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Issue sIXTeeN / APRIL 2013
FREEPlease take
a coPy
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ValuaTIoNs aND DIGITal MeDIa
Monique Le Grand Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5620Email [email protected]
CorporaTe & prIVaTe ColleCTIoNs
John Albrecht, Managing Director Phone 0413 819 767Email [email protected]
Susan Saunders, Head of Finance & AdministrationPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5603Email [email protected]
sINGle owNer ColleCTIoNs
Guy Cairnduff, Head of The Specialist CollectorPhone +61 (0) 3 8825 5611Email [email protected]
arT
John Albrecht, Head of ArtPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5619Email [email protected]
Nicole Salvo, Assistant Head of ArtPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5624Email [email protected]
Jewellery
John D’Agata, Head of JewelleryPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5605Email [email protected]
ClassIC furNITure & obJeCTs
Guy Cairnduff, Head of Classic Furniture & ObjectsPhone +61 (0) 3 8825 5611Email [email protected]
ColleCTables
Giles Moon, Head of CollectablesPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5635Email [email protected]
books aND MaNusCrIpTs
Chiara Curcio, Cabinet Room Manager & Book SpecialistPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5604Email [email protected]
pre–owNeD luXury
John D’Agata, Head of JewelleryPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5605Email [email protected]
MoDerN DesIGN
Giles Moon, Head of Modern DesignPhone + 61(0) 3 8825 5635Email [email protected]
JapaNese works of arT
Trevor Fleming, ConsultantPhone +61 (0) 3 8825 5611Email [email protected]
The weekly auCTIoN
Anna Grassham, Weekly Furniture & Interiors ManagerPhone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5614Email [email protected]
Leonard Joel Specialists
LEoNARD JoEL
Primary Salerooms
333 Malvern Road,
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9826 4333
Fax: +61 (0) 3 9826 4544
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CoverClassic Furniture & Objects AuctionTuesday 21 May 2013
HIGHLIGHTS FROM A SIGNIFICANT SINGLE-OWNER COLLECTION OF SNUFF BOTTLES FROM A PRIVATE MELBOURNE COLLECTORSee article on page 17
PhotographyRick Merrie
DesignerMaria Rossi
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M A R G A R E T R I V E R
foreworD
Once upon a time, I must confess, I too
suffered from the cataloguing disease most
commonly known as long-winded descriptive
syndrome, otherwise known as LWDS.
The syndrome infected almost every major
catalogue auction around the world where
long descriptions became the auctioneer’s
best means to create the impression of a
serious scholarly capacity that rose above
the “mere commerce of the auction”. I
recently laughed with delight when I read
a grotesquely pompous and expansive
description of an item illustrated on the back
of a magazine. This syndrome is just one of
the many problems with the use of language
and words in our industry. Add to this the
odd faux English accent that still infect many
of our industry players (no disrespect to our
genuine English traders) and you have a
rather interesting mix of language designed
to mystify and divert from notions of straight
forward expression and explanation.
I have to say that in 2013 I have grown
completely tired of the expressions that we
auctioneers use that still so many people
don’t understand and that serve only to make
our world more confusing rather than less.
So here I list the top ten expressions used by
auctioneers that I believe need clarification.
Other auctioneers will laugh at the end of
this article and exclaim “As if people don’t all
understand them”! My experience suggests
otherwise (extensive chats with thousands
of clients) and my feeling is that the whole
collecting experience would be more
pleasurable and ultimately more viable if we
spoke and wrote with more simplicity.
1. ENTRIES INVITED OR AN
INVITATION TO CONSIGN – in plain
English it is an auctioneer trying to tell you
that they would love to sell your property
2. FINAL CALL FOR ENTRIES – the
auctioneer is now getting impatient and
wants potential sellers of property to make
up their mind!
