Smith & Singer

Important Australian Art

AU0863 | 23 August 2023 | Sydney | 6.30PM

FRED WILLIAMS 1927-1982 Masons Falls (1981)
oil on canvas, 182.2 x 151.8 cm
Estimate $2,000,000–3,000,000
Sold for $3,190,909
AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
© Estate of Fred Williams/Copyright Agency, 2023
SIDNEY NOLAN 1917-1992 Ned Kelly: Wounded Bushranger 1955
oil and enamel paint on composition board, 71 x 91.5 cm
Estimate $750,000–950,000
Sold for $1,251,818
© The Sidney Nolan Trust. All rights reserved, DACS/Copyright Agency, 2023
ROSALIE GASCOIGNE 1917-1999 Marmalade 1989-1990
sawn plywood retro-reflective road signs on plywood, 152.5 x 142.5 cm
Estimate $600,000–800,000
Sold for $920,455
© Rosalie Gascoigne/Copyright Agency, 2023
JOEL ELENBERG 1948-1980 Mask 1 (1978)
black Belgium marble, 55 cm high (including base)
Estimate $350,000–450,000
Sold for $1,135,227
AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
AUCTION RECORD FOR AN AUSTRALIAN SCULPTURE
© The Estate of Joel Elenberg
BRETT WHITELEY 1939-1992 Waterfall (1962-1963)
oil and collage on canvas, 122 x 112.5 cm
Estimate $500,000–700,000
Sold for $981,818
© Wendy Whiteley/Copyright Agency, 2023
ALBERT TUCKER 1914-1999 Man in Desert I 1964
synthetic polymer paint on composition board, 81 x 60.7 cm
Estimate $300,000–500,000
Sold for $368,182
© Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation. Courtesy of Smith & Singer Fine Art
CHARLES BLACKMAN 1928-2018 Red Lady (The Sleeping Girl) (1961)
oil on composition board, 118 x 121 cm
Estimate $350,000–550,000
Sold for $503,182
© Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2023
ISOBEL RAE 1869-1940 Femme Bretonne a Jardin Etaples) (circa 1890s)
oil on canvas, 83.5 x 43 cm
Estimate $300,000–400,000
Sold for $515,455
AUCTION RECORD FOR THE ARTIST
ARTHUR STREETON 1867-1943 Evening Game 1889
oil on cardboard, 13.3 x 23.3 cm
Estimate $400,000–600,000
Sold for $932,727
Sale Number: AU0863

Important Australian Art

Smith & Singer’s tightly curated August 2023 auction of Important Australian Art achieved exceptional results for traditional, modern and contemporary Australian art with a total of $14,527,227.

Determined bidding from clients in the saleroom, on telephones, and online resulted in an outstanding sold rate for a mixed vendor sale of 151.4% by value and 85% by volume, 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 2023.

Results were led by stellar performances by artists including Bessie Davidson, Rosalie Gascoigne, Sidney Nolan, Arthur Streeton, and Brett Whiteley, with new world auction records established for Joel Elenberg, Isobel Rae and Fred Williams. The auction also witnessed the highest price ever achieved for an Australian sculpture at auction. 

AUCTION IN SYDNEY
23 AUGUST 2023 l 6.30 PM
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA, 
111 QUEEN STREET, WOOLLAHRA

 
CONTACT INFORMATION +

Specialists

Geoffrey Smith

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

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

Emily Walker

Emily Walker

Administrator, Art

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

David Mackay

Gallery Manager

Sydney 
T: +61 (0)2 9302 2402 
E: David Mackay

Auction Results & Details

Sale Total: Total Sale Figure $14,527,227 (Including Premium)

EXHIBITION TIMES +

MELBOURNE

14-16 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE

WEDNESDAY 9 AUGUST -

SUNDAY 13 AUGUST

10AM - 5PM

SYDNEY

30 QUEEN STREET, WOOLLAHRA

THURSDAY 17 AUGUST -

WEDNESDAY 23 AUGUST

10AM - 5PM








Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Helen Brack
1 JOHN BRACK
1920-1999

On Two Hands and One Foot 1973

$15,000-20,000 Lot Sold: $23,318 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2023
2 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

St Francis Kissing the Hand of a Leper (1964-1965)

$12,000-18,000 Lot Sold: $20,864 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863
3 CONSTANCE STOKES
1906-1991

Holiday (1948)

$50,000-70,000 Lot Sold: $61,364 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © William Dobell/Copyright Agency, 2023
4 WILLIAM DOBELL
1899-1970

The Charlady (1936)

$60,000-80,000 Lot Sold: $104,318 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © The Estate of Grace Cossington Smith
5 GRACE COSSINGTON SMITH
1892-1984

Roses with Drapery 1953

$18,000-25,000 Lot Sold: $27,000 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Emily Kngwarreye/Copyright Agency, 2023
6 EMILY KNGWARREYE
1908-1996

Bush Plum (1992)

$30,000-50,000 Lot Sold: $73,636 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2023
7 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Birds, Horse and Trap, Shoalhaven

$60,000-80,000 Lot Sold: $73,636 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2023
8 CHARLES BLACKMAN
1928-2018

The Goal 1962

$150,000-200,000 Lot Sold: $184,091 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © The Sidney Nolan Trust. All rights reserved, DACS/Copyright Agency, 2023
9 SIDNEY NOLAN
1917-1992

Bathers and Rowing Boat (1957)

$30,000-50,000 Lot Sold: $36,818 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation. Courtesy of Smith & Singer Fine Art
10 ALBERT TUCKER
1914-1999

Image of Modern Evil 1972

$15,000-25,000 Lot Sold: $27,000 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2023
11 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Bride Beside a Pool (1963)

$15,000-25,000 Lot Sold: $18,409 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © The Estate of Grace Cossington Smith
12 GRACE COSSINGTON SMITH
1892-1984

Gum Blossom 1946

$120,000-160,000 Lot Sold: $190,227 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Helen Brack
13 JOHN BRACK
1920-1999

Green Nude 1971

$200,000-250,000 Lot Sold: $417,273 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Albert & Barbara Tucker Foundation. Courtesy of Smith & Singer Fine Art
14 ALBERT TUCKER
1914-1999

Man in Desert I 1964

$300,000-500,000 Lot Sold: $368,182 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2023
15 CHARLES BLACKMAN
1928-2018

Red Lady (The Sleeping Girl) (1961)

$350,000-550,000 Lot Sold: $503,182 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Tim Storrier/Copyright Agency, 2023
16 TIM STORRIER
born 1949

The White Cliff Line 2001

$60,000-80,000 Lot Sold: $110,455 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Meadmore Sculptures, LLC/Copyright Agency, 2023
17 CLEMENT MEADMORE
1929-2005

Meditation (1974)

$100,000-140,000 Lot Sold: $122,727 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Charles Blackman/Copyright Agency, 2023
18 CHARLES BLACKMAN
1928-2018

Swimmers, St Kilda (1953)

$120,000-160,000 Lot Sold: $147,273 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Arthur Boyd/Copyright Agency, 2023
19 ARTHUR BOYD
1920-1999

Nude by a Pool with Red Dog and Birds (1961)

$450,000-650,000
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © The Estate of Joel Elenberg
20 JOEL ELENBERG
1948-1980

Mask 1 (1978)

$350,000-450,000 Lot Sold: $1,135,227 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Courtesy of the artist and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney
21 ROSALIE GASCOIGNE
1917-1999

Marmalade 1989-1990

$600,000-800,000 Lot Sold: $920,455 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © The Sidney Nolan Trust. All rights reserved, DACS/Copyright Agency, 2023
22 SIDNEY NOLAN
1917-1992

Ned Kelly: Wounded Bushranger 1955

$750,000-950,000 Lot Sold: $1,251,818 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Estate of Fred Williams/Copyright Agency, 2023
23 FRED WILLIAMS
1927-1982

Masons Falls (1981)

$2,000,000-3,000,000 Lot Sold: $3,190,909 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Wendy Whiteley/Copyright Agency, 2023
24 BRETT WHITELEY
1939-1992

Waterfall (1962-1963)

$500,000-700,000 Lot Sold: $981,818 (including buyer's premium)
Important Australian Art - AU0863 © Wendy Whiteley/Copyright Agency, 2023
25 BRETT WHITELEY
1939-1992

Sketch for Large Flame Tree, Port Vila 1983

$55,000-75,000 Lot Sold: $92,045 (including buyer's premium)

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