AUSTRALIAN & HISTORICAL
Contents
Session One (Lots 1 – 670)
Saturday 3rd December 10.00am AEDT
001-160 Pottery
161-242 Scrimshaw and Maritime
243-260 Convicts & Bushrangers
261-282 Goldfields
283-388 Jewellery
389-419 Silver
420-514 Furniture
515-518 Prime Ministers & Politics
519-642 General
643-652 Radios
653-670 Glass
Session Two (Lots 671 – 1277)
Sunday 4th December 10.00am AEDT
671-725 Military
726-734 Maps
735-747 Polar Exploration
748-851 Books & Historical Documents
852-855 Autographs
856-856 Postcards
857-871 Posters
872-900 Photographs
901-1266 Paintings & Other Artworks
1267-1277 Australian Wines
Just a few highlights for you to consider, before you start at your favourite section.
The Australian Pottery section (Lots 1 – 160) begins the sale, with a very colourful and artistic first session. We are delighted to have recently discovered the Victoria Art Pottery vase (Lot 1) in the dusty corner of a garage, and the equally stunning and rare vase by Alan Finlay (Lot 13) which has been “hidden” in a local private collection for many years.
Lots 249 and 250 take us deep into the area of Australia’s convict past, with the 18ct gold pocket watch presented to George Brown, former Chief District Constable of Van Diemen’s Land (Lot 249) “on his leaving the Colony”, and (Lot 250) being a beautiful suite of sterling silver items presented to Captain Alured Tasker Faunce in 1840 by the inhabitants of Queanbeyan and District “in appreciation of his conduct as Police Magistrate”.
Are you looking for a gift at this time of year? Is Jewellery on your mind? You can’t go past the stunning Art Deco diamond ring (Lot 310a) or diamond brooch (Lot 310b) which you will find in the particularly rich Jewellery section, (Lots 283 – 388).
(Lot 389), the silver-gilt prize-fighter’s belt that begins the Silver section of the sale (Lots 389 – 419) is also one of the most significant sporting memorabilia pieces we have had the pleasure to offer you this year. What a story it tells! And what a fascinating history emerged as we unfolded the layers of its’ history. We hope you enjoy the lengthy write-up.
The lost art of wax profile portraiture is magnificently illustrated by a rare pair of portraits created by Theresa Walker, Australia’s first female sculptor, (Lots 519 and 520). The portraits of Dr. William Bedford and Governor Charles Fitzroy are presented in their original Australian timber frames. We think you’ll find them as stunning as we did.
The Military section (Lots 671 – 725), which begins the Sunday session, is particularly noteworthy. Among the highlights are an EGYPT Medal with SUAKIN 1885 clasp, awarded to “1205. GUN: J. CROMBIE. N.S.W. ARTY (Lot 686) who was part of the New South Wales Contingent sent to SUDAN, in Australia’s first true foreign military engagement. (Lot 695) would be a highlight of ANY sale, being a previously unknown correspondence between John Monash and an “old flame”, Ada Benjamin. Incredibly, amongst the 11 letters, we found one written by Monash while he was stationed at Gallipoli. His letters appear to have evaded censorship as, in that hand-written letter he is moved to comment “…if I get out of this awful place alive & well,…I shall make every effort to see you….”. Written more than 100 years ago and especially powerful today. The Military Cross awarded to Captain John Harper (Lot 711) is also noteworthy, accompanied as it is, by other items from the Harper family.
Our Paintings & Other Artworks Session (Lots 901 – 1266) continues to attract many fine paintings, it could almost be a stand-alone Art Auction. Just consider the Helen Peters portrait (Lot 928), the Penleigh Boyd (Lot 937), the Arthur Streeton (Lot 960), the Charles Wheeler (Lot 962), the Sydney Long (Lot 964), the collection of John Hall Thorpes, in particular (Lots 978 and 983), the Ernest Buckmaster (Lot 1001), the magnificent Leonard French (Lot 1020), the Sam Fullbrooks (Lots 1030 and 1081), the Ray Crooke (Lot 1070), the remarkable pair of stamp designs by Brett Whiteley (Lot 1109), recently “discovered” and added to Whiteley’s catalogue raisonné, and so many more. Also worth mentioning are the artworks we are offering from the estate of The Late Joyce Evans (Lots 1184 – 1202) and also those from the collection of The Late Richard Chamerski (Lots 1203 – 1266).
Finally, some great Australian wines (Lots 1267 – 1277) to help you celebrate the New year!
While we are already hard at work on our first series of auctions for 2023, we look forward to helping you with your enquiries, visits and bids for this wonderful sale.
We wish you all a happy and healthy new year and look forward to hearing from you, whether you are thinking of buying, selling or both!