3. EXHIBITION OR VIEWING OR NOW
ON VIEW – this is the period that you have
to view items before they are offered for
public auction
4. PRIVATE TREATY – a fancy way, and
I must confess I liked using it, to describe
the sale of an item by private sale rather than
public auction – interestingly the expression
is flawed in this context because it actually
means an exchange between two parties
absent an interm ediary
5. COMMISSION BID OR ABSENTEE
BID OR BID ON THE SHEETS – this simply
refers to a bid left with the auctioneer to
execute
6. A REFERRED BID – the highest bid but
still below the agreed reserve selling price
that the auctioneer can refer to the seller for
consideration
7. VENDOR OR SELLER OR OWNER
– the entity, business or individual that is
selling the item
8. CONDITION REPORT – a report that
can be requested by any interested party
that will describe the overall condition and
originality of the item of interest
9. IT’S WRONG OR PROBLEMATIC OR
NOT QUITE RIGHT – these expressions are
commonly used (often by individuals with
no recognised or professional credentials)
to suggest that there is some problem with
the authenticity, authorship or condition of
an item. It is unquestionably that most over-
used and abused phrase in auction lexicon.
10. IT’S BEEN AROUND OR FLOGGED
TO DEATH – used to describe the offering
and re-offering of an item more than twice
that has consistently gone unsold or has been
sold so many times within a very short period
So having nominated my top ten what are we
going to do about it? Leonard Joel this year
will undertake to simplify all its terminology
and we hope that makes for a simpler
and ultimately more rewarding customer
experience.
THE LANGUAGE OF AUCTIONSJohN ALBREChT, MANAGING DIRECToR LEoNARD JoEL
1 APRILleonard
CoNTeNTs
APRIL Contents
CALENDAR 3
NEWS 4
AUSTRALIAN FINE ART RESULTS 6
INTERNATIoNAL FINE ART RESULTS 7
FINE JEWELLERy RESULTS 8
PRE-oWNED LUXURy 9
ThE MR JoEL BARLoW CoLLECTIoN 10
ART & PhoToGRAPhy 12
MoDERN DESIGN 14
CLASSIC FURNITURE & oBJECTS 16
ABoRIGINAL ART 18
BERNARD hALL 19
ThE WEEkLy 20
FINE BookS & CoLLECTABLES 21
A 1999 JAGUAR STYPE SEDANSOLD FOR $14,640 IBPAT THE BOUTIQUE SINGLE OWNER AUCTION
GET LEoNARD ALL ThE TIME
SUBSCRIBE
With more specialist categories and auctions than
any auction house of its kind in Australia, Leonard is
the simplest way to remain abreast of all forthcoming
auctions, important sales results, events and auction
news. With expert contributors from all fields of col-
lecting Leonard will be an indispensable tool for both
the seasoned auction-goer and the new collector alike.
Leonard is available both free at Leonard Joel and
online or can be subscribed to for an annual fee of $44
inc GST (postage & handling). Visit us online at www.
leonardjoel.com.au or for subscription information
contact [email protected].
FRoM SINGLE ITEMS To CoLLECTIoNSIf you have a single item or collection you
wish to sell, the Leonard Joel team of spe-
cialists can guide you through the entire val-
uation and auction process. We can provide
you with experts across all collecting fields,
no less than thirteen categories of auction to
select from and the most expansive calendar
of catalogue auctions in Australia. Leon-
ard Joel specialists conduct insurance and
market valuations for the entire spectrum
of clients - private collectors, corporations,
museums, fiduciaries and government enti-
ties are advised by our valuers and special-
ists on a daily basis.
TAILoRED TRUST AND ESTATE SERVICESLeonard Joel has a long and distinguished
history of assisting both trust companies and
executors with the dispersal of important
collections. We provide fiduciaries (lawyers,
trust officers, accountants and executors)
with a complete suite of services to manage
accurately and successfully the dispersal
of large and small estates. Our services are
specially designed to aid in the appraisal
and dispersal of fine art, antiques, jewel-
lery, objet d’art, collectables, books & manu-
scripts and general household contents.
THINkINg OF SEllINg?
Our specialists are now sourcing single items and collections for the following categories:
AUSTRALIAN AND INTERNATIoNAL ART
FINE JEWELLERy AND WRISTWATChES
PRE-oWNED LUXURy
CLASSIC oBJECTS AND FURNITURE
MoDERN DESIGN
SINGLE oWNER CoLLECTIoNS
CoLLECTABLE ToyS AND SPoRTING MEMoRABILIA
MILITARIA
BookS AND MANUSCRIPTS
Do yoU hAVE A UNIqUE CAR To SELL?
If you have a well maintained luxury vehicle with a good
pedigree then Leonard Joel can assist you. We periodically offer
select vehicles for public auction to the largest collecting client base
in Australia.
