Mossgreen holds its most valuable art auction

Mossgreen will hold its highest ever value auction when works in its Fine Australian & International Art sale go under the hammer from 6.30pm Tuesday June 2 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

With a mid-estimate of more than $4 million, the auction features works from several important private collections including one of Australia’s greatest entrepreneurs Ian Gowrie-Smith who, as a passionate art collector, has been particularly fascinated by Brett Whiteley.

Several of Whiteley’s works are in the sale including Study for Her 1975 – a rare bronze sculpture that exudes the sinuosity of the artist’s finest beach paintings. Another is Young Kookaburra Taking its First Laugh which captures teh essence of Australia's larrikin bird.

Dog’s Palace, Venice by Arthur Streeton, painted during the artist’s honeymoon with wife Nora, is another great work to feature in the sale.

From a private collection it has never been seen on the auction market.

Jeffrey Smart’s Conversation Piece 1997, belonging to a private Melbourne collector, also is bound to generate interest. One of the artist’s finest works, it has an outstanding exhibition history.

Another auction highlight is the The Suncorp Collection, which offers a fascinating insight into the modern and contemporary periods of Australian art history.

The collection includes the monumental Glasshouse Mountains Landscape with Poinciana by Lawrence Daws the lush Native Figure by Waterfall, Fiji by Ray Austin Crooke, Albert Tucker’s vivid Magpie in Landscape and the sensitive renditions of Shoalhaven by Arthur Boyd.  

Also included is the collection of the late Peter Elliott - one of national importance and featuring rare Chinese and Asian ceramics and works of art, an exceptional group of Oceanic and tribal arts and European antiques.