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There was barely breathing space at Philips Auctions May Fine and Decorative Arts sale as hundreds of registered bidders competed strongly all day for the chance to pick up one of more than 550 quality value items.
Auctioneer Tony Philips, who has now presided over three highly successful auctions this year, believes auction goers are recognising that, when estimates are realistic, auctions are great places to obtain good value furniture and collectibles.
“The...
The Warren & Bunty Bonython collection sale was astounding following a marathon auction to a packed room in Adelaide on May 4.
The 889 lots of important oriental textiles, Australian art, Chinese and Asian art, furniture and antiques belonging to this prominent family made a total of $1,404,617 including BP - against a pre-sale estimate of $596,670.
The Bonython family was thrilled with the result for a collection over which members...
The Mossgreen Charles Blackman Fundraising Auction, to help pay for ongoing medical care for the ageing iconic Australian artist, surpassed all expectations on April 1 when all the 395 lots sold – most well above their catalogue estimates.
In all, more than $1 million (more than three times the pre-sale low estimate) was raised to help pay for Charles Blackman’s carers as a packed auction room bid enthusiastically for each Blackman creation from the artist’s private...
Princess cut diamond earrings weighing more than five carats each were the highlight of Sotheby’s Australia April 1 jewellery sale, changing hands for $146,400 in an auction that totalled more than $1 million.
It was the first time the company had held an auction at its new premises in 41 Exhibition Street, Melbourne.
The auction realized 74 per cent by volume and 58 per cent by value and diamonds continued to prove popular with bidders.
A pair of...
Auction goers took Philips Auctions March sale by storm from the moment auctioneer Tony Philips stepped onto the podium.
He no sooner declared Lot 1 – a small 1889 Victorian pocket barometer – available for sale than bidding became frenetic.
What was estimated in the catalogue to bring $40-$50 was knocked down for $500 (or $590 when the buyers premium is included).
And it didn’t stop there. Two lots later, an 1860s Victorian mother-of-pearl and...
Philips Auctions first sale for the year on February 16 has had mixed results with most quality items selling well above expectations while others struggled to reach lower estimates.
Typical of the good results was a 19th century Victorian carved emu egg and silver plated epergne which sold for $2124 (including buyers premium) against an upper estimate of $1500, while an antique European after Carcassi violin changed hands for $4012.
An early 1900s...
A massive diamond weighing 4.32 carats and handset in an 18-carat yellow and white gold ring sold for a healthy hammer price of $28,000 at Amanda Addams Auctions February 3 sale.
Similarly, a handmade 18-carat white gold tanzanite and diamond pendant weighing 49.30 carats was knocked down for $24,000.
Both carried respective insurance valuations of $115,700 and $119,500.
Art fared reasonably well with Sir Sidney Nolan’s Shakespeare Sonnet oil on...
Amanda Addams first auction for 2014 on January 6 was significant for the number of people (many of whom were holidaymakers) who simply walked off the street for the first time to attend the sale.
Highlights were an 18-carat yellow gold ring with a 3.97-carat rose old cut diamond, which sold for $11,000, and David Boyd’s The Goddess of Beauty that went under the hammer for $9500.
Another of his paintings Children with White Cockatoo sold for $...
The quality of the stock combined with the in house setting was more than sufficient to have buyers rushing to E.J Ainger’s disposal of the prestigious Conroy collection in their Toorak home on December 8.
David and Judith Conroy were well known for their close friendship with antiques expert and dealer Bill Johnston, who appointed David executor of his will and trustee of the W.R Johnston Trust.
When Bill died suddenly in 1986 (aged76) while on a trip to...
White diamonds of premium colour and clarity continue to be in high demand with the notable sale of two pairs of diamond studs (lots 72 and 187), which sold respectively for $58,560 including buyers premium (IBP) and $79,300 IBP at Sotheby’s Australia December 3 Sydney jewellery sale that totalled $1,407,832 IBP.
Both items were supported by Gemological Institute of America (GIA) reports stating their colour and clarity of the highest standards, with lot 72 boasting...
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