For enquiries contact Guy Cairnduff
03 8825 5611 / [email protected]
2 leonardAPRIL
FoRthComIng AuCtIons
The Weekly Auction Every ThursdayFurniture & Interiors – 10am Jewellery & Wristwatches – 10.30am Art – 11.30am Books – 12pm Objects & Collectables – 12pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Fine Books & Collectables Auction Thursday 18th April 2013 – 10am 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Graham Geddes Warehouse Auction Sunday 21st April 2013 – 10am 899 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne, Victoria
Collectables including Movie Memorabilia Thursday 24th April 2013 – 12pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Angus o’Callaghan Auction Thursday 2nd May 2013 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Specialist Print Auction Thursday 9th May 2013 – 11.30am 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Classic Furniture & objects Auction Tuesday 21st May 2013 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Fine Art & Photographic Auction Monday 17th June 2013 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Fine Jewellery & Pre-owned Luxury Auction Tuesday 18th June 2013 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
The Modern Design Auction Tuesday 15th August 2013 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
CaleNDar
Leonard Joel is a proud supporter of Arts Project Australia
Auctions and viewing times are subject to change.
A GOOD GEORGE IV MAHOGANY SECRETAIRE BOOKCASESold for $3,660 IBP in The Weekly Furniture & Interiors Auction
WEEklY FURNITURE & INTERIORS
3 APRILleonard
Leonard Joel would like to congratulate Tamara for receiving this award that
acknowledges her efforts at bringing sustainable living to the forefront of our
thinking. Our very own Anna Grassham (Weekly Furniture, Manager) played
a major role in styling the apartments by sourcing and selecting objects,
furnishings and design from our weekly Antiques &
Interiors auctions. This living installation heralded
‘new consumption’, gained international media
coverage and spread the message of conscientious
consumption to passers-by, mainstream media and
school groups interested in how to do more with less.
News
(DETAIL) AN IMPORTANT NAPOLEONIC PERIOD LLOYD’S PATRIOTIC FUND PRESENTATION SWORDFORMERLY THE PROPERTY OF SIR ROBERT MENZIES
SPECIALIST PRINTS
EnquiriesNicole SalvoAssistant Head of Art(03) 8825 [email protected]
ERIC THAKE (1904-1982) An Opera House in Every Home 1972
Sold for $2,684 IBP
AUCTIoN ThURSDAy 9 MAy AT 11.30AM
NoW CoNSIGNING
The grandchildren of Sir Robert
Menzies have consigned an
important Georgian sword for
auction at Leonard Joel in
May 2013.
The sword was given to the
Prime Minister in the 1950s.
This magnifi cent object had
been presented to a British
naval lieutenant Charles
Menzies 150 years earlier, in
1806, in recognition of his
bravery in the Napoleonic Wars.
EnquiriesGiles Moon Head of Collectables(03) 8825 [email protected]
John D’Agata, Head of Fine
Jewellery & Luxury at Leonard
Joel, explains the fi ner points
of jewellery collecting and
appreciation to an intimate
gathering of Sydney clients who
enjoyed French champagne
and jazz on a beautiful Autumn
evening in Queen Street,
Woollahra.
IMPoRTANT hISToRICAL SWoRD, FoRMERLy ThE PRoPERTy oF SIR RoBERT MENZIES, To GoTo AUCTIoN IN MAy
FINE JEWELLERy NoW VIEWING IN SyDNEy
TAMARA DIMATTINA TAkES oUT ThE CREATIVE ARTS CATEGoRy FoR hER PRoJECT ThE NEW JoNESES
Look oUTFoR NEXT
MoNTh’S ISSUE oF LEoNARD
FoR FULL DETAILS
4 leonardAPRIL
CoLLECTABLES INCLUDING MoVIE MEMoRABILIA
News
EnquiriesGiles Moon Head of Collectables(03) 8825 [email protected]
IMPRESSIVE SCRATCH BUILT MODEL OF RENAULT TAXI BY RON TITCHENER, CIRCA 1980s$2,500 - $3,500
ThE WATERCoLoURS oF BLAMIRE yoUNG
The definitive volume on the master of Australian watercolour painting. Blamire
Young (1862-1935) is represented in the collections of every major public gallery
in Australia. Measuring 30 x 23 cm this beautiful hardback, complete with
slipcase, contains 650 pages depicting the artist’s body of work in watercolour.
