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Featured on the catalogue cover is this striking 19th century portrait of a winged figure in a classical landscape from the Spanish Colonial School estimated at $1,500-2,000.

Gibson's second auction to ofer a mix of affordable items

By Richard Brewster on 07-Sep-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Gibson's Auctions Spring Collection sale from 11am Sunday September 16 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale is designed to put a "spring" in the step of auction goers, according to founder Jennifer Gibson.

Ben Barnett’s autograph book featuring the work of Arthur Mailey, cartoonist and test cricketer, which sold for $42,000 in Melbourne on 2 September 2018.

Cricketing autograph book sells for $42,000 at Leski Auctions

By Richard Brewster on 06-Sep-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Ben Barnett’s autograph book featuring the work of Arthur Mailey was the leading money earner at Leski Auctions Melbourne sale on September 2.

The book, entitled “Australian Cricket Tour – England 1934”, included illustrations of team members and touring party officials signed by both Arthur Mailey and the cricketers involved and went under the hammer for $42,000 against a high estimate of $7500.

Leonard Joel's Jewellery auction on Monday September 3 at their South Yarra rooms will include a collection of lockets, including the Georgian example above. With a provenance that includes Anne Schofield Antiques, Christie's London and the Earl of Warwick, the locket is estimated at $20,000-26,000.

Leonard Joel's jewellery auction to include a collection of rare lockets

By Richard Brewster on 30-Aug-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

An eclectic range of fine jewels – a strong feature of the John Swanton collection – with a focus on enamels is a major highlight of Leonard Joel’s forthcoming jewellery auction from 6.30pm Monday September 3 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

Leski Auctions 'Celebration of Cricket! Sale' includes the collection of New South Wales' Central Coast Cricket Museum following its closure. Amongst the lots is an original painting of late 19th century English cricket captain Dr W.G. Grace, signed 'Payne' in the lower corner, and estimated at $2,000 – 3,000.

Leski Auctions to sell the collection of the New South Wales Central Coast Cricket Museum

By Richard Brewster on 28-Aug-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

A plethora of sporting memorabilia items that have never before been auctioned will be up for grabs when Leski Auctions holds its Celebration of Cricket! Sale from 3pm Sunday September 2 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

The auction follows the recent closure of New South Wales' Central Coast Cricket Museum involving items on display for many years.

The collection includes three watches by James McCabe of London, including an 1808 gold Georgian full hunter example, (above) estimated at $2,000-3,500

Philips Auctions Melbourne to sell surgeon's pocket watch collection

By Richard Brewster on 09-Aug-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

A Melbourne surgeon, who died several years ago from asbestosis contracted when he worked as a student on a building site, has left a legacy in the form of a collection of antique English pocket watches.

His wife has consigned the collection – comprising 170 pocket watches – to Philips Auctions to be sold at a special auction on Tuesday August 14 at Philip's Malvern Auction Rooms.

The first sale by new Melbourne auction house Gibson’s Auctioneers & Valuers of the collection of the late Dr Robert Wilson will include a rare late 19th century hand painted Minton cabinet plate featuring a scene from Tasmania’s capital, Hobart.

Gibson’s Auctioneers & Valuers holding their debut auction in Melbourne

By Richard Brewster on 08-Aug-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

New Melbourne auction house Gibson’s Auctioneers & Valuers has picked up the collection of the late Dr Robert Wilson for its inaugural auction from 11am Sunday August 12 at Level 1, 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

 

The newly created Australian auction house Abacus Auctions will launch its first sale with a Coins, Banknotes, Sporting Memorabilia & Collectable flavour on Sunday July 22 at Glen Waverley, Victoria. Highlights include an Neale Andrew sculpture of cricketing icon Don Bradman showing his classic cover drive.

Newcomer Abacus Auctions includes well known industry figures

By Richard Brewster on 17-Jul-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

The newly created Australian auction house Abacus Auctions has launched its first sale with a Coins, Banknotes, Sporting Memorabilia & Collectable flavour from 10am Sunday July 22 at 19A Hampshire Road, Glen Waverley, Victoria. 

For sporting lovers, the auction will commence with sporting memorabilia and collectable items including cricket, football, boxing, horse racing, motor racing before devoting the afternoon to coins and banknotes.

Abacus Auctions comprises several well-known experts in both fields including philatelist Gary Watson and Max Williamson, who has been an Australian sporting memorabilia icon for more than 30 years.

Most of these have come on board following the collapse of Mossgreen in late December last year.

