ABC News | Michaela Boland
A mystery buyer has paid nearly $1 million for a tiny portrait listed for $80,000 at a Sydney art sale, drawing gasps in the auction room as bidding soared.
Merimbula News | Christine McGinn
The family of owner/trainer William James "Bill" Murrell has put the 1959 victory nine-carat gold cup on auction at Sotheby's Australia with expectations it will fetch up to $60,000.
The Daily Telegraph | Jacqui Taffel, Wentworth Courier
A new international record for a Garry Shead painting under the hammer was set at yesterday’s auction of Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond’s art collection. The Shead painting, titled The Bearers (Queen of Suburbia), 1997, had a pre-auction estimate of $350,000 — $450,000 and sold for $439,200. Two other works sold for significantly higher than their estimates — Brett Whiteley’s Nude Beside the Basin, 1963, estimated at $350,000 — $550,000, sold for $829,600, including buyer’s premium, and House and Native Tree by Howard Arkley sold for $207,400, high above the estimated $80,000 — $120,000.
Australian Art Sales Digest | David Hulme & Brigitte Banziger
Sotheby’s Australia presented their last fine art sale of 2018 with two catalogues; the first catalogue was set aside specifically for the sale of 14 artworks owned by Aussie Home Loans founder John Symond. The catalogue allowed a glimpse of exactly where some of these artworks by John Brack, Garry Shead, Arthur Boyd and Yvonne Audette were displayed in his opulent Sydney harbour home.
Fierce bidding on a modern masterpiece resulted in a record price for Schulim Krimper at Sotheby’s Australia’s March sale Collections: Important Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design, with the highly prized desk realising $84,500 (estimate $20,000‐30,000).