Smith & Singer

Australian & International Art

Smith & Singer, Melbourne

Important Australian & International Art, Smith & Singer, May 2023

Overview

Consistently achieving market-leading results, Smith & Singer is the premier art business in Australia. 

Smith & Singer specialises in realising exceptional results for our consignors from highly-curated, dedicated auctions of the best examples of Australian and international art available on the market.  This approach means we sell more of the works entrusted to us, for a greater price than any auction house in Australia.  Our specialists' Australian and international experience uniquely positions Smith & Singer in the market, allowing us to advise each our clients as to the best strategy for the sale of their work.

Our April 2021 auction of Australian and international art set records by achieving the highest total from the smallest number of lots in the company’s history (as both Smith & Singer and formerly Sotheby’s Australia) – $11,965,909 from just 57 works.  Two prices in excess of $1 million were achieved, with six works setting new auction records.  Bidding from clients in the saleroom, on telephones, and online resulted in a sold rate of 93.44% by volume and 144.22% by value, showing the depth of demand in the sale.  The figure augments the outstanding private sale and international consignments we have achieved in the first quarter of 2021.

In 2020, for the fifth consecutive year, Smith & Singer realised the highest annual total in Australia and the second highest auction and annual totals for fine art in the company’s auspicious history, with a combined annual total surpassing $48.42 million.  Leading the public auction total at the company was the trio of Important Australian & International Art auctions held in Sydney in June, September and November which realised a combined total of $21.3 million.  These highly-curated auctions presented an array of historic, modern and contemporary art and realised numerous records for both artist and medium, while also setting the highest sold rates and performances against estimates in a decade at the company, when our September auction saw rates of 149.43% sold by value and 87% sold by volume.  Overall these auctions realised 122% of their combined estimates and saw 84% of all lots sold.

In 1973, Sotheby's Australia commenced auctions in Australian & International Art with the single-owner sale of Paintings and Drawings from the Studio of Sir William Dobell.  Since this landmark auction, the company – now trading as Smith & Singer – has offered the finest Australian paintings, sculptures and works on paper from colonial through to contemporary.  In May 2007, John Bracks’ masterpiece, The Old Time  1969, for $3.36 million, set the world record for any Australian work of art ever sold at auction at the time.  In 2016, a record setting $2,074,000 was realised for Arthur Streeton's Sydney Harbour 1907, the highest Australian art auction result for that year.  In 2019, records were realised across categories for great Australian artists, including Ethel Carrick and William Dobell amongst others.

Smith & Singer specialists are internationally recognised, whose tenure and experience are unmatched by those at any other firm and includes former museum curators and dealers. Our specialists work in tandem with our former Sotheby's colleagues around the world to source the most compelling works for our high-profile auctions and deliver exceptional returns to consignors.  Their efforts and passion have attracted buyers from Australia and abroad to our recent sales, resulting in record prices and historic sales.

Auctions of Australian and international art are held in Sydney and Melbourne and typically include masterworks by artists such as Howard Arkley, Arthur Boyd, Charles Blackman, John Brack, David Larwill, Sidney Nolan, Margaret Olley, John Olsen, Jeffrey Smart, Arthur Streeton, Brett Whiteley and Fred Williams.  Important Australian & International Art sales are usually held in May, August and November of each year.

The team of specialists based in Melbourne and Sydney share an extensive expertise and a broad access to collectors and buyers worldwide. We can help you sell Australian art, as well as international pieces, with our in-depth knowledge of artists, their works, and the local and international art market.


Recent Results from Australian Art Auctions

Important Australian Art 21 November 2023    
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0865

Important Australian Art 23 August 2023    
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0863

Important Australian & International Art 2 May 2023     
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0860

Important Australian Art 16 November 2022    
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0858

Important Australian Art 24 August 2022   
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0857

Important Australian Art 12 April 2022  
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0854

Important Australian Art 16 November 2021  
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0851

Important Australian & International Art 20 April 2021 
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0849

Important Australian & International Art 18 November 2020 
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0847

Important Australian & International Art 2 September 2020 
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0845

Important Australian & International Art 24 June 2020
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0844 

Important Australian Art 20 November 2019
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0840

Important Australian Art 27 August 2019
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0837

Important Australian & International Art 9 April 2019
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0833

Important Australian & International Art from The John Symond AM Collection | Important Australian Art 20 November 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0830

Important Australian Art 28 August 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0828

Important Australian & New Zealand Art | Important Australian Art from The J.G.L. Collection 16 May 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0825

Important Art from The John Schaeffer AO Collection 29 April 2018
www.smithandsinger.com.au/catalogue/AU0824

To view results from all past auctions visit
www.smithandsinger.com.au/auction/results

For further information
[email protected] 
Melbourne +61 (0)3 9508 9900  |  Sydney +61 (0)2 9302 2402

 

Specialists

Geoffrey Smith

Chairman

Australian & International Art
Melbourne  |  Sydney
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402
E: Geoffrey Smith

Gary Singer

Chief Executive Officer & Director

Australian & International Art
Melbourne  |  Sydney
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402
E: Gary Singer

