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State of Grace: Important Modernist Interior Emerges for Auction at Sotheby’s Australia

3 August 2018

Consigned by the granddaughter of Dr Joseph Brown AO OBE, Grace Cossington Smith’s highly-acclaimed masterpiece, Fruit in the Window 1957 is offered for auction for the first time by Sotheby’s Australia at its August sale of Important Australian Art (estimate $200,000-250,000, pictured previous). Dr Brown has long been revered as Australia’s most prolific art collector and dealer, Fruit in the Window formed the cornerstone of his personal art collection. With the painting’s particularly distinguished provenance and exhibition history, the composition is a pictorial record of the artist’s domestic environment, a shimmering interior painted in a pointillist manner. In 2014, Sotheby’s Australia achieved the artist auction record of $671,000 for The Window 1956, formerly in the collection of art historian and art-museum curator, Daniel Thomas, and acquired by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. Consigned by the granddaughter of Dr Joseph Brown AO OBE, Grace Cossington Smith’s highly-acclaimed masterpiece, Fruit in the Window 1957 is offered for auction for the first time by Sotheby’s Australia at its August sale of Important Australian Art (estimate $200,000-250,000). Dr Brown has long been revered as Australia’s most prolific art collector and dealer, Fruit in the Window formed the cornerstone of his personal art collection. With the painting’s particularly distinguished provenance and exhibition history, the composition is a pictorial record of the artist’s domestic environment, a shimmering interior painted in a pointillist manner. In 2014, Sotheby’s Australia achieved the artist auction record of $671,000 for The Window 1956, formerly in the collection of art historian and art-museum curator, Daniel Thomas, and acquired by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. (340.02 KB)

Old timers tick on in brace of pocket watch auctions

1 August 2018

Australian Financial Review  |  Peter Fish

An array of vintage pocket watches is about to hit the Melbourne market – a relatively rare offering of several hundred examples that is likely to attract great collector interest. And judging by the attention given to some of the lots at a Sydney preview it could attract a number of new buyers. After all, who would have thought a meticulously worked gold, gem-set or enamelled pocket watch by an eminent 19th century maker could be found for less than $1000?

Precision Timing: One of the Highest Valued Selection of Watches to be Auctioned in Australia

31 July 2018

Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘One of the most important and comprehensive auctions of watches in Australia will be conducted by Sotheby’s Australia on 8 August 2018 in Melbourne. The cornerstone of this sale is two significant private collections, property from the Late James (Jim) Woodward and property from the Late William (Bill) Hughes. James Woodward was integral to the introduction of high-end European appliances to the Australian market, obtaining the licence to import the Smeg brand. The wristwatches from Jim’s collection are a testament to his connoisseurship of European elegance, design and craftsmanship. Perfectly complimenting this selection, William Hughes’ collection of pocket watches provides a fascinating and comprehensive insight into over 200 years of time-keeping and style.’ Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘One of the most important and comprehensive auctions of watches in Australia will be conducted by Sotheby’s Australia on 8 August 2018 in Melbourne. The cornerstone of this sale is two significant private collections, property from the Late James (Jim) Woodward and property from the Late William (Bill) Hughes. James Woodward was integral to the introduction of high-end European appliances to the Australian market, obtaining the licence to import the Smeg brand. The wristwatches from Jim’s collection are a testament to his connoisseurship of European elegance, design and craftsmanship. Perfectly complimenting this selection, William Hughes’ collection of pocket watches provides a fascinating and comprehensive insight into over 200 years of time-keeping and style.’ (227.86 KB)

Brett Whiteley’s Multi-Million Dollar Sydney Harbour View to Lead Sotheby’s Australia’s August Sale

26 July 2018

Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘Harbour (Grey Day) (1978) comes to auction having remained unseen in public for 40 years. The painting beautifully articulates aspects of the Asian aesthetic that appealed so greatly to Whiteley. Here each element of the composition – palm trees, boats, promontories, buildings, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, wharves, bays, together with the great expanse of Sydney Harbour, are applied in a deliberate kind of a calligraphic gesture against a simple, flat, empty background. The painting is a literate, sensual, elegant, and quietly joyous celebration of the good art and the good life; the composition is a quiet exhalation that elevates the soul. Sotheby’s Australia is honoured to offer this rare masterpiece in our August sale of Important Australian Art and we anticipate great excitement from collectors in Australia and internationally.’ Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘Harbour (Grey Day) (1978) comes to auction having remained unseen in public for 40 years. The painting beautifully articulates aspects of the Asian aesthetic that appealed so greatly to Whiteley. Here each element of the composition – palm trees, boats, promontories, buildings, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, wharves, bays, together with the great expanse of Sydney Harbour, are applied in a deliberate kind of a calligraphic gesture against a simple, flat, empty background. The painting is a literate, sensual, elegant, and quietly joyous celebration of the good art and the good life; the composition is a quiet exhalation that elevates the soul. Sotheby’s Australia is honoured to offer this rare masterpiece in our August sale of Important Australian Art and we anticipate great excitement from collectors in Australia and internationally.’ (197.02 KB)

