ISSUE THIRTYSEVEN / MARCH 2015
OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES
Reasonable or unreasonable?
Geddes, Wilcox Lissauer Collections
Upcoming Auctions Fine Art, Jewellery, Jewels & Objets D’Art
IN SITU, OR NOT IN SITU? That is the single owner auction question.
THE SINGLE OWNER EDITION
MELBOURNE / SYDNEY
Leonard is published 10 times a year by Leonard Joel. If you have any questions regarding Leonard please contact 03 9826 4333
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Cover The Mark Lissauer Collection Auction Sunday 31 May at 11am AN OLD IATMUL MWAI MASK 20TH CENTURY $3,000 - 5,000
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
MAY WE INTRODUCE OURSELVES Whether you have a single item, a focused collection or a complete house contents Leonard Joel has a team of specialists that can help you identify, value and market your property with a genuine focus on very tailored and personalised selling solutions. Robert Williams of our Sydney office, a specialist valuer in his own right, can also arrange meetings with our specialists either at our rooms in Woollahra or your home or office.
Leonard Joel Specialists
MANAGING DIRECTOR
JEWELLERY & PRE–OWNED LUXURY
ART
CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS
NATIONAL HEAD OF COLLECTIONS
John D’Agata, National Head of Jewellery
Sophie Ullin, Head of Art
SINGLE OWNER COLLECTIONS
John Albrecht, Managing Director
& Sydney Office
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5609
Guy Cairnduff, Head of Classic Furniture & Objects
& Head of Collections
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5605
Email sophie.ullin@leonardjoel.com.au
& Head of The Specialist Collector
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5619
Email john.dagata@leonardjoel.com.au
Phone +61 (0) 3 8825 5611 Email guy.cairnduff@leonardjoel.com.au
Email john.albrecht@leonardjoel.com.au
SPECIALIST JEWELS & OBJETS D’ART
MODERN DESIGN
BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS
JEWELLERY
& SINGLE OWNER COLLECTIONS
Anna Grassham, Specialist, Modern Design
Chiara Curcio, Specialist, Classic Furniture
Robert Haigh, Manager, Senior Jewellery Specialist
Robert Williams, Sydney Representative
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5637
& Objects, Books and Manuscripts
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5618
Phone + 61 (0) 2 9362 9045
Email anna.grassham@leonardjoel.com.au
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5635
Email robert.haigh@leonardjoel.com.au
Email chiara.curcio@leonardjoel.com.au
Email robert.williams@leonardjoel.com.au
COLLECTIBLES
ACCOUNTS
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGNER
Tae Schmeisser
Susan Saunders, Head of Finance & Administration
Monique Le Grand
Rick Merrie
Maria Rossi
Specialist Vintage Toys/Monthly Toys
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5603
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5620
Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5625
Email susan.saunders@leonardjoel.com.au
Email monique.legrand@leonardjoel.com.au
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SYDNEY
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By Appointment
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39 Queen Street,
South Yarra, Victoria 3141
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Australia
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CONTENTS
WHERE CAN I FIND LEONARD? MARCH CONTENTS PRE OWNED LUXURY 2 FOREWORD 3 NEWS 4 CALENDAR 5 THE GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES RELOCATION AUCTION 6 JEWELS & OBJETS D’ART SYDNEY 8 FINE JEWELLERY 10 FINE ART 12 CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS 14 SINGLE OWNER COLLECTIONS 15 THE MARK LISSAUER COLLECTION 16 DREWEATTS & BLOOMSBURY 18 MODERN DESIGN 20 VAULT 21 If you have enjoyed Leonard and would like to stay up to date with our auctions and events you can collect a copy from our South Yarra and Woollahra offices at the start of every month. But don’t delay as copies run out quickly!