Approximately two thousand known paintings are listed with 500 reproduced in
large format colour and another 300 with smaller identification images.
This book is for the scholar, the collector and all art lovers.
Copies may be purchased on-line at
http://meridianpublishing.bigcartel.com/
or by emailing the author:
purChase your Copy
Now
AUCTIoN ThURSDAy 24 APRIL AT 12PM
Not since our historic auction of Andy Mac’s street art collection in 2012 have
we witnessed such interest in art with a “street art” theme. Two works, lots 495
and 496, by Luke Barker , an artist unknown to the secondary market auction
landscape, realised more than five times their estimates to sell for $10,492 (IBP)
and $9150 (IBP). Both large scale oil paintings were rendered in a hyper realistic
manner and depicted public spaces full of colourful graffiti and tagging.
STREET ART
§ LUKE BARKER, THE TUNNEL BETWEEN 2011SOLD FOR $10,492 IBP
ToP PRICE FoR RARE CoUGAR
VERY RARE MATCHBOX 1-75 SERIES 62C MERCURY COUGARSOLD FOR $5,612 IBP
5 APRILleonard
ausTralIaN fINe arT resulTs
ARTSIDNEY NOLAN (1917-1992) Central Australian Landscape with Truck 1956 oil on paper on boardSOLD FOR $7,930 IBP
JACQUELINE HICK (1919-2004) Desert Children oil on board SOLD FOR $10,370 IBP
PETER BLIZZARD (1940-2010)Untitled welded steel with concrete baseSOLD FOR $4,880 IBP
noW consIGnInG for the june fIne art auctIon
GEOFF DYER (BORN 1947) Rockface Kambalda oil on canvasSOLD FOR $8,540 IBP
6 leonardAPRIL
INTerNaTIoNal fINe arT resulTs
BIREN DE (INDIAN, BORN 1926) Two Figures 1953 oil on canvasSOLD FOR $13,420 IBP
JOHN PIPER (BRITISH, 1903-1992) Maen Bras (in Snowdon) gouache and inkSOLD FOR $23,180 IBP
CHEONG SOO PIENG (SINGAPOREAN, 1917-1983) Two Women 1969,mixed mediaSOLD FOR $61,000 IBP
CHEONG SOO PIENG (SINGAPOREAN, 1917-1983)Blue Landscape 1971 mixed media on rice paper SOLD FOR $18,300 IBP
CHEONG SOO PIENG (SINGAPOREAN, 1917-1983Village 1965mixed media on paper SOLD FOR $18,300
sINGaporeaNarT leaVes TheCouNTryLeonard Joel were honoured to have been en-
trusted with the sale of three important works
by the artist Cheong Soo Pieng from a private
Victorian collection. Held for more than three
decades in one local collection the works at-
tracted intense international interest from inter-
national phone and real-time internet bidders.
The three works comfortably exceeded com-
bined estimates of $80,000 to sell for $97,600
(IBP) and all works are headed for international
collections.
7 APRILleonard
fINe Jewellery resulTs
FINE DIAMONDS
121AN EDWARDIAN DIAMOND NECKLACE SOLD FOR $7,930 IBP
122A DIAMOND RING BY CATANACH’S SOLD FOR $17,080 IBP
noW consIGnInG for the june fIne jeWellery auctIon
The interest in fine diamond jewellery proved strong again at the March Leonard Joel
Fine Jewellery Auction. Our first evening auction enjoyed a steady flow of bidders
and onlookers as collectors waited for their desired lots to come up. Most demand for
the night was focused on a private collection of diamond jewellery where discerning
buyers paid premium prices for one off pieces of high end jewellery. Signed pieces were
particularly popular; a sapphire and diamond cross pendant necklace by Grisogono, lot
256, sold for $12,200 (IBP) and our cover piece, a pair of diamond earrings by Cartier, lot
125, were highly contested and finally sold for $5,856 (IBP). A collection of Georg Jensen
jewellery concluded the auction with extended bidding and high prices for the pieces
of earlier manufacturer – lot 303 typified these strong results; this Jensen bracelet with
the look of a “suspension bridge”, delighted collectors and sold for four times its presale
estimate for $2928 (IBP). We are now consigning for our next fine jewellery auction on
Tuesday 18 June.
