News & Video

Impressive Jewels at Sotheby’s Australia

27 November 2017

Sotheby’s Australia’s collection of 286 lots of Important Jewels, estimated at $3.98 million to $5.74 million, is the most valuable Jewels sale ever offered by Sotheby’s Australia and is set to generate strong buyer interest on 6 December at the InterContinental Sydney. Featuring a stunning collection of antique and contemporary jewels and watches, the sale includes a magnificent selection of designer and iconic pieces from Bulgari, Cartier, Chopard, Graff, David Webb, Rolex, Tiffany & Co., and Van Cleef & Arpels together with an impressive selection of affordable and aspirational diamonds, coloured diamonds and precious gemstones. (128.73 KB)

Records Tumble at Highest Ever November Auction for Sotheby’s Australia

21 November 2017

Strong buyer interest lead to Sotheby’s Australia achieving its highest ever November Important Australian Art result of $10.67 million, and the auctioneers highest yearly art auction sale total since 2007. Charles Blackman’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 1956 lead the sale with $1,891,000 (estimate $1,400,000-1,800,000, lot 26, pictured) and Albert Tucker’s Image of Modern Evil 29 1946 sold for $1,159,000 (estimate $800,000-1,000,000, lot 10, picture follows), both established new world auction records. (293.76 KB)

Results | Important Australian Art | Sydney 21 November 2017 | Top Lots

21 November 2017

Results | Important Australian Art | Sydney 21 November 2017 | Top Lots (55.16 KB)

Highest Value November Sale for Sotheby’s Australia

20 November 2017

Sotheby’s Australia’s collection of 82 lots of Important Australian Art estimated at $9.4 million to $12.1 million, the highest value ever offered by Sotheby’s Australia at a November art sale, is set to generate strong buyer interest and auction records on 21 November at the InterContinental Sydney. Charles Blackman’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 1956 (estimate $1,400,000-1,800,000, lot 26, pictured) and Albert Tucker’s Image of Modern Evil 29 1946 (estimate $800,000-1,000,000, lot 10, pictured following) are both anticipated to achieve new world auction records, and exceed $1 million. (395.50 KB)

Sotheby’s Australia: Sidney Nolan’s Carcase to go to auction

16 November 2017

The Courier Mail | Phil Brown

When The Courier-Mail sent Australian artist Sidney Nolan to the Queensland outback and Northern Territory to paint the great drought of 1952 it resulted in a fascinating series of drawings and paintings.
Nolan, revered for his Ned Kelly paintings, was asked by this newspaper to record the effects of severe drought and his work from that expedition is still disturbing and impressive.

Suspended Animation

16 November 2017

Sotheby’s Australia will offer Sidney Nolan’s poignant and reverent insight into drought affected Australia at the InterContinental Sydney on 21 November, as a highlight of the Important Australian Art sale. Carcase 1953 was inspired by Nolan’s harrowing experience of witnessing the drought first hand, and preserves the gruesome and cruel nature of drought on livestock, with the beast contorted and flattened with dehydration from the hot and dry drought conditions. (262.23 KB)

Bidders eye $30 million torrent of art as year end looms

15 November 2017

Australian Financial Review | Peter Fish

More than $30 million worth of art is about to cascade onto the Australian auction market, marking the end of a year that should show the first significant turnover improvement since the collapse of the art boom almost a decade ago.

Iconic Portrait of Australian Art Patrons for Auction

15 November 2017

A significant oil painting of John and Sunday Reed, Australia’s greatest private art patrons of the twentieth century will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia on 21 November at the InterContinental Sydney. Albert Tucker’s John and Sunday Reed 1982 (estimate $100,000-150,000, lot 28, pictured) formed the cornerstone of Tucker’s series of portraits collectively titled Faces I have Met: Albert Tucker and appeared on both the cover of the exhibition catalogue and the subsequent publication. (139.67 KB)

Blackman’s Alice in Wonderland Poised to Astonish

8 November 2017

Charles Blackman’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party 1956 (estimate $1,400,000-1,800,000, lot 26, pictured) is poised to generate significant interest and establish a new benchmark for the artist when offered for auction on 21 November by Sotheby’s Australia at the InterContinental Sydney. Sotheby’s Australia established the world auction record of $1,799,500 in 2016 for another painting from this series and holds the top three auction results for the artist. (378.75 KB)

Study for One of Australia’s Most Famous Portraits for Auction

6 November 2017

A significant oil portrait of Australian artist Margaret Olley will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia on 21 November at the InterContinental Sydney. William Dobell’s Study for Margaret Olley (1948) (estimate $180,000-220,000, lot 11, pictured) is the major preparatory work for the Archibald Prize winning Margaret Olley (1948, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney). In 1948 recognition for Dobell’s artistic talents was lauded as the Australian artist won both the Archibald Prize and Wynne Prize after his tumultuous court battle in 1943 as a caricaturist after he won the 1943 Archibald Prize. (282.64 KB)