THIS MONTH LEONARD WILL BE MAILED TO DOUBLE BAY IN NSW & TOORAK IN VIC THINKING OF SELLING? FROM VALUABLE SINGLE ITEMS TO ENTIRE COLLECTIONS If you have a single item or collection you wish to sell, the Leonard Joel team of specialists can guide you through the entire valuation and auction process. We can provide you with experts across all collecting fields, no less than thirteen categories of auction to select from and the most expansive calendar of catalogue auctions in Australia. Leonard Joel specialists conduct insurance and market valuations for the entire spectrum of clients - private collectors, corporations, museums, fiduciaries and government entities are advised by our valuers and specialists on a daily basis. Jewels & Objets D’Art Auction Sunday 8 March at 1pm 60 part
Valuation Enquiries | Melbourne 03 9826 4333
WILLIAM CHARLES PIGUENIT (1836-1914)
Sydney 02 9362 9045 | info@leonardjoel.com.au
Boat on a lake and Cattle by a Lake oil on canvas, 11.8 x 22.5cm (pair) $4,500 - 6,500
LEONARD
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MARCH
PRE OWNED LUXURY
A LOUIS VUITTON HAT BOX IN MONOGRAM CANVAS Sold for $4,026 IBP
OVERWHELMING LUXURYTHE MR JOEL BARLOW COLLECTION The year was 2013. Leonard Joel successfully tendered for the Mr Joel Barlow Collection, set for auction in Queensland on behalf of the Public Trustee. I had an inkling of what I was getting myself into when I saw the line of trucks that arrived at our auction venue in Brisbane to deliver the property for auction. After cataloguing, the auction boasted eight hundred and ten lots to be exact. You see, this was no ordinary sale and Mr. Barlow was no ordinary client. To begin with he was the biggest Louis Vuitton purchaser in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of his interior was furnished by Space Furniture and Mr. Barlow was a regular at Bang & Olufsen where all of his acoustic and visual needs were met. At the auction his Bang & Olufsen ‘Beovision’ 4 85” television sold for a staggering $67,000.00 IBP. It was the most sought-after item in the auction, as it was fully packaged, never used, and still under full warranty, waiting at the Bang & Olufsen warehouse for collection. The madness of the auction brought outstanding results as everyone wanted a piece of the action. Many items, especially Vuitton, sold for double and triple their retail price in the selling frenzy. Leather goods and accessories were offered that were not normally available to the general public from Vuitton’s ‘Runway’ & ‘Bespoke’ collections. One client, who didn’t realize her good fortune,
claimed that she was sold counterfeit goods, only to be proven wrong by Louis Vuitton’s meticulous sale records proving that she had actually purchased items that some of us could only dream of owning. Highlights of this single owner collection were plentiful. A custom made Louis Vuitton surfboard sold for $7,900.00 IBP, a Hermes saddle for $7,900.00 IBP, a Steinbeck ebony baby grand $19,500.00 IBP, a cased bottle of 2002 Cristal champagne $5,100.00 IBP and a full size stallion lamp designed by Front Sweden $7,900.00 IBP. The beauty of this type of auction was that clients were able to acquire items that they would not normally be able to own or in some cases, afford. On the other hand, cashed-up purchasers bid hard and purchased at any cost luxury items that they could not live without. This is the power of the single owner collection - it puts things into perspective, with higher priced items giving lower priced items relevance and context. The purchaser buys into a lifestyle, which in turn, gives items from the collection being sold a new lease on life. By John D’Agata
Enquiries Amanda Saini Jewellery & Luxury Assistant (03) 8825 5645 amanda.saini@leonardjoel.com.au
PRE-OWNED LUXURY AUCTION THURSDAY 14 MAY 2015 MARCH
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LEONARD
FOREWORD
OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES – REASONABLE OR UNREASONABLE? Three questions every single-owner should where the collection is voluminous but of low with the single-owner auction in question. A a handful of collections at Leonard Joel that ask their prospective auctioneer
overall value. What constitutes “adequate transparent auction house will discuss these couldn’t be handled without the application
Single-owner collectors considering selling coverage” and “reasonableness” is something with you, identify them accurately and be of out of pocket expenses and from my should be well abreast of the nature and that both a vendor and a seller could debate happy to confirm for you their fair value. Fair experience, collections in the $300,000 plus reasonableness of out of pocket expenses (let’s interminably but for the sake of getting to the value should be no more than cost plus 10% so range, very rarely require the supplement of call them OPE) in the context of proposed point of this article let’s agree that vendor be very circumspect when you are presented OPE from the seller. Vendors unwilling to pay fee arrangements. When considering fee commission should cover the costs of the with, say, a quote for a $40,000 catalogue bill a fair commission rate or wanting to spend arrangements one should think about not auction and that the buyer’s premium (or with the exclamation that it is “crucial to the too much on the marketing and management just the proposed commission rate but also the bulk of it) should fairly be retained by success of the auction!” Before you get blown of their collection aside, OPE is overused the buyer’s premium the auction house