119AN EDWARDIAN DIAMOND BRACELET SOLD FOR $18,300 IBP
125A PAIR OF DIAMOND EARRINGS BY CARTIERSOLD FOR $5,856 IBP
8 leonardAPRIL
pre-owNeD luXury
347A VINTAGE KELLY HANDBAG BY HERMES SoLD
PRE- OWNED lUxURY
noW consIGnInG for the june Pre-oWned luxury auctIon
9 APRILleonard
The Mr Joel barlow ColleCTIoN
LUXE FINDS ITS lEVEl
As collecting habits change and tastes shift
dramatically so to do the nature and content
of auctions.
The Mr Joel Barlow Collection in Brisbane
that we recently managed for The Public
Trustee, Brisbane was arguably the most
dramatically modern, in terms of the
collecting taste it displayed.
Many commented that the collection was
both “hectic and extravagant in its scope”
– life size horse lamps, ultra-expensive
leather ware, mind-bogglingly expensive
electrical items and luxurious furnishings
seemed to sum up the auction and its
flavour.
But beyond the commentary and the
public drama associated with the seller
the reality was that very interesting and
worthy modern items throughout the
collection attracted keen interest from
buyers (or collectors depending on what
you classify as collectable) that were clearly
willing to “pay up” for high quality items of
design and luxury. Quite possibly the most
expensive television ever sold at auction
was transacted at this sale when a Bang &
Olufsen (B&O) three dimensional television
realised $67,100 (IBP) – an extraordinary
sum for a pre-owned item of design and
media but which firmly put B&O on the
map as one of the most favoured brands to
enjoy serious collector status. Add to this
an exquisitely crafted grand piano by Alex
Steinbach and a luxury outdoor setting by
B&B Italia that sold respectively for $19,520
(IBP) and $13,240 (IBP) and what we had
was an auction where luxury transitioned
from a mere category of curiosity and
glamour to one with tangible resale and
investment value. The auction more than
doubled its high estimate of $331,000 to
realise a staggering total of more than
$700,000 and internet bidders, room
bidders and a record-breaking 8000 (yes
8000!) absentee bids generated what could
only be described as a non-stop and exciting
auction reminiscent of some of the great
auction property dispersals in Australia.
Leonard Joel would like to extend its sincere thanks to Stuart Vallance and his team at Antique & Fineart Auctions, Brisbane who partnered with Leonard Joel in this record-breaking auction in Brisbane in early March. Antique & Fineart Auctions provided the perfect Queensland venue, much needed auction expertise and first-class infrastructure that was instrumental in providing a most successful viewing and auction program.
ThANk yoUANTIqUE & FINEART AUCTIoNS
10 leonardAPRIL
The Mr Joel barlow ColleCTIoN
A BANG & OLUFSEN ‘BEOVISION 4 85” BLACK TELEVISIONSOLD FOR $67,100 IBP
MATTHEW CHEYNE“RUMOUR 2009”OIL ON LINENSOLD FOR $19,520 IBP
A BLACK FULL SIZE STALLION LAMP, DESIGNED BY FRONT SWEDEN FOR MOOOISOLD FOR $7,930 IBP
A LOUIS VUITTON SURF BOARDSOLD FOR $7,930 IBP
A BOTTLE OF HENNESSY X O COGNAC LTD EDITIONSOLD FOR $8,540 IBP
hIGhLIGhTS FRoM ThE MR JoEL BARLoW CoLLECTIoN
11 APRILleonard
arT & phoToGraphy
ART & PHOTOgRAPHY
CHRISSY GANT (BORN 20TH CENTURY) THE STUDIO 2004 SOLD FOR $3,660 IBP
ANGUS O’CALLAGHAN (BORN 1922)ROYAL ARCADE SOLD FOR $2,684 IBP
WOLFGANG SIEVERS (1913-2007) COLLINS STREET FROM NO.9 LOOKING TOWARDS SPRING STREET, MELBOURNE 1964SOLD FOR $915 IBP
ANGUS O’CALLAGHAN (BORN 1922)NEW ARRIVALS SOLD FOR $1,220 IBP
12 leonardAPRIL
arT & phoToGraphy
ART & PHOTOgRAPHY
Leonard Joel is now seeking entries for its forthcoming Art & Photography Auction to be held Monday 17 June 2013.
