Australia

An oil on panel of a Spanish water carrier with his donkey in Granada by the Australian Impressionist Tom Roberts (1856-1931) accompanied by the artist’s pen and ink sketch for the work is to be offered in the sale at Smith & Singer in Sydney on April 12.

On December 2 Australian auction firm Shapiro will be offering the collection of Spode blue and white earthenwares assembled over the past 25 years by Russell Brooks. The majority were purchased in first 15 years mainly in England but also in Australia.

A couple of surprise results emerged in a sale held in Armadale, Victoria, by Australian Book Auctions (19.8% buyer’s premium).

This first edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale will be offered for sale by Scammell Auctions in Adelaide on October 11.

A very early coloured litho view of Melbourne formed part of an Australiana sale held by dealer and auctioneer Peter Arnold (18% buyer’s premium).

An important work by Modern Australian artist Russell Drysdale (1912-81) equalled his auction record when it sold at Deutscher and Hackett (25% buyer’s premium).

For those in the southern hemisphere, Christmas means summer, sun, flowers and exotic wildlife. In this year’s Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association (AAADA) Christmas Catalogue, dealer Josef Lebovic offers a group of 11 Antipodean Christmas cards from c.1883.

Twenty lots from a private Sydney collection will open the sale devoted to Chinese Paintings to be held by Bonhams on December 2 in Sydney.

The highlight of Bonhams Australia’s (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) latest Jewels sale was this agate intaglio seal from the collection of Brisbane Catholic priest Father Peter Grice (1943-2019).

One of the highlights of Leonard Joel’s jewellery auction in Sydney on August 26 is this Art Deco platinum and diamond bracelet dated to c.1930 fashioned as an articulated line of geometric links of carré, baguette and circular cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 33cts.

The first sale held by Bonhams Australia (22% buyer’s premium) behind closed doors in Sydney was devoted to Asian art,

The UK and Australia have a strong connection, highlighted by commemorations such as the recent Anzac Day (April 25) to remember Australian and New Zealand soldiers who fought in the First World War.

Bonhams Australia is holding its first auction behind closed doors in Sydney on May 13 with bidding online and by phone.

Sotheby’s has undergone a restructure following the purchase of the auction house by telecoms businessman Patrick Drahi earlier this year.

A pair of Wedgwood kangaroo figures brought to the recent AAADA Antiques & Art Fair Sydney by The Antique Guild proved appropriately attractive to buyers.

Selection of contents from Sydney house of media family comes to auction in Australia

Many of the high prices achieved at last week’s ‘celebrity’ sale titled Bob Hawke & Blanche d’Alpuget: Mementos, Curiosities, Art and Design reflected the impact of souvenir hunters, anxious to own a reminder of Australia’s former prime minister who died earlier this year. But not all of them.