the auctioneer as profit. After all, that was away by your convincing auctioneer please and not well enough understood by singlewill be receiving. Generally speaking the the rationale for the global introduction of ask two further questions. Firstly ask “is that owner collectors in the Australian market application of OPE is reasonable when the buyer’s premium in the late 1980s. So the first a competitive price?” and secondly ask, “Is place. At Leonard Joel we pride ourselves on vendor commission charged and the buyer’s question for any prospective seller should there a margin attached to that price?” These our transparent and competitive approach to premium received do not adequately cover be “isn’t the proposed selling commission questions should then be applied to every costing single-owner collections and I invite the costs of executing the dispersal and the enough to cover the costs of the auction?” If line item of the proposed OPE, questions not single-owners to explore this discussion profit margin required by the auction house the answer is yes you have negotiated away being asked enough in single-owner circles with me or the fine art and antiques industry - in this sense OPE should only be accepted any additional charges – congratulations! But that should be. If more single-owner sellers in general. as a supplement to an inadequate vendor if the answer is no then ask for an explanation asked these questions it would create greater commission rather than a “margin grab” on of the differential. With that out of the way transparency in a notoriously opaque market behalf of the auctioneer. A simple example I want to now look at expenses in a little place and would ensure sellers a more where OPE could be reasonably applied is more detail which are all the costs associated competitive environment. I can think of only
JOHN ALBRECHT MANAGING DIRECTOR & NATIONAL HEAD OF COLLECTIONS
LEONARD
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MARCH
NEWS
NAIVE ART
AUCTI ON THURS D AY 19 M A R C H AT 2P M
CHARLES CALLINS Rose Bloom Children’s Hairdressing Salon 1966 oil on board, 47 x 42.5cm $4,000 - 6,000
SELBY WARREN The Man from Snowy River oil on board, 76 x 100cm $2,500 – 4,500
THE INNOCENT EYE The innocent unworldly naïve artist is of course untainted by the academic rigours and intellectualism engendered in the art school academies.
Australia too has over its short history, had many naïve, innocent artists; too many to name in this brief note. But within this survey of works to be auctioned by Leonard Joel are the celebrated names that we collectors and artists see all to rarely; Roma Higgins, Selby Warren, Perle Hessing, Sam Byrne, Charles Callins and Matilda Lister to name a few.
This aspect is the key appeal for us others as artists, collectors and institutions. Naïve artists possess and harness an imaginative, creative inner life that spans heaven on earth through to the vicissitudes of tougher times.
I have lived with my collection of Naïve Australian art for much of my working life as an artist; the works have proved so satisfying in their charm and innocent beauty. I have learned so much from their unschooled splendour.
In many respects Naïve art owes its emergence into the limelight through the keen interest and high regard key 20th century artists had for the genre. The genius Pablo Picasso discovered the essentially self-taught 19th century artist, Henri Rousseau, renowned for his dream-like masterpieces and considered the Father of Naive art.
Murray Walker
Enquiries Maggie Skelton Manager, Vintage Interiors Art (03) 8825 5630 / maggie.skelton@leonardjoel.com.au
The avant-garde Surrealists too were drawn to the concept of innocence embodied by the naïve artist. However perhaps it was the highly original artist Jean Dubuffet, who was the greatest ambassador of naïve art (and the closely related outsider art as well) who recalibrated art world views that saw it as folk art to redefine it as fine art.
THE FINKELSTEIN NUGGET This gold nugget, weighing 586.5gms, was found by Anne Finkelstein on her 81st birthday with a gold and metal detector. This extraordinary nugget was found on the 22nd of November 2014 75km north of Kalgoorlie. $50,000 - $80,000
Enquiries Robert Haigh Manager, Senior Jewellery Specialist (03) 8825 5628 robert.haigh@leonardjoel.com.au
MARCH
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LEONARD
CALENDAR
INTRODUCING
FORTHCOMING AUCTIONS
PETR IT A BA ZI
The Vintage Interiors Auction Every Thursday Furniture & Interiors – 10am Jewellery & Wristwatches – 10.30am Art – 11.30am Books – 12pm Objects & Collectibles – 12pm
Leonard Joel is pleased to announce the appointment of Petrit Abazi as the latest addition to its expanding Fine Art Department. As Senior Researcher and
BID LIVE ONLINE
333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Art Specialist, Petrit brings with him over a decade of experience in both the commercial and academic art sectors,
Specialist Rug Auction
having worked with major auction houses in
Thursday 5th March 2015 – 2pm
Australia and curated numerous exhibitions
333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
internationally. In 2014 he received firstclass honours for his MA thesis on the
Jewels & Objets D’Art Auction Including The Wilcox Collection
exhibition and reception of Australian art in London in the nineteenth century. Petrit’s
Sunday 8th March 2015 – 1pm
research interests focus on, though are not
SYDNEY AUCTION
InterContinental 33 Cross St, Double Bay, Sydney NSW
limited to, Australian and European art from this period.