Please contact us for a complimentary appraisal.
Enquiries
Nicole Salvo
Assistant Head of Art
(03) 8825 5624
WOLFGANG SIEVERS (1913-2007) ADVERTISEMENT FOR ELBEO STOCKINGS, CONTEMPORA, BERLIN 1938 SOLD FOR $3,904 IBP
MAX DUPAIN (1911-1992)FLINDERS STREET STATION 1946 SOLD FOR $3,904 IBP
eNTrIesNow
INVITeD
13 APRILleonard
MoDerN DesIGN
MoDERN DESIGN
noW consIGnInG for the auGust Modern desIGn auctIon
DE SEDE DESIGN TEAMA DS-70 SOFA SOLD FOR $3,172 IBP
TOBIA SCARPA (BORN 1935) AN OCCHI VASEMANUFACTURED BY VENINI GLASS, C. 1968 SOLD FOR $ 1,342 IBP
14 leonardAPRIL
MoDerN DesIGN
eNTrIesNow
INVITeD
SCHULIM KRIMPER (1893-1971) A PAIR OF ADJUSTABLE SHELF BOOKCASES, C.1955SOLD $3,172 IBP A FRENCH FOUR BRANCH
FLOOR LAMP, C.1950 SOLD FOR $3,600 IBP
Leonard Joel’s first specialist Modern Design
sale of 2013 on 7 March included 220 lots
of post-war furniture, lighting, objects and
art. ‘Local’ designers such as Featherstone,
Krimper, Shapiro and Meadmore were all
well represented and featured strongly in
the top ten prices achieved. The top lot of
the day, lot 207 a Grant Featherston B230H
Contour Chair sold for $10,370 (IBP) against
an estimate of 207, while lot 112, a pair of shelf
bookcases by Schulim Krimper sold for $3,172
(IBP) against an estimate of $2,500-3,500.
There was also spirited bidding for work
by renowned international designers, often
pushing prices well past pre-sale expectations.
Lot 6A, a striking pair of Arne Jacobsen table
lamps tripled their low estimate selling for
$1,530 (IBP) and in the glass section lot 157,
a dazzling yellow Occhi vase by Tobia Scarpa
sold for $1,342 (IBP) against an estimate of
$400-500.
We are now accepting entries for the 15 August
Modern Design sale.
Enquiries
Giles Moon
Head of Modern Design & Collectables
(03) 8825 5635
GRANT FEATHERSON(1922-1995)A B230H CONTOUR CHAIR, DESIGNED 1953 SOLD FOR $10,370 IBP
15 APRILleonard
ClassIC furNITure & obJeCTs
Sunday 21 April 2013 at 10am
Viewing & Auction on site at899 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne
ViewingFriday 19th April 10am to 5pmSaturday 20th April 10am to 5pm
Specialist enquiries contact Guy Cairnduff on 03 8825 5611
ThE GRAhAM GEDDES WAREhoUSE AUCTIoN
CLAssIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS
after DEMETRE CHIPARUS (1886-1947)A MIRO FIGUREBronze, ivory, marble, onyx36.5cm high (bronze)$5,000 - 8,000
EnquiriesGuy CairnduffHead of Classic Furniture & Objects(03) 8825 [email protected]
fInal call for entrIes - the May classIc furnIture & oBjects auctIon
185A CARVED AND PAINTED WHIMSICAL TWO HEADED HORSE 70cm high$250 - 350
16 leonardAPRIL
ClassIC furNITure & obJeCTs
THROUgH THE LOOKING-glASS
A LARGE INSIDE PAINTED GLASS SNUFF BOTTLE WITH BRONZE FO DOG FINIAL
A FAMILLE ROSE PORCELAIN SNUFF BOTTLE WITH GLASS STOPPER
A CARVED AMETHYST SNUFF BOTTLE WITH CHALCEDONY STOPPER
A RELIEF CARVED HORNBILL SNUFF BOTTLE19TH CENTURY
A JET HAND PAINTED SNUFF BOTTLE WITH GOLDSTONE STOPPER19TH CENTURY
One mans collection of Chinese snuff
bottles stand before me after being carefully
unpacked, their silence profound, their
surfaces inviting. I begin to arrange them into
categories that I can fathom, hand painted
porcelain, overlay glass, ivory, jade, agate
and cinnabar. Within these groups more sub
categories emerge as moulded porcelain, two
and three colour overlay glass, tinted ivory
many with contrasting stoppers of coral or
chalcedony. More bottles are examined to
reveal hair crystal, lapis lazuli, amethyst and
hornbill. A number display impossible scenes
of warlords in battle or scholars at leisure
all executed as inside-painted on glass. It
is terrifying and intoxicating all at once
realising the immensity of the project as I try
to become familiar with these exotic objects
that are mostly foreign to me.
They command my attention and I cannot
resist their tactile qualities, sensitive and
seductive as I slowly handle each one again.
Their miniaturisation begs me to stop
and take a moment of discovery travelling
through time. In our modern world where all
things are expanding and online platforms
such as ‘Pintrest’ digitally project visual
information in static format these Elzevir
like objects offer the collector a cool antidote
to the suffocation of consumerisms gigantic
proportions. Susan Stewart’s highly original
book entitled On Longing; Narratives of the
Miniature, the Gigantic, the Souvenir, the
Collection states “The reduction in scale
which the miniature presents skews the time
and space relations of the everyday lifeworld,
and as an object consumed, the miniature
finds its use value transformed into the
infinite time of reverie”. Heady stuff but
Stewart’s rationale makes perfect sense to me
as I find myself aligning with Alice tumbling
down the rabbit hole to discover a world of
unimagined scale and delights.
But what of the craftsmen who made these
objects and the cultural significance they
represent? Too many questions are proposed
to me by these bottles than can I easily
digest. If print space permitted a proper
investigation to these queries would reveal it
all began with snuff, the Chinese attributing
to snuff medicinal properties. When sniffed
into the nostrils, it causes a mild sensation
of exhilaration, clears congestion and eases
breathing it was said. Snuff being a finely
ground powder like tobacco, sometimes
enhanced with aromatic herbs and spices
to increase its flavour. The fashion of taking
snuff developed in both China and Europe
around the same time in about 1650. Fast
forward to the late Ch’ing dynasty period
from which some of the bottles in this
collection have been created and I discover
these artisans examples are set within
boundaries of a rich historical tradition in
material, technique and imagery.
Discerning snuff bottle collections have long
been developed and later offered in the old
auction houses of Europe. None perhaps
more high profile than Christie’s multiple
instalments of the J&J Collection from James
and Julie Li. The couple began collecting in
the early seventies and over the next three
decades amassed some one thousand bottles,
which they named the J&J Collection. So
important their auction catalogues alone
are now referred to as bibles of the snuff
bottle world and form part of the extensive
research on this topic available today. It has
been a humbling experience given the task of
caretaking such a collection when compared
with all that has gone before and I am forever
grateful to be involved in such scholarly
pursuits. This collection, which although
may not be as grand as the J&J Collection,
offers opportunity no less significant to the
collector to partake in a unique narrative of
miniature and desirable proportions.
By LIZA hALLAM
17 APRILleonard
aborIGINal arT
By anton assaad
ABoRIGINALARTEntries are currently being accepted for the forthcoming
annual Aboriginal Art and Artefact auction.
Last year’s auction bucked the soft market conditions
for Aboriginal art achieving a a 75% sale rate with a
well-priced, quality selection of artworks. Highlights
included a classic Hermannsburg landscape by Albert
Namatjira sold at its high estimate of $15,000 as well
as a fine pair of early 1960’s Milingimbi smoking pipes
and bullroarer that were acquired by an institution. A
notable trend was the keen and animated vying for
sculpture by both dedicated and new collectors including
a handsome trio of Fish Traps and a Spirit Figure by
Jimmy Ngalakurn which doubled its low estimate selling
for $1900.
Fine quality Aboriginal sculptures, paintings and
Aboriginal artefacts are sought for the 2013 auction.