Emily Walker

Administrator

Australian & International Art
Melbourne  |  Sydney
T: +61 (0)3 9508 9900
E:  Emily Walker

David Mackay

Gallery Manager, Sydney

Australian & International Art
Sydney 
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 
E: David Mackay

 

Result Highlights

SIDNEY NOLAN 1917-1992
Desert Bird 1948

Sale Date: 21 November 2023

Sale Price: $1,595,455

> View lot details

   

CHARLES BLACKMAN 1928-2018
Girl with Flowers (1958)

Sale Date: 21 November 2023

Sale Price: $1,227,273

> View lot details

   

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992
Yellow 1975

Sale Date: 10 October 2023

Sale Price: $3,190,909

> View lot details

 

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982
Masons Falls (1981)

Sale Date: 23 August 2023

Sale Price: $3,190,909
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

JOEL ELENBERG 1948-1980
Mask 1 (1978)

Sale Date: 23 August 2023

Sale Price: $1,135,227
*Auction Record for the Artist
*Auction Record for an Australian Sculpture

> View lot details

 

ISOBEL RAE 1869-1940
(Femme Bretonne a Jardin Etaples) 
(circa 1890s)

Sale Date: 23 August 2023

Sale Price: $515,455
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992
The Paddock - Early Morning 1979

Sale Date: 2 May 2023

Sale Price: $2,147,727

> View lot details

 

CHARLES FREDERICK GOLDIE 1870-1947
Reverie: Ena te Papatahi, a Ngapuhi Chieftainess
(Ina Te Papatahi, Ngā Puhi) 1916

Sale Date: 2 May 2023

Sale Price: $1,718,182
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999
On the Banks of the Shoalhaven (1984)

Sale Date: 2 May 2023

Sale Price: $834,545

> View lot details

 

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992
Vision of Bali 1976-1978

Sale Date: 16 November 2022

Sale Price: $1,104,545

> View lot details

 

DEL KATHRYN BARTON born 1972
We Will Ride 2014

Sale Date: 16 November 2022

Sale Price: $466,364
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

ALBERT NAMATJIRA 1902-1959
Waters of the Finke (1958)

Sale Date: 16 November 2022

Sale Price: $245,455
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943
Evening Light (Venice) (1908)

Sale Date: 24 August 2022

Sale Price: $1,534,091

> View lot details

 

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

Sale Date: 24 August 2022

Sale Price: $1,196,591

> View lot details

 

JEFFREY SMART 1921-2013
Dampier II (1966-1967)

Sale Date: 12 April 2022

Sale Price: $711,818

> View lot details

 

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992 The Dove in the Mango Tree 1984

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992 
The Dove in the Mango Tree 1984

Sale Date: 16 November 2021

Sale Price: $1,963,636

> View lot details

 

FREDRICK MCCUBBIN 11855-1917 What the Little Girl Saw in the Bush 1904

FREDRICK MCCUBBIN 1855-1917 
What the Little Girl Saw in the Bush 1904

Sale Date: 20 April 2021

Sale Price: $1,472,727

> View lot details

 

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 Guthega Landscape (1975)

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 
Guthega Landscape (1975)

Sale Date: 20 April 2021

Sale Price: $1,227,273

> View lot details

  

JOHN BRACK 1920-1999 Laughing Child 1958

JOHN BRACK 1920-1999 
Laughing Child 1958

Sale Date: 24 June 2020

Sale Price: $915,000

> View lot details

 

HOWARD ARKLEY 1951-1999  Neapolitan Delight 1993

HOWARD ARKLEY 1951-1999 
Neapolitan Delight 1993

Sale Date: 20 November 2019

Sale Price: $1,464,000

> View lot details

 

HOWARD ARKLEY 1951-1999  Plain and Fancy 1993

HOWARD ARKLEY 1951-1999 
Plain and Fancy 1993

Sale Date: 20 November 2019

Sale Price: $1,220,000

> View lot details

 

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982  Mountain Creek, Mount Kosciusko (1976)

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 
Mountain Creek, Mount Kosciusko (1976)

Sale Date: 27 August 2019

Sale Price: $1,708,000

> View lot details

 

WILLIAM DOBELL 1899-1970  The Dead Landlord (1936)

WILLIAM DOBELL 1899-1970 
The Dead Landlord (1936)

Sale Date: 27 August 2019

Sale Price: $1,220,000 
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992 Nude Beside the Basin 1963

BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992
Nude Beside the Basin 1963

Sale Date: 20 November 2018

Sale Price: $829,600

> View lot details

 

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999 Drowned Bridegroom (1959)

ARTHUR BOYD 1920-1999 
Drowned Bridegroom (1959)

Sale Date: 28 August 2018

Sale Price: $1,952,000 
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 Orange Hill (1966-1967)

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 
Orange Hill (1966-1967)

Sale Date: 28 August 2018

Sale Price: $1,098,000 

> View lot details

 

LIN ONUS 1948-1996 Fish, Ferns and Rocks (1995)

LIN ONUS 1948-1996 

Fish, Ferns and Rocks (1995)

Sale Date: 16 May 2018

Sale Price: $793,000
*Auction Record for the Artist

> View lot details

 

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