Monthly Toy Auction Thursday 12th March 2015 – 12pm
When asked to share his thoughts in his favourite work in the forthcoming March Fine
333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Art auction, Petrit had this to share: “The catalogue is replete with important and rare Australian artworks noteworthy for
Naive Art Auction
both their artistic and historical value. A striking highlight of the collection is a small
Thursday 19th March 2015 – 2pm
watercolour and ink drawing by the French artist J. Alphonse Pellion (1796-1868). A naval
333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
draughtsman, Pellion was one of three official artists aboard the Uraine, a scientificdiscovery corvette, navigated by Louis de Freycinet - the first man to publish a full outline
The Graham Geddes Antiques Relocation Auction Including Antiquities from the private collection of Graham Geddes
of the Australian coastline. The current work, Voyage à Bathurst, was painted in 1819, during Pellion’s five week William Lawson (whose modest house is seen at the centre of the composition), Pellion’s
Session I Saturday 21st March 2015 – 11am Session II Sunday 22nd March 2015 – 11am
voyage was only the fifth recorded crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans. His
877 High Street, Armadale, Melbourne, Victoria
sojourn in Sydney and its environs. Led by a group of native guides and pioneer explorer
SINGLE OWNER AUCTION
sketches and watercolours of the local Aborigines of the Nepean district are the earliest
Fine Jewellery Auction
known depictions by a foreign artist.
Monday 23rd March 2015 – 6pm Voyage à Bathurst is a singular record of the expedition which remained in the Baron de
333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Freycinet collection until at least the early 1960s. Leonard Joel is proud to be entrusted with the sale of this historically significant artwork - one of the very few extant works by
Fine Art Auction
Pellion still in private hands.”
Tuesday 24th March 2015 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Modern Design Auction Thursday 23rd April 2015 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Pre Owned Luxury Auction Thursday 14th May 2015 – 1pm 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Classic Furniture & Objects Auction Saturday 30th May 2015 – 11am 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
SINGLE OWNER AUCTION
The Mark Lissauer Collection Sunday 31st May 2015 – 11am 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Auctions and viewing times are subject to change.
J. ALPHONSE PELLION (1776-1868) Voyage à Bathurst (nouv. holl) une Vue de Prospect hill. maison de Camp de M. Lawson, 1819 watercolour and ink on paper, MONTGOLFIER watermark 19.8 x 27.6 cm $12,000 - 18,000
LEONARD
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MARCH
THE GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES RELOCATION AUCTION
THE GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES RELOCATION AUCTION In an industry renowned as much for its Since 1972, 877 High Street Armadale has Side Table, lot 230. An exquisite example Cuba at one time. It is this determination engaging personalities as the objects in been a focal point for local and international of Florentine Baroque-inspired giltwood and creativity which have become hallmarks which they trade, the transition of one its collectors of fine antiques, art and antiquities. furniture, the table is one of a pair which of Geddes’ entrepreneurship. Today, we are best known identities to a less direct role in It has also been the scene of riotous parties formed part of the original furnishings of the witnessing the successful transfer of this the business they have built gives pause for and philosophical debates, thanks to the stately English country manor, Mentmore family enterprise to the next generation, reflection.
gregarious – and at times mercurial - nature Towers, in Buckinghamshire, which were themselves seasoned in the operation of such
While it is almost unthinkable to imagine of the larger-than-life proprietor of the dispersed in a series of historic auctions a diverse business and bringing with them Graham Geddes withdrawing from the dealership. During this time, the footprint between the 18th and 27th May 1977.