Please contact
Sophie Ullin
Aboriginal Art Specialist
8825 5609 (Weds/Fri)
Entries close Friday 9 August
noW consIGnInG for the octoBer aBorIGInal art auctIon
CHARLIE DJURRITJINI(BORN 1952) Artists Country 1996SOLD FOR $1,098 IBP
DARREN LONG AKEMARR (20TH CENTURY) Lake Nash vs Ampilatwatja 2001 SOLD FOR $1,098 IBP
JACKY MARAMBARRA (BORN 1941) Wayarra Spirit Figure 1993 SOLD FOR $793 IBP
BOB BURRUWAL (BORN 1952) Echidna 2000 SOLD FOR $1,220 IBP
PAIR OF NEPABUNNA BOOMERANGS c1931SOLD FOR $1,098 IBP
18 leonardAPRIL
berNarD hall
ThE MAN ThE ART WoRLD FoRGoT
BERNARD HALL
Bernard Hall’s place in Australian art
history has long been predicated on a
daunting – and almost entirely apocryphal
– blend of ‘received wisdom’, speculation
and assumption – one that owes more to
the agendas of his successors than to any
realistic appraisal of his achievement.
Never as dour or conservative as the
mythology suggests, Hall came to Australia
in 1892 to be with the woman he loved and
remained, after her death in 1901, to serve
the community he had come to regard as his
own. As Director of the National Gallery of
Victoria from 1892 to 1935, he was Australian
art’s most influential administrator and
teacher for the better part of half a century
– a record that remains unequalled today.
A spirited participant in civic as well as
cultural affairs, he had a wide circle of
friends and a full and very productive life.
As such, his story sheds new light, not only
on the development of Australian art and
the Gallery he tended so well, but also on
aspects of Melbourne’s history perhaps too
often overlooked.
With a few noteworthy exceptions, this
biography draws entirely on primary
source material, including Hall’s own
papers, the archives of his friends, students,
colleagues and professional associates,
the correspondence files of the National
Gallery of Victoria, and many newspapers
and journals from the period. The book
is generously illustrated, with more than
sixty of Hall’s works reproduced in full
colour together with numerous archival
photographs that chart the artist’s life from
his boyhood to his departure for England in
1934.
Gwen Rankin is an art historian whose
PhD thesis (2008) was ‘L. Bernard Hall
and the Feminine in Australian Painting’.
Her research focus is the art and social
life of late nineteenth and early twentieth
century and, in particular, L. Bernard Hall,
the development of the National Gallery of
Victoria and its Schools, and issues around
the representation of the feminine in a
rapidly changing society.
The book will be released at the beginning
of May 2013. Enquiries about distributors
should be directed to Matt Howard,
Publicist, New South Publishing, UNSW,
Sydney, phone: (02) 8936 0026, email:
By GWEN RANkIN
19 APRILleonard
The weekly
THE WEEklY
On Thursday the 11th April at 11:30am, the Art Department will be offering
an exciting collection of Nautical artworks including an early Australian Naval
watercolour by A.V. Gregory.
PreviewWednesday 10 April 2013 9am – 8pmEnquiriesAnna Hombsch or Bronwyn Quill(03) 8825 [email protected] / [email protected]
lIVe bIDDINGNow aVaIlable
for weekly obJeCTs & ColleCTables auCTIoN
sTarTING ThursDay 11Th aprIl
WEEkLy CABINETS& FINE BookSEARLY 20TH CENTURY FRENCH FLOCKED PAPIER MACHE BULLDOGSold for $1,098 (IBP)
A special collection of furniture and objects sourced from around the globe,
to be offered in Leonard Joel’s weekly furniture and interiors auction.
Catalogue now on-line.
EnquiriesAnna GrasshamManager, Weekly Furniture and Interiors(03) 8825 [email protected]
WEEkLy FURNITURE AUCTIoN FEATUREAUCTIoN ThURSDAy 11 APRIL AT 10AM
A SPECIAL MARITIME ART AUCTIoNAUCTIoN ThURSDAy 11 APRIL AT 11.30AM
20 leonardAPRIL
fINe books & ColleCTables
FINEBOOkS & COllECTABlES
[COOK] NEWTONS NEW AND IMPROVED TERRESTRIAL GLOBE Sold $1,464 (IBP)
CITY OF MELBOURNE PLANS Sold $1,830 (IBP)
Fine Books & Collectables AuctionThursday 18 April 2013, 10am
PreviewWednesday 17 April 2013 9am – 8pm
EnquiriesChiara CurcioBooks & Collectables Manager03 882 5604 [email protected]
21 APRILleonard
Subscribe at leonardjoel.com.au
lOOk OUT FOR THE MAYISSUE.
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