Rare Australian paintings hit auction market aftere 40 years

Art collectors and enthusiasts will have a rare opportunity to obtain paintings not seen on the Australian secondary market for more than 40 years when Melbourne-based Phil Caldwell begins an online auction of major investment and decorator art pieces from 11am Sunday October 16 at his new showrooms at 36A Hartnett Drive, Seaford.

The list reads like Australian artist royalty and includes names such as Arthur Streeton, Albert Tucker, Charles Blackman, David Boyd, Sidney Nolan, John Glover, Hugh Sawrey, Septimus Power, James R. Jackson, Jan Scheltema, Chris Canning, Weaver Hawkins, Ernest Buckmaster, Percy Lindsay and Leonard Long – some of which have been in collections such as the Yates family and the Damian Moloney estate for many years.

At $35,0000-$70,000, the highest estimate painting is John Glover’s (1767-1849) Moonlight Rider (Bridge Near Dunkeld, Perthshire) c1800-1810 (lot 26).

Hugh Sawrey’s (1919-1999) The Shirt and Tie Bloke in the Kogan Creek Hotel, Condamine Highway, S.W. Queensland (lot 30) is a magnificent gallery size oil on canvas with a $25,000-$40,000 estimate.

Once on show at C.V. Jones Gallery in Ballarat, Albert Tucker’s (1914-1999) Parrots in the Forest (lot 38) is another work worth examining while David Boyd’s (1924-2011) The Children of Spring (lot 35) is not to be missed.

Arthur Streeton (1867-1943) can always be relied on for top quality work and Still Life with Fruit and Flowers (lot 40) – once at the Earl Gallery with the original 1982 purchase receipt attached) – with a catalogue estimate of $40,000-$60,000 is no exception.

Other paintings worth considering include Ernest Buckmaster’s (1897-1968) Cleaning the Family Brass (lot 37) – a large oil painting which shows his wife cleaning the brass and is illustrated in The Art of Ernest Buckmaster sand exhibited at the Queens Hall Exhibition with an accompanying letter from Norman Buckmaster.

Percy Lindsay (1870-1952) also is on show with Creswick Farm (lot 44) along with Leonard Long’s (1911-2013) Forest Country, Wee Jasper Mountain, NSW (lot 45) and Frank Barnes Wariweo Ship 21-10-1899 (lot 48), a fine large antique oil on canvas.

Online viewing and bidding at www.fineauctions.biz. Viewing also by appointment. Enquiries 0414 689 937 or 0411 529 414.