Warhol and a mystery moon flask top Sotheby's sale

25 July 2018

Australian Financial Review  |  Peter Fish

Sotheby's July auction in Melbourne promised an array of Asian, Australian and European arts and design, but it was a Chinese piece – a curious wooden "moon" flask extensively carved in a naturalistic manner – that topped the sale with a sky-high $87,840.

Sotheby’s Australia to Offer FAREWELL BY DEL KATHRYN BARTON – Estimate $150,000-350,000 –

20 July 2018

Sotheby’s Australia is honoured to announce Del Kathryn Barton’s Farewell 2004 as a highlight of our auction of Important Australian Art this August. One of the most significant works by the internationally renowned artist to ever appear at auction, the painting is a tour de force that captures Barton’s extraordinary vision and technical command. A testament to the artist’s singular vision, Barton’s work was the recent subject of a major survey exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne in 2017-2018. A contemporary cornerstone to our Important Australian Art auction on 28 August, Farewell 2004 carries a pre-sale estimate of $150,000-350,000, and is poised to establish a new world auction record for the artist. Sotheby’s Australia is honoured to announce Del Kathryn Barton’s Farewell 2004 as a highlight of our auction of Important Australian Art this August. One of the most significant works by the internationally renowned artist to ever appear at auction, the painting is a tour de force that captures Barton’s extraordinary vision and technical command. A testament to the artist’s singular vision, Barton’s work was the recent subject of a major survey exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne in 2017-2018. A contemporary cornerstone to our Important Australian Art auction on 28 August, Farewell 2004 carries a pre-sale estimate of $150,000-350,000, and is poised to establish a new world auction record for the artist. (341.27 KB)

Muhammad Ali Punches Above Weight at Sotheby’s Australia

19 July 2018

Fierce bidding delivered champion results at Sotheby’s Australia’s July sale of Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design. The cross-cultural diversity of international arts and design from the first century to contemporary achieved a resounding result of $1,917,596 sold. Bidders fought over two 1978 screenprint portraits of Muhammad Ali with lot 47 selling for $48,800 (estimate $20,000-30,000), while an upper-cut bid for lot 48 delivered $63,440, a fitting result for the three time World Heavyweight Champion as the result nearly tripled the low estimate (estimate $25,000-35,000, pictured). Demand for fine Australian and international art saw bidders punching the air as prices soared for works by Jacob Epstein, Norman Lindsay, John Passmore and Brett Whiteley, with overall results of 130% sold by value for the art section of the sale. Fierce bidding delivered champion results at Sotheby’s Australia’s July sale of Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design. The cross-cultural diversity of international arts and design from the first century to contemporary achieved a resounding result of $1,917,596 sold. Bidders fought over two 1978 screenprint portraits of Muhammad Ali with lot 47 selling for $48,800 (estimate $20,000-30,000), while an upper-cut bid for lot 48 delivered $63,440, a fitting result for the three time World Heavyweight Champion as the result nearly tripled the low estimate (estimate $25,000-35,000, pictured). Demand for fine Australian and international art saw bidders punching the air as prices soared for works by Jacob Epstein, Norman Lindsay, John Passmore and Brett Whiteley, with overall results of 130% sold by value for the art section of the sale. (246.05 KB)

Three Private Collections of Chinese Huanghuali Furniture for Auction at Sotheby’s Australia

13 July 2018

One of the most extensive collections of Chinese furniture recently offered for public sale in Australia, including a selection made from the rare huanghuali timber, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia on 18 July in Sydney. The comprehensive range of furniture including bookcases, cabinets, chairs and tables has been consigned from three private collections in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. One of the most extensive collections of Chinese furniture recently offered for public sale in Australia, including a selection made from the rare huanghuali timber, will be auctioned by Sotheby’s Australia on 18 July in Sydney. The comprehensive range of furniture including bookcases, cabinets, chairs and tables has been consigned from three private collections in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. (213.55 KB)

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