Gibsons Auctions

Ongoing Victorian COVID-19 lockdown restrictions have not prevented Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions from holding its Winter Auction Series which features the collection of leading Melbourne socialite the late Billie Tyrrell, whose former Naval lieutenant husband Harry founded National Can Industries.

Born in 1924 in Malvern, Billie spent most of her early life at Katanga, an elegant home designed by famous architect Harold Desbrowe-Annear for her prominent lawyer father Wesley Armstrong Ince.

When George Gyori arrived in 1957 in Australia as a 19-year-old Hungarian refugee courtesy of the Red Cross, he probably never believed that he would end up with a massive collection of Australian, maritime and exploration memorabilia – let alone clocks, watches and the tools with which to make them.

George trained as an engineer and in 1963 started his own general engineering business. However, he had always had a hankering for wristwatches that his Hungarian family could never afford.

Trevor Kennedy, former journalist and right-hand man to Australian media tycoon the late Kerry Packer, is auctioning much of his colonial furniture, silver and other collectables collection through Gibson’s Auctions over two days from 12pm Sunday June 20 (live auction) and from 10am Monday June 21 (an online sale) at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

The auction has been delayed by two weeks due to Victoria’s current COVID-19 lockdown – the fourth in 15 months – which has now been extended by another seven days in Melbourne until 11.59pm Thursday June 10.

As Melbourne enters its fourth COVID-19 lockdown in 15 months – this one hopefully only for seven days – fine and decorative arts auction houses are once more in online mode, both for viewing and bidding.

This is certainly true for Gibson’s Auctions sale, entitled The Autumn Emporium, which ends from 10am Monday May 31 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

The auction comprises 464 lots – many of them very affordable for first time buyers – and covering such categories as art, porcelain, ceramics, sculptures, furniture and other collectables.

Chinese antiquities such as a rare 19^th century late Qing dynasty cinnabar lacquer table screen (lot 23) are among the higher value items at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions forthcoming Autumn Auction Series sale from 11am Sunday May 16 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

Australian artist Fred Williams (1927-1982) is one of the highlights at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions forthcoming Australian & International Art auction from 2pm Sunday April 18 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

The work on offer, a 1968 gouache on paper entitled Desert Landscape (lot 14) with a solid provenance and part of his 2011 National Gallery of Australia exhibition called Infinite Horizons, while nowhere near the money paid for one of his major paintings still has a healthy $30,000-$50,000 catalogue estimate.

A circa 1900 twin handled opalescent and enamelled glass vase titled ‘Tempus Stellae’ (lot 54) by French artist Émile Gallé (1846-1904) is one of the major highlights at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions Interiors sale from 11am Sunday March 28 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

Gibson’s Auctions kicks off its Spring Auction Series from 12pm Sunday November 29 with a Melbourne-based private collection of Chinese and Asian ceramics and works of art including a Han Dynasty green glazed pottery ‘hill’ jar and cover (lot 1) similar to one sold in September 2018 by Sotheby’s New York.

A Tang-style painted figure of horse (lot 2) is another highlight along with a Song Dynasty russet-splashed black glazed bowl (lot 3).

Two important collections are among offerings at Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions forthcoming Australian, Maritime & Exploration online sale from 11am Sunday November 8 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

One is from keen maritime and nautical collector the late Bob Munro, who owned several CBD properties, and the other belongs to antiquarian bookseller Kay Craddock.

Bob’s auction collection is a reflection of his lifelong interest in antiques, maritime watercolours and oil paintings, ship model and beautiful objects.

Affordable art and the chance for first time collectors to buy works from name artists are important highlights for Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions as they continue to offer online auction possibilities to auction goers at a time when the city continues to be locked down with COVID-19 restrictions.

The company’s Australian & International Art auction will be live streamed from 12pm Sunday October 25 with buyers able to bid online, over the phone or by an absentee bid.