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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)

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)

Treasures of Australian Design feature at Sotheby’s Australia

9 July 2018

Geoffrey Smith commented: ‘In the past 200 years Australia has witnessed some exceptional designers and craftsmen who have imagined and forged objects that have defined Australian style. Sotheby’s Australia is pleased to present several outstanding examples detailing this evolution in our forthcoming Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design sale to be held in Sydney on 18 July. From the Victorian era is a rare inkstand by Julius Schomburgk that retailed though Joachim Matthias Wendt, a highly regarded watchmaker, jeweller and silversmith of Adelaide. Robert Prenzel and Walter Burley Griffin are regarded as integral contributors to the ‘Arts & Crafts’ and ‘Art Deco’ styles in the first decades of the 20th century and are represented by exceptional examples. These items emerging for auction present both experienced and new collectors an opportunity to acquire exceptional pieces of Australian style.’ Geoffrey Smith commented: ‘In the past 200 years Australia has witnessed some exceptional designers and craftsmen who have imagined and forged objects that have defined Australian style. Sotheby’s Australia is pleased to present several outstanding examples detailing this evolution in our forthcoming Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design sale to be held in Sydney on 18 July. From the Victorian era is a rare inkstand by Julius Schomburgk that retailed though Joachim Matthias Wendt, a highly regarded watchmaker, jeweller and silversmith of Adelaide. Robert Prenzel and Walter Burley Griffin are regarded as integral contributors to the ‘Arts & Crafts’ and ‘Art Deco’ styles in the first decades of the 20th century and are represented by exceptional examples. These items emerging for auction present both experienced and new collectors an opportunity to acquire exceptional pieces of Australian style.’ (204.79 KB)

Muhammad meets Marilyn: Prints & Photographs by Andy Warhol & Bert Stern

3 July 2018

Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘Portraits of two international icons of the twentieth century by Andy Warhol and Bert Stern are highlights in our forthcoming sale of Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design to be held in Sydney on 18 July 2018. In the age of Instagram, Warhol’s fabled prediction that “in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” has never been more prophetic and relevant to contemporary culture. Warhol discovered the burgeoning celebrity status of sportsmen in 1977 produced a screenprint portfolio dedicated to the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion Mohamad Ali in 1978, and we are excited to offer two of the four prints from this portfolio in our sale.’ Geoffrey Smith, Chairman of Sotheby’s Australia commented: ‘Portraits of two international icons of the twentieth century by Andy Warhol and Bert Stern are highlights in our forthcoming sale of Fine Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design to be held in Sydney on 18 July 2018. In the age of Instagram, Warhol’s fabled prediction that “in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes” has never been more prophetic and relevant to contemporary culture. Warhol discovered the burgeoning celebrity status of sportsmen in 1977 produced a screenprint portfolio dedicated to the World Boxing Association Heavyweight Champion Mohamad Ali in 1978, and we are excited to offer two of the four prints from this portfolio in our sale.’ (197.08 KB)

The Hans & Gertrud Mueller Collection of European Glass Offered for Auction

26 June 2018

On 18 July 2018 Sotheby’s Australia will hold an impressive sale of European glass from the private collection of the late Mr Hans Mueller & Mrs Gertrud Mueller. One of the most important collections of European glass ever offered in Australia, the Mueller Collection consists of over 110 pieces of coloured glass from the early 20th century and includes designers Daum, Gallé, Lalique and Loetz and is estimated at AUD$242,100 to AUD$347,100. This sale follows Sotheby’s Australia’s auction of The Hans & Gertrud Mueller Collection of Lalique Glass which realised over AUD$540,000 in March 2018. On 18 July 2018 Sotheby’s Australia will hold an impressive sale of European glass from the private collection of the late Mr Hans Mueller & Mrs Gertrud Mueller. One of the most important collections of European glass ever offered in Australia, the Mueller Collection consists of over 110 pieces of coloured glass from the early 20th century and includes designers Daum, Gallé, Lalique and Loetz and is estimated at AUD$242,100 to AUD$347,100. This sale follows Sotheby’s Australia’s auction of The Hans & Gertrud Mueller Collection of Lalique Glass which realised over AUD$540,000 in March 2018. (179.00 KB)

Stunning Results for Australian & New Zealand Art at Sotheby’s Australia

17 May 2018

The highest art auction result for 2018 in Australia was achieved at Sotheby’s Australia’s May auction of Important Australian Art including Important Australian Art from The J.G.L. Collection when the sale realised $8,841,584 with 82.31% sold by value. Sotheby’s Australia leads the art auction market for 2018 in Australia with $12.83 million sold. Seven auction records tumbled throughout the evening. Starting early in the sale, William Delafield Cook’s Headland, Hawkesbury River 1985 realised $366,000 exceeding the existing record by $162,000 (estimate $150,000-200,000, lot 8). Two monumental and highly significant paintings by Lin Onus both exceeded the previous auction record for the artist. Commissioned by Melbourne Airport, Fish, Ferns and Rocks (1995) established the new artist auction record of $793,000 (estimate $450,000-650,000, lot 10, pictured above) and Fish at Dusk (1996) realised $671,000 (estimate $450,000-650,000, lot 11). The highest art auction result for 2018 in Australia was achieved at Sotheby’s Australia’s May auction of Important Australian Art including Important Australian Art from The J.G.L. Collection when the sale realised $8,841,584 with 82.31% sold by value. Sotheby’s Australia leads the art auction market for 2018 in Australia with $12.83 million sold. Seven auction records tumbled throughout the evening. Starting early in the sale, William Delafield Cook’s Headland, Hawkesbury River 1985 realised $366,000 exceeding the existing record by $162,000 (estimate $150,000-200,000, lot 8). Two monumental and highly significant paintings by Lin Onus both exceeded the previous auction record for the artist. Commissioned by Melbourne Airport, Fish, Ferns and Rocks (1995) established the new artist auction record of $793,000 (estimate $450,000-650,000, lot 10) and Fish at Dusk (1996) realised $671,000 (estimate $450,000-650,000, lot 11). (437.72 KB)

Pivotal Paintings from Brett Whiteley’s Career Emerge for Auction

4 May 2018

Masterpieces by celebrated Australian artist Brett Whiteley will be offered for auction by Sotheby’s Australia on Wednesday 16 May in Sydney. Tightly held in distinguished private and corporate collections, many have remained hidden from public view since they were first acquired either directly from the artist or from exhibitions. With a combined estimate of $2.9 million to $3.6 million the works are anticipated to generate strong interest with collectors. Masterpieces by celebrated Australian artist Brett Whiteley will be offered for auction by Sotheby’s Australia on Wednesday 16 May in Sydney. Tightly held in distinguished private and corporate collections, many have remained hidden from public view since they were first acquired either directly from the artist or from exhibitions. With a combined estimate of $2.9 million to $3.6 million the works are anticipated to generate strong interest with collectors. (368.05 KB)

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