Submitted by aarAdmin on Thu, 12/09/2021 - 00:00
A John Kendrick Blogg wooden panel depicting a eucalyptus branch (lot 169) brought the top price of a more than double its estimate $135,000 at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions December 7 sale of Gary and Genevieve Morgan’s – of Morgan Gallup Poll fame – extensive Australiana collection.
The Morgans are an important part of Australia’s heritage with Gary’s father Roy, who was educated at Brighton and Melbourne Grammars, establishing the best known market research company in the country.
Their East Melbourne home is a living museum to Australian artworks, sculptures, pottery, wood carvings and furnishings.
A rare colonial Tasmanian circa 1835 Huon pine breakfast table (lot 135) filled second spot at $76,000, followed closely by John William Lewin’s (1770-1819) circa 1812 watercolour entitled Ptilinopus Magnficus (Wompoo Pigeon) (lot 192) on $75,000.
A bonanza result was achieved for lot 203 – Constance Tempe Manning’s (1896-1960) The Reflection, Self Portrait – which sold for $60,000 on a $3000-$5000 catalogue estimate.
Another Australian colonial breakfast made from a single butt cut slab of cedar (lot 106) also impressed, changing hands for $37,000, while a stunning early colonial (circa 1825) chest of drawers (lot 110) brought $26,000 – the same price as an early 20th century Robert Prenzel wooden fire screen (lot 150) with carved kookaburras, gum blossoms, leaves and waratahs.
One of Australia’s well-known modern painters Clifton Pugh (1924-1990) featured in the top 10 with his work Dialan and his Birds 1957 (lot 208) at $21,000 with Charles Rolando’s (1844-1893) landscape Upper Yarra (lot 193), signed and dated 1885, a solid $17,000.
An impressive colonial sterling silver and emu egg centrepiece (lot 176) rounded out the top 10 with a $12,000 result.
The ceramics section of the collection also performed well with several pieces bringing more than $10,000 including lots 59 and 61, both circa 1936 works by Margaret Mahood and each selling for $12,000.
A superb William Ricketts pottery teapot made for the 1934 Melbourne centennial exhibition (lot 84) was another solid performer at $10,000, along with a Castle Harris pottery vase (lot 48 - $11,000).
