Submitted by aarAdmin on Thu, 08/14/2025 - 00:00
Collectors feasted on Part Two of Morgan Gallup Poll boss Gary Morgan and his wife Genevieve’s museum collection of artworks, sculptures, pottery, wood carvings and furnishings organised by Melbourne-based Leski Auctions on August 12.
The collection at their East Melbourne home is a living celebration of their decades-long passion for collecting significant items that reflect two centuries of family history in Australia.
Top billing went to well-known Australian artist John Perceval’s (1923-2000) “Angel” pottery bust 1958 (lot 117) which sold for $38,000 hammer price, while his hand painted tile top coffee table (lot 118) brought $9500.
Perceval was the last surviving member of a group known as the Angry Penguins who during the 1940s redefined Australian art.
An 1890 painting of Sandringham Beach on Port Phillip Bay (lot 204) by Leon (Sonny) Pole (1871-1951) was a strong performer, selling for $24,000.
A mirror frame carved with angels, grapes and foliate motifs (lot 155) by probably Australia’s most famous wood carver Robert Prenzel (1866-1941) was another outstanding result at $17,000 on a $6000-$10,000 catalogue estimate – and the importance of provenance was rammed home when a 19th century Australian cedar secretaire bookcase (lot 165) made by Melbourne manufacturer George Thwaites but originally owned by Irish judge Sir Redmond Barry (1813-1880) sold for $16,000.
Sir Redmond was instrumental in founding several key Melbourne institutions including the University of Melbourne and the State Library Victoria.
A rare Castle Harris pottery tree stump vase encircled by a bearded dragon (lot 79) showed how much his works are treasured by collectors when it went under the hammer for $13,000 – and Melbourne painter Henry Gritten (1818-1873) finished among the top 10 results with a painting of the Yarra River (lot 199) that brought $9000.
Another artist Samuel Thomas Gill (1818-1880), famous for his early colonial works, featured with a $10,000 figure for Kangaroo Stalking (lot 198).
Perceval had a third entry in the top 10 with Poppies in the Wheatfield (lot 211) which brought $8500, while an early colonial Australian cedar sofa table changed hands for $7500.