Melbourne auctioneer Charles Leski who merged his company with Mossgreen Auctions in 2013 has established a new business based in High Street Armadale, after Mossgreen was placed in administration in December 2017. Included in the first sale of Leski Auctions is this rare Tasmanian colonial occasional table, circa 1845 made from a combination of Huon pine, musk, blackwood, cedar, beefwood, casuarina and myrtle. Estimated at $6,000-10,000 the table has a pencil inscription in the drawer dating it to 1860.

Leski Auctions re-established in new premises is High Street Armadale

By Richard Brewster on 10-Jul-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Melbourne auctioneer Charles Leski – well known over many years in collector circles for his ability to unearth some of Australia’s more memorable collectables – has re-established his former business Leski Auctions at new premises in 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

An unusual and rare clock included in the sale is this 1875 French clock set into a replica of the American Civil War ship USS Monitor, complete with rotating gun turret, lifeboat and faux waves.

Leonard Joel to auction lifetime clock collection

By Richard Brewster on 23-Jun-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

As a 14-yer-old mechanic’s apprentice with a Collingwood-based garage, 83-year-old Australian great-grandfather Ken Hose always admired an American clock that hung on one of the walls.

Some years later, when the garage was scheduled for demolition, Ken rescued the clock and so began his lifelong passion for the mechanics and measurement of time.

Now he and his wife Judy have a $1 million clock collection that occupies a dedicated room in his Mitcham home in Melbourne and features a plethora of grandfather clocks, skeleton clocks, bracket clocks, music boxes and a large 19th century New South Wales railway clock.

The collection will be auctioned from 6.30pm Monday June 25 by Leonard Joel at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

An exceptional black opal and diamond brooch by premier jeweller William Drummond & Co is the pick of Leonard Joel’s fine jewels auction from 6.30pm Monday June 4 at Hughendon Boutique Hotel in Sydney. Estimated at $20,000-30,000, the brooch is of equal craftsmanship and design to the brooch manufactured by William Drummond and presented to Queens Elizabeth II on her first visit to Australia in 1954.

Black opal and diamond brooch by premier jeweller William Drummond & Co. amongst the highlights of Leonard Joel jewellery auction.

By Richard Brewster on 29-May-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

An exceptional black opal and diamond brooch (lot 65) by premier jeweller William Drummond & Co is the pick of Leonard Joel’s fine jewels auction from 6.30pm Monday June 4 at Hughendon Boutique Hotel 14 Queen Street, Woollahra in Sydney.

More than 100 lots including fine oriental pieces from the one estate will be the highlight of Philips Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday May 20 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern. A major attraction is the Moorcroft collection and Bernard Moore flambé on offer.

Philips Auctions to sell 100 lots from an estate.

By Richard Brewster on 18-May-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

More than 100 lots including fine oriental pieces from the one estate will be the highlight of Philips Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday May 20 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern. A major attraction is the Moorcroft collection and Bernard Moore flambé on offer.

 

Mossgreen director Paul Sumner rejects claims collapsed auction house was a 'ponzi scheme'

07-May-2018

There was much hype surrounding the auction of Russell Drysdale's painting Grandma's Sunday Walk. Painted by the Australian artist in 1972 just before his eyesight started to fail, the depiction of outback life was touted as a "10 out of 10" painting — a "masterpiece" that was sure to fetch a big price. "We're very confident this work will set a new Australian auction record for the artist", Mossgreen CEO and director Paul Sumner said at the time. "[It's] the most important painting Mossgreen has ever handled." Very important indeed. It is alleged the auction house's future was riding on it. When it went under the hammer on June 25, 2017 three bidders sent the price rocketing. By the time the gavel fell it had reached $2.97 million — the fifth-highest price ever paid for an Australian work at auction.

Decorative arts sourced from the Patti David collection from Sydney and the De Stoop collection from Melbourne will be auctioned on Monday May 7 at Leonard Joel’s national decorative arts auction in their South Yarra rooms. A highlight of the European furniture is the Louis Philippe period meuble d’appui shown above, estimated at $3,000 - 5,000.

Leonard Joel Decorative Arts sale to include single owner Sydney and Melbourne collections.

By Richard Brewster on 03-May-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Examples of decorative arts sourced from all parts of the world will be auctioned from 6.30pm Monday May 7 at Leonard Joel’s national decorative arts auction at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

Jointly organised by the company’s offices in Sydney and Melbourne, the auction will showcase the Patti David collection – comprising elegant furniture and paintings from her Sydney Woolloomooloo residence – and Melbourne’s the De Stoop collection comprising sophisticated 18th and 19th century antiques.

The auction also contains items from private collections within Australia and New Zealand and covers a range of categories from fine porcelain to European and English furniture, glass, marble, silver and clocks.

BDO failed the "common sense" approach to Mossgreen inventory administration

26-Apr-2018

BDO never provided "any satisfactory explanation" as to why they did not adopt a "common-sense approach" on the issue of the return of $5 million in art and antiques caught in the Mossgreen administration, the Federal Court of Appeal has noted. The now published judgement that admonished BDO came after BDO was thrawted in its attempt to impose a hefty fee on clients of the collapsed auction house, as they sought to recoup the $1 million in expenses undertaken without reference to the courts.

Mossgreen administrator report recommends criminal charges be considered, alleges bosses withdrew from 'client bank account'

26-Apr-2018

In a revealing insight into the unregulated art auction industry, the administrator's report for the failed Mossgreen art auction house alleges the company breached nine separate sections of the Corporations Act. The 100-page report, prepared over four months and distributed to more than 300 creditors this week, found the company — once the nation's biggest art and antique auction house — had debts of $13.8 million with assets of $3.2 million when it ceased trading on Christmas eve.

Paintings, furniture and other collectables from deceased estates and private household consignments are the major drawcards for E.J. Ainger’s special sale over two days on Saturday April 28 and Sunday April 29 at their saleroom in Richmond. The sale includes the above English George IV mahogany bureau bookcase, estimated at $800-1,200

Ainger's first Special Sale for 2018 offer drawcards for collectors, connoisseurs and home decorators.

By Richard Brewster on 23-Apr-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Paintings, furniture and other collectables from deceased estates and private household consignments are the major drawcards for E.J. Ainger’s special sale over two days from 11am Saturday April 28 and Sunday April 29 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond. These are bound to appeal to collectors, connoisseurs and home decorators. 

Australian spin-off of Antiques Roadshow in planning phase in Adelaide

22-Apr-2018

Residents in South Australia may soon be asked to start rummaging through their attics and dusting off their heirlooms, if a locally produced version of the Antiques Roadshow gets the green light. British TV presenter Tim Wonnacott on Friday met with the city's Lord Mayor Martin Haese at Adelaide Town Hall to drum up funding for the idea. Wonnacott, a former auctioneer, is best known as a presenter of the show Bargain Hunt and has also appeared as an expert on the BBC's popular Antiques Roadshow.

This 18th century Anglo Dutch marquetry and string inlaid burr walnut bombe commode, estimated at $1,500-1,800 is amongst the antiques, paintings and jewellery to be sold from the Estate of Lady Porter in Adelaide on 22 April, 2018.

Leonard Joel to auction estate of Adelaide society couple.

By Richard Brewster on 20-Apr-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Auction goers will be able to obtain a slice of Adelaide history when the estate of Lady June Porter goes under the hammer in her home at 4/22 Bagot Street, North Adelaide from noon Sunday April 22.

Sir Robert (Tom) and Lady June Porter (who died in October last year aged 98) were an integral part of Adelaide’s social life and held the position of Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress from 1968 to 1971.

BDO has lost another judgement in the ongoing saga of its Mossgreen voluntary administration.

20-Apr-2018

The Federal Court of Appeal knocked out the case this morning, with the reasons yet to be issued. The return of art and antiques to their vendors/buyers is no sure thing, as the possibility of any unpaid rent could see the High Street, Armadale and Clayton landlords lock up the premises and hold the goods in the worst case scenario. The matter related to BDO's administration of the Mossgreen goods and chattels, especially costs relating to their storage and insurance. BDO had been seeking to charge clients of the collapsed auction house for the return of their goods. Clients were furious at BDO's attempts to charge a fee – levied at $353 per lot – to have their own property returned, especially as some lots were going to cost more for their return that their actual value. The initial judgement savaged the accountancy firm.

The Sonic Chair designed in 2007 comes complete with a hi-fi system, iPad, speakers and various cables that connect to all modern day technology

Leonard Joel's first Modern Design auction for 2018

By Richard Brewster on 09-Apr-2018 (Exclusive to the Antiques Reporter)

Leonard Joel's first Modern Design auction for 2018 is brimming with furniture, colour, sound and style, according to the auction house's Modern Design head Anna Grassham.

"The most exciting piece graces the catalogue cover," she says. "This is the Sonic Chair designed in 2007 by Frank Hussong, Daniela Reuter and Michael Kientzler and manufactured by Produktdesign Fritzlar – Holger Fritzlar."