The Bonhams sale of Important Australian Art will proceed in Sydney on 24 August, with a live simulcast in Melbourne. Virtual viewings of the artworks will be available.
Continuing the massive increase in interest for late 19th and early 20th century female artists, Bonhams begin their auction with artworks by Dorrit Black, Janet Cumbrae-Stewart, Clarice Beckett, May Gibbs and Florence Fuller.
There are some charming Victorian pictures by John Longstaff, H.J. Johnstone and George Lambert, as well as a generous mix of modern Australian and indigenous artworks among the 112 lots on offer.
Something for everyone perhaps? If a particular artwork piques your interest, we would be pleased to act as your sounding board and assist you with pre-purchase advice. Read more about this service
The viewing in Melbourne is from 12 to 15 August at 1130 High Street, Armadale.
Viewing in Sydney is scheduled for 19 – 24 August at 36-40 Queen Street, Woollahra, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
The auction is held on 24 August in Sydney, and attendance is subject to Covid-19 restrictions.
Viewing online therefore is highly recommended at the Bonhams website.
Dave’s Faves for Bonhams auctions are:
Lot 1 – Dorrit Black, The Castle, Taormina, c1928-29, linocut, 22.5 x 28.5 cm, est. $12,000-18,000. The Prints PrincessLot 6 – May Gibbs, Chrysanthemums, 1894, Oil, 45.5 x 32.5 cm, est. $2,000-3,000. May-BeLot 9 – John Longstaff, Jeune Mere, c1891, pencil, 23.5 x 33.5 cm, est. $10,000-15,000. Draws You InLot 20 – Tim Leura Tjapaltjarri, Euro Hunting, 1973, polymer paint, 43.5 x 57.5 cm, est. $55,000-60,000. And In The Beginning…Lot 34 – Lin Onus, Koi, Barmah Forest, 1994, gouache, 30 x 60 cm, est. $50,000-60,000. Look at Koi!Lot 35 – Fred Williams, Crooked Tree, You Yangs, 1978, oil on canvas, 91.5 x 106 cm, est. $420,000-550,000. Look It’s Tree-TimeLot 37 – John Olsen, Emu and Egg, 1981, watercolour, 105 x 78 cm, est. $10,000-15,000. Go Johnny, Go Johnny, Go Go GoLot 40 – Robert Klippel, Untitled, 1993, collage and paint, 64 x 83 cm, est. $2,500-3,500. A-Maze-IngLot 41 – Ildiko Kovacs, Lemons, 1995, synthetic polymer paint on paper, 50 x 63 cm, est. $3,000-5,000. Definitely No LemonLot 42 – Yvonne Audette, Untitled, 1960, gouache, 19.5 x 16.5 cm, est. $4,000-6,000. We all owe a Debt to AudetteLot 44 – John Coburn, Autumn Sun, oil, 60 x 75.5 cm, est. $18,000-28,000. We Had Joy We Had Fun We Had Seasons In The SunLot 47 – Jenny Watson, Sensurround, Deny Me & I’m not some Child, acrylic, 25 x 20 cm each, est. $3,000-5,000. Stop Horsin’ Around And BidLot 65 – Sydney Long, Panorama of Sydney Harbour Looking Towards Balmain from the North Shore, watercolour, 29.5 x 82.5 cm, est. $15,000-20,000. A Sense of “Longing” Perhaps?Lot 69 – James Alfred Turner, Trying a Dish or Two, c1894, oil on canvas, 51 x 35.5 cm, est. $14,000-18,000. Don’t pan this one!Lot 78 – Lloyd Rees, Mount Direction, Tasmania, c1976, pastel and watercolour, 39 x 52 cm, est. $10,000-14,000. The Only Way Is UpLot 81 – Sidney Nolan, Billiards, monotype, 19.5 x 25.5 cm, est. $2,500-3,500. Time to Book a TableLot 86 – Naata Nungurrayi, Untitled (rockhole and soakage water site of Marrapinti), 2003, polymer paintg, 107 x 91 cm, est. $5,000-7,000. NattyLot 89 – Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Untitled, 1992, polymer paint, 75 x 55 cm, est. $10,000-15,000. A Dotty Little DittyLot 104 – Max Dupain, Sunbaker, 1937, gelatin silver print, 38 x 43 cm, est. $30,000-50,000. Max was 26 when he created Australia’s Most Iconic PhotographLot 109 – Sali Herman, Picon, 1927, pencil, 26 x 22 cm, est. $800-1,200. Sali had perhaps barely heard of Australia when he created this image in France in 1927 at age 29.Lot 110 – Hans Heysen, Study of Young Gums, 1899, watercolour, 29 x 17 cm, est. $7,000-10,000. Heysen at 22 was emerging as the great talent he came to be