the ideas and experience to continue Geddes’
antiques trade completely, the fact that the of the business has grown to encompass Its presence in Geddes’ collection is made all vision into the future. sprawling premises from which he has plied three palatial shop fronts with adjoining the more fascinating by the fact that he had The management and directors of Leonard his trade for over 40 years will shortly be galleries and workshops, housing a vast also previously owned the companion piece Joel are delighted to introduce clients both replaced by a residential development, brings inventory which has become renowned as an to the table, which was sold to a Melbourne new and existing to Graham Geddes’ unique a definite physical reality to the changes encyclopaedic catalogue of styles, spanning collector some years ago.
collection, which we view as an embodiment
afoot in one of Australia’s foremost antique Asian and European antiquities through to Geddes’ forays overseas in search of treasures of both his personality and his pursuit of dealerships: on 21-22 March, in association early European and English furniture and have not been limited to Europe and the his passions. We trust you will enjoy this with Dreweatts & Bloomsbury, London, the objects.
United Kingdom, though, with early sourcing opportunity to share in his journey.
collection will be sold by Leonard Joel and The international stature of Graham Geddes’ expeditions seeing him spend extended soon, Graham Geddes Antiques as we have collection and stock in trade is perhaps periods in exotic locales including Sri Lanka, known it will be changed forever.
best represented by The Mentmore Towers India, China and even owning property in
GUY CAIRNDUFF HEAD OF THE SPECIALIST COLLECTOR
The Graham Antiques Relocation Auction Saturday 21 March 2015, 11am Sunday 22 March 2015, 11am Preview & Auction Onsite 877 High Street, Armadale
MARCH
Preview Saturday 14 March 10am - 5pm Sunday 15 March 10am - 5pm Wednesday 18 March 9am - 8pm Thursday 19 March 9am - 8pm Friday 20 March 9am - 12pm
Enquiries Guy Cairnduff Head of the Specialist Collector (03) 8825 5611 / 0407 828 137 guy.cairnduff@leonardjoel.com.au
6
Live Bidding Available for our UK clients in Association with Dreweatts & Bloomsbury
LEONARD
THE GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES RELOCATION AUCTION
STREET FRONTAGE OF GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES, 877 HIGH STREET, ARMADALE. TO BE DEMOLISHED FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.
1295 A CHINESE DOUCAI-ENAMELLED ‘DUCK AND LOTUS’ BOWL, QING DYNASTY (1644-1911), UNDERGLAZE BLUE JIAQING SEALMARK AND OF THE PERIOD (1796-1820) $36,000 - 40,000
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33
1070
A LARGE AND IMPRESSIVE PAIR OF CHINESE
AN 18TH CENTURY SPANISH
AN IMPORTANT DUTCH 18TH CENTURY
BLUE AND WHITE PORCELAIN FLOOR VASES
OAK SIDE TABLE
BUREAU BOOKCASE
$8,000 - 10,000
$2,000 - 3,000
$46,000 - 55,000
THE GRAHAM GEDDES ANTIQUES RELOCATION AUCTION 21 - 22 MARCH
LEONARD
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MARCH
JEWELS & OBJETS D’ART SYDNEY
JEWELS & OBJETS D’A RT AUCTION FEATURING THE DR GEORGE WILCOX COLLECTION
The Doctor George Wilcox collection of fine clocks epitomises the Doctor’s discerning eye for collecting only the best examples he could source; demonstrating evidence of his relationship with some of England’s top clock dealers. The highlight from our selection of clocks is lot 51, a fine Regency musical automata clock by James Smith, circa 1820. It is in a well proportioned ormolu mounted mahogany case with an eight day fusee movement and verge escapement, hour strike and twelve bells playing four tunes or strike silent options. This clock is a particularly fine example of its type, with a lively automata scene, and a good amount of bells and hammers producing a high quality sound. I was excited to see such a fine example of a bracket clock being represented from my home town of Edinburgh, and from one of its most famous districts off the Royal mile. Lot 50 is a fine George III bracket clock by James Nicoll of Canongate Edinburgh, circa 1770, with a double fusee and verge escapement and pull movement. The Museum of Edinburgh has a mahogany clock with an original eight day dial made by James Nicoll in the mid 18th century which I often admired on my visits to the museum. Edinburgh was renowned for being an important centre for clock making, especially during the second half of the 18th century. The longcase clocks lead with lot 54, a mahogany example by Percival Mann, London circa 1790. The case features some very fine quality fret carving and a broken swan neck hood with carved rosette terminals. The panel door is constructed from flame mahogany with a fine grain figuration and of good colour. This clock embodies late Georgian style with its fine carvings and classical architectural references. Another excellent example of late Georgian clock making and Chinoiserie style is lot 53, a George III longcase clock by Spencer & Perkins, London circa 1780. Spencer & Perkins were one of the most respected high quality clock makers of the George III period recorded at; 44 Snow Hill London from 1765 - 1810. The company was also sometimes seen as Perkins and Spencer, a very fine maker of watches and instruments. There is also a pedometer by this maker which can be seen in the Guildhall Museum London.
