesy of John Kelly

VIEW LOT

 

AUCTION RESULTS - IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

26 August 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

Smith & Singer’s tightly curated August 2022 auction of Important Australian Art achieved exceptional results for traditional, modern and contemporary Australian art with a total of $9,872,673 from just 66 works – the highest total for a mixed vendor art sale in Australia for 2022.

Determined bidding from clients in the saleroom, on telephones, and online resulted in an outstanding sold rate for a mixed vendor sale of 153% by value, showing the depth of demand across all categories.  The figure augments the extensive private sales and international consignments Smith & Singer have transacted to date in 2022.

Results were led by stellar performances by artists including Cressida Campbell, Ethel Carrick, Emily Kngwarreye, Lin Onus, and Arthur Streeton, and a new world auction record was established for John Kelly.

ETHEL CARRICK 1872-1952 Sur la Plage (On the Sands, Dinard) 1911

Pictured top 

Lot 23

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943  
Evening Light (Venice) (1908)     
oil on canvas  
50.3 x 76.1 cm   
Estimate $500,000–700,000 
Sold for $1,534,091

VIEW LOT

Pictured above

Lot 21

ETHEL CARRICK 1872-1952 
Sur la Plage
On the Sands, Dinard 1911 
oil on canvas 
34 x 46 cm
Estimate $600,000–800,000
Sold for $1,196,591

VIEW LOT

Important Australian Art exhibition continues

22 August 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

The exhibition will be on view in Sydney from Monday 22 August until Wednesday 24 August, 10 am to 5 pm, at 30 Queen Street, Woollahra.

This sale presents a collection of extraordinary moments in Australian art history.  Surveying major stylistic developments, this auction offers rare and prestigious examples of Naturalism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Modernism, and Abstraction, along with ground-breaking paintings, sculptures and works on paper by the most influential artistic innovators of historical, modern and contemporary Australian Art.

Among the highlights of the sale are works by Frederick McCubbin, W.C. Piguenit and a representation of seven stunning paintings by Arthur Streeton.

The auction will be held at the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra at 6.30 pm on 24 August 2022.

 
    

 

Pictured top left

Lot 33

W.C. PIGUENIT 1836-1914    
The Lane Cove River 1887
oil on canvas  
45.5 x 76.2 cm   
Estimate $65,000–85,000 

VIEW LOT

Pictured top right

Lot 25

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943   
Blackwood Tree (1934)  
oil on canvas
61 x 51 cm  
Estimate $60,000–80,000 

VIEW LOT

Pictured bottom left

Lot 36

FREDEERICK MCCUBBIN 1855-1917  
(A Quiet Study) (1886)  
oil on canvas 
51 x 91.5 cm  
Estimate $150,000–200,000 

VIEW LOT

Pictured bottom right

Lot 19

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943   
Melrose Abbey (1912)
oil on canvas
64.3 x 76.7 cm   
Estimate $50,000–70,000  

VIEW LOT

Pictured centre

Lot 24

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943   
Lilies and Bells (1935)
oil on canvas
64.2 x 102 cm   
Estimate $200,000–300,000 

VIEW LOT

Financial Review  |  Gabriella Coslovich

Great expectations for contemporary art stars old and newAs the National Gallery of Australia prepares to celebrate the 40-year career of the remarkable Cressida Campbell next month, savvy art investors are capitalising on her surging profile.

Important Australian Art Sydney Exhibition Opens

17 August 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

The exhibition will be on view in Sydney from Thursday 18 August until Wednesday 24 August, 10 am to 5 pm, at 30 Queen Street, Woollahra.

This sale presents a collection of extraordinary moments in Australian art history.  Surveying major stylistic developments, this auction offers rare and prestigious examples of Naturalism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Modernism, and Abstraction, along with ground-breaking paintings, sculptures and works on paper by the most influential artistic innovators of historical, modern and contemporary Australian Art.

Among the highlights of the sale are four exceptional compositions by Cressida Campbell, including the impressive and expansive Garden Island 1990.  With its open-hearted and generous view of Sydney Harbour and its naval base, Campbell’s Garden Island provides the viewer with a delicate balance of avid detail and panoramic space.  The subject counts itself as one of the most popular visual histories of modern Australia, that of depicting Sydney Cove (Warrane), and assumes an important position within the overall iconography of Australian art.

The auction will be held at the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra at 6.30 pm on 24 August 2022.

 

Pictured left

Lot 51

CRESSIDA CAMPBELL born 1960
Garden Island 1990   
watercolour on incised woodblock
91.5 x 148.5 cm
Estimate $200,000–300,000 
© Cressida Campbell/Copyright Agency, 2022

VIEW LOT

    

Pictured centre

Lot 53

CRESSIDA CAMPBELL born 1960
Interior with Cat 2010   
watercolour on incised woodblock
92 x 50 cm
Estimate $300,000–400,000 
© Cressida Campbell/Copyright Agency, 2022

VIEW LOT

Pictured right

Lot 54

CRESSIDA CAMPBELL born 1960
Glass Carafe with Pink Stem and Fern (2016)  
watercolour on incised woodblock
170 x 31.5 cm
Estimate $180,000–220,000 
© Cressida Campbell/Copyright Agency, 2022

VIEW LOT

Important Australian Art exhibition continues

12 August 2022

IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN ART

The exhibition will be on view in Melbourne from Friday 12 August until Sunday 14 August, 10 am to 5 pm, at 14-16 Collins Street.

Among the highlights of the sale is a remarkable collection of seven major compositions by Arthur Streeton spanning three decades of his career, several of which are being sold at auction for the first time in more than 50 years and reproduced in colour for the first time.

The auction will be held at the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, 111 Queen Street, Woollahra at 6.30 pm on 24 August 2022.

   

For more information, please contact:

Geoffrey Smith
Chairman
+61 (0)418 889 656 
[email protected]


Emily Walker 
Administrator, Art
+61 (0)3 9508 9900
[email protected]

   

Gary Singer 
Chief Executive Officer & Director
+61 (0)418 337 788 
[email protected]


David Mackay 
Gallery Manager  
+61 (0)2 9302 2402
[email protected] 


Pictured left

Lot 18

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943
Strood Hill (1904)   
oil on canvasboard  
18 x 24 cm 
Estimate $35,000–45,000 

VIEW LOT

 
Pictured centre 

Lot 23

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943 
Evening Light (Venice) (1908)    
oil on canvas 
50.3 x 76.1 cm  
Estimate $500,000–700,000 

VIEW LOT

    
Pictured right

Lot 35

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943 
Unloading Bricks, Kew (1905)
oil on wood panel   
18.8 x 24.2 cm   
Estimate $80,000–120,000 

VIEW LOT

We use our own and third party cookies to enable you to navigate around our Site, use its features and engage on social media, and to allow us to perform analytics, remember your preferences, provide services that you have requested and produce content and advertisements tailored to your interests, both on our Site as well as others. For more information, or to learn how to change your cookie or marketing preferences, please see our updated Privacy Policy & Cookie Policy.

By continuing to use our Site, you consent to our use of cookies and to the practices described in our updated Privacy Policy.

CONTINUE