Dave’s Faves for the Bonhams art auction on 20 August 2013

Bonhams’ offering of 64 Important Early Works from the Estate of Sir Sidney Nolan and Important Australian Art containing 49 lots is on view this weekend in Sydney at Byron Kennedy Hall at the Entertainment Quarter, and from 16 to 19 August at Como House in South Yarra. A great opportunity to see some early and outstanding paintings by the artist.

Let us know if you would like us to perform due diligence on one or more works. We will also attend the auction on the night of the 20th August, so we can bid for you. Email us or phone 02 9977 7764.

So on to Dave’s Faves from the Sidney Nolan collection:

Lot 8 – Figure and sea c.1940, est. $4,000-6,000. Beyond Quirk

Lot 9 – “Icare” tent and eyes, Luna Park, c.1940 est. $12,000-18,000. Naive Nolan really rocks

Lot 15 – Woman c.1904, est. $5,000-8,000. More neat, naive Nolan from 1940

Lot 38 – Constable Fitzpatrick and Kate Kelly, c. 1973, woven wool tapestry based on the painting of the same name 1946, est. $50,000-80,000. A whole lot of Nolan goin’ on – 2.88 x 4.02 metres – BIG wall required

Lot 43 – John Joseph, Native of New York, Eureka Stockade 1949, est. $8,000-12,000. A very contemporary quality to this work. An absolute winner painted 64 years ago

Lot 63 – Icebound ship, Antarctica 1964, est. $40,000-60,000. Take a thrill ride

Lot 64 – Antarctica 1964, est. $35,000-45,000. I don’t usually like green, but this is one mean picture

And here follow Dave’s Faves from the mixed vendor offering:

Lot 117 – Lloyd Rees, Gerringong  landscape, c.1947, est. $25,000-35,000. Courting the sublime

Lot 119 – Grace Cossington Smith, The open window 1954, est. $22,000-30,000. Be entranced by this little gem of a picture … Grace’s view of the world (period re-framing required)

Lot 123 – Benjamin Edwin Minns, Woman by the harbour 1916, est. $15,000-20,000. This picture sold in 2000 for the highest ever price for a B.E. Minns at $ 86,250. Now the estimate is jaw-dropping. This is a fantastic picture and even includes a Manly ferry

Lot 124 – Brett Whiteley, Moreton Bay Fig 1979, est. $6,000-9,000. A superb example of Whiteley’s etching skills. This large print is one of his best

Lot 135 – Robert Klippel, Opus 768, 1988, est. $40,000-50,000. Makes a serious statement

Lot 138 – Arthur Boyd, Narcissus and three clouds, est. $50,000-60,000. Somehow it just works, this one. A lot of Boyd for your buck

Lot 148 – John Skinner Prout, On the Derwent, near Hobart, est. $5,000-7,000. Out and about with Prout

Lot 149 – Sydney Long, Megalong Valley, Blue Mountains 1908, est. $8,000-12,000. Will David ever stop raving on about the quality of early Sydney Long paintings … probably not

If you can’t attend the viewing, visit Bonhams.