AUSTRALIAN & HISTORICAL
Including the Edward Clark collection of original artworks, photographs and posters by or depicting BARRY HUMPHRIES and works from the private collection of Willi & Kevin Carney (Borough Galleries).
Categories
Session One
Saturday 24th May, 2025 – 10.00am, AEST.
001-121 Silver
122-162 Convict Era
163-230 Scrimshaw and Maritime
231-382 Pottery
383-414 Glass
415-526 General
527-589 Furniture
590-620 Goldfields
621-728 Jewellery
729-773 Railways & Trams
Session Two
Sunday 25th May, 2025 – 10.00am, AEST.
774-908 Military
909-919 Politics
920-948 Maps
949-1096 Books & Historical Documents
1097-1103 Postcards
1104-1122 Polar Exploration
1123-1194 Photographs
1195-1217 The Edward Clark Collection of Barry Humphries
1218-1238 Willi & Kevin Carney Collection
1239-1500 Paintings & Other Artworks
1501-1561 Wine
THE EDWARD CLARK COLLECTION OF BARRY HUMPHRIES
Many Australians have made their mark on the worlds stage but I can think of no one who has made a more significant contribution across a wide range of artistic endeavours than John Barry Humphries. He created many memorable comedic characters including Dame Edna Everage, Sir Les Patterson, Sandy Stone and Lance Boyle, to name a few.
When I opened my first antique shop in 1964 he was one of my first customers. Barry gave me valuable advice on the decorative arts when I began my buying trips to London and Europe. I acted for him at many of the worlds prestigious auction rooms, finding several valuable paintings to add to his now famous collection. He reminded me on many occasions that I would be richly rewarded in the next life.
This auction features many theatrical posters from his successful Australian and international performances over many decades. Barry loved his “en plein air” painting excursions, often referring to himself as a Sunday painter.
I held an exhibition of Barry’s landscape paintings at my Golden Crust Gallery in Armadale in 1989. A number of Barry’s early works are represented in this collection, including:
- The original Willie Weeties painting and four “Bigscapes” shown at his first exhibition at Kym Bonython’s Sydney Gallery in 1968.
- A major landscape painted at Lorne accompanied by two photographs of the artist executing this work taken by Rennie Ellis.
- A series of four portraits by famed British/Australian photographer Lewis Morley OAM featuring, Barry, Edna, Les and Sandy.
This collection provides a glimpse into the diverse oeuvre of the comic genius that was John Barry Humphries.
Edward Clark, Melbourne 2025.
ARTWORKS FROM THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF WILLI AND KEVIN CARNEY (BOROUGH GALLERIES)
Borough Galleries was opened by Willi and Kevin Carney, in Eaglehawk, near Bendigo, in 1977. They held their last exhibition there in 2010.
Their intention, in establishing the gallery, was to bring nationally recognised artists to a regional gallery at a time when such artists could rarely be seen outside the major cities.
Some major exhibitions or sales included:
- May 1988 – Australia Furniture & Jewellery auction at Eaglehawk Town Hall, when Lord McAlpine was a major purchaser.
- August 1992 – Ladies in Waiting – 148 works of art by 94 women artists, including Ellen Bale, Lucy Beck Boyd, Ola Cohn, Elizabeth Durack and Nora Heysen.
- Also: Blackman – Olsen – Rankin – Lloyd Rees – Dickerson & Pugh.
If you have an important item or collection that you wish to feature in our next Australian & Historical auction, please do not hesitate to make an appointment for a complimentary appraisal. We would be delighted to hear from you.
Illustrated:
Lot 1217
RENNIE ELLIS (1940-2003),
Barry Humphries, 1981,
C-type photographic print,
certificate of authenticity verso,
27 x 40cm, 52 x 64cm overall.
Limited Liquor Licence: 90183912
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