Leading Australian artists a collector bonus in timed online auction

Brett Whiteley, John Brack, Albert Tucker, Ray Crooke,Tim Storrier, John Coburn, John Olsen and Garry Shead are among Australia’s leading mainly modern artists whose works feature in Deutscher and Hackett’s timed online Modern, Contemporary, Indigenous and Traditional Melbourne art auction ending from 7pm October 10 at 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra.

The highest catalogue estimate, at $60,000-$80,000, is Shead’s The Presence II, 1992 (lot 19) followed by Storrier’s Cherry Bar and Smoke, 1998 (lot 7) at $28,000-$35,000.

Crooke’s Islanders (lot 5) at $25,000-$35,000 is a worthwhile collector’s piece, while Brack’s Study for ‘The Mertz Nude’ 1965 (lot 18) at $20,000-$30,000 is a departure from his more traditional precise, straight line figures.

Albert Tucker devotees should find his Ibis Over Waterhole, c1973 (lot 6) much to their liking and for Brett Whiteley enthusiasts two colour screenprints entitled Lavender Bay in the Rain, 1987 and Sydney Harbour Bridge, 1977 (lots 1 and 2) are compulsory viewing.

Coburn is another highly collectable artist with two works in the auction – Spring Garden, 1971 (lot 4) and Embleme, c1968 (lot 8).

An interesting work is Peter Powditch’s Maroubra Olympics, 1968 (lot 3) which carries a $20,000-$30,000 catalogue estimate.

Other entries include Olsen’s bronze sculpture entitled Leaping Frog, 2004-05 (lot 15), William Robinson’s hand painted and glazed stoneware creation called Lifesaver and Bodybuilder, 1997 (lot 14) and Robert Owen’s painted steel structure Model for Axiom #1, 1999 (lot 16).

Joy Hester’s pencil and ink on paper work entitled Two women c1941 (lot 17) is an eye-catching interesting creation that originally was part of well-known Melbourne artist the late Mirka Mora’s restaurateur husband Georges estate.

Settler’s Hut, Broome, 1967 (lot 20) – once part of the Melbourne’s Joseph Brown Gallery collection – is an intriguing work, while Sidney Nolan, famous for his Ned Kelly paintings, has three entries all entitled Shark, 1970-72 (lots 26-28) that are ink, dye and wax crayon on paper creations.

One of Australia’s leading landscape artists Fred Williams has four works (lots 45-48) respectively entitled Hillside II and Hillside Number 1, both painted in 1965-66, Forest, 1958 and Sherbrooke Forest Number 1, 1961.

 Viewing:

Sydney: 9am-5.30pm Friday October 6, 36 Gosbell Street, Paddington

Melbourne: 9am-5.30pm Monday October 9-Tuesday October 10, 105 Commercial Road, South Yarra