Mossgreen

A set of 10 watercolours dating from about 1813 and depicting the customs and rituals of New South Wales Aborigines is a major highlight of the three-day auction of the remarkable Denis Joachim collection from 2pm Sunday June 19 by Mossgreen at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

A 1924 Bentley 3-litre Vanden Plas ‘Le Mans’ style tourer will be the most expensive attraction at Mossgreen’s forthcoming Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia auction from 3pm Sunday June 19 at 935 High Street, Armadale.

The car, which carries a catalogue estimate of $270,000-$300,000, was built between 1994 and 1999 for Geoff Venn by Rod Warrener and the engine – a genuine 1924 3-litre number AP325 – assembled during the 1980s by Jim Duncan.

The new chassis was made by Julian Ghosh and the rest of the parts are original.

The auction of estate photographs by renowned Australian photographer Max Dupain (1911-1992) from noon Sunday June 19 will earmark the official opening of Mossgreen’s new Sydney premises at Woollahra.

Housed in the Bond, the iconic 1880s heritage building and former Masonic Hall at 36-40 Queen Street in the heart of Sydney’s art district, Mossgreen is situated on all three levels and will focus on the auction of single owner collections and gallery exhibitions – the first of which is a commercial display of works by New Zealand 2017 Venice Biennale representative Lisa Reihana.

Aboriginal art works from the Helen Read collection are a major highlight of Mossgreen’s annual Australian Indigenous and Oceanic Art auction from 6.30pm Monday June 6 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

For the past three decades, Helen Read has worked to promote a better understanding of Australian indigenous art, people and culture.

Combining her three passions for art, people and aviation, Read established Palya Art which, through tours and exhibitions, aims to highlight the importance, diversity and richness of Australian indigenous culture.

Auction goers will have the opportunity to see the late Suzanne Cecil’s personal collection at her magnificent Toorak home for more than two days before Mossgreen transfers all the items to its rooms at 926-930 High Street, Armadale for auction from 2.30pm Sunday May 15.

Descended from Henry Buck – one of Melbourne’s most distinguished and recognised family names – Sue was actively involved in the family retail business, but had a lifelong passion for painting and the arts.

Although he won his last race 85 years ago before dying tragically from suspected poisoning, Phar Lap is still regarded as the most famous racehorse in Australian history.

Now, a unique collection of racing programs portraying much of Phar Lap’s racing career, will be auctioned from 9.30am Tuesday May 10 by Mossgreen at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

The collection belongs to Californian Gary Madeiros who grew up near Menlo Park, where Phar Lap died, and was always fascinated by his story.

Mossgreen’s head of Australian art Frances Lindsay highlights the opening lot – John Brack’s Cold Figure 1960 – as an example of the quality of the sale in the lead up to the company’s two-day fine Australian and International Art auction from 6.30pm on Monday May 2 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

“The painting has all the characteristics that make Brack a wonderful artist including his ability to capture the essence of humanity,” she said.

In this work, he depicts a thin woman dressed in several layers of jumpers with a scarf snugly encircling her neck.

Intrepid adventurer John Fisher would have been right at home in earlier times when men and women took on almost insurmountable challenges and pushed the boundaries of human endeavour in a quest to explore unknown worlds.

Instead this entrepreneur, pilot, philanthropist and avid aviation collector undertook extreme exploits in a modern day environment to satisfy his desire for an adrenalin rush.

His aviation collection will be auctioned from noon Sunday April 30 at Maryborough Café Gallery, Maryborough Railway Station in Station Street, Maryborough Victoria.

When Mossgreen’s head of international and decorative arts Jenny Gibson climbs the podium at 4pm Sunday April 17 to start the company’s first three-day International Decorative Arts auction, it will signal a new era in its auctioneering procedures – the inaugural evening-day sales.

These replace the former quarterly sales and will be held three times a year – April/May, July/August and November.

The forthcoming auction of paintings from the late Joy Warren’s estate in Canberra’s Albert Hall should engender plenty of interest among art lovers Australia wide.

A larger than life figure who dedicated her life to the arts as a performer, fundraiser, publicist and patron, she and her husband Bob established the Solander Gallery in the national capital to provide a venue for the promotion and exhibition of artists works she admired.