Jewels & Objet D’Art Sydney Auction Sunday 8 March 2015, 1pm
Melbourne Highlights 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra 25 February 2015 9am - 8pm
Auction Location in Sydney InterContinental Sydney, Double Bay 33 Cross Street, Double Bay NSW 2028
MARCH
8
53
54
A GEORGE III CHINOISERIE LONGCASE CLOCK
A MAHOGANY LONGCASE CLOCK BY
BY SPENCER AND PERKINS, CIRCA 1780
PERCIVAL MANN, LONDON CIRCA 1790
$4,000 - 6,000
$6,000 - 8,000
Preview in Sydney LEONARD JOEL 39 Queen Street Woollahra NSW 2025 Saturday 28 February 2015 10am - 4pm Sunday 1 March 2015 10am - 4pm Wednesday 4 March 2015 10am - 4pm Thursday 5 March 2015 10am - 4pm Friday 6 March 2015 10am - 4pm Saturday 7 March 2015 10am - 4pm
Jewels & Objets D’Art Enquiries John D’Agata (02) 9362 9045 / 0408 355 339 john.dagata@leonardjoel.com.au Robert Williams (02) 9362 9045 robert.williams@leonardjoel.com.au
LEONARD
JEWELS & OBJETS D’ART SYDNEY
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145
41
A REGENCY ORMOLU THREE BRANCH
A VICTORIAN SILVER COFFEE POT BY EDWARD
A GOOD 19TH CENTURY GEORGE II STYLE
CANDELABRUM, CIRCA 1830
AND JOHN BERNARD, LONDON 1852
MIRROR, SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY
$1,000 - 1,500
$1,000 - 1,500
$2,200 - 3,200
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A REGENCY MAHOGANY MARBLE TOPPED
A REGENCY MAHOGANY DOUBLE ENDED
SIDE CABINET, CIRCA 1825
CHAISE LOUNGE, CIRCA 1830
$2,000 - 3,000
$3,000 - 5,000
RESEARCH & RESULTS Leonard Joel Sydney’s inaugural auction showcased a wonderful single owner collection of fine antiques and decorative arts. The collection sourced by an American Gentleman featured most of the auction’s top selling lots including; lot 4, a French silver box by Jean Emile Puiforcat with an estimate of $3,000; this piece finally realised a staggering $19,520 (IBP). The box was extensively researched and found to be one of the largest pieces to be offered globally in a decade. The Parisian silversmith is regarded as one of the elite names in European silver craftsmanship. Founded in 1820 by the two brothers Emile and Joseph-Marie Puiforcat, the manufactory soon established itself as a purveyor of fine silver to various European royal households. Following the theme of French Art Deco silver and from the same collection and auction was lot 1, a Louis Vuitton gentleman’s valise necessaire fitted with a French silver vanity set selling for $4,000 (IBP). Our research concluded that this was an extremely rare item that would have been commissioned or at least purchased by an extremely wealthy client. This would have been the ultimate Gentleman’s accessory. The set had interest from galleries and institutions alike but finally sold to a private American collector. From the same collection and sold in our subsequent Sydney auction was lot 243, an Art Deco silver cigar box by Cartier of Paris and signed Cartier Paris. Another example of fine French art deco silver by French designer royalty and purchased from none other than Cartier’s great grandson Alain Cartier for $4,880 (IBP) now housed in one of the most prestigious collection of Cartier in the world.
LEONARD
FRENCH SILVER BOX BY JEAN EMILE PUIFORCAT SOLD FOR $19,520 IBP
9
MARCH
FINE JEWELLERY
176 A 1.22CT SOLITAIRE DIAMOND RING $7,000 - $9,000
44 AN AQUAMARINE, CULTURED PEARL AND DIAMOND CLUSTER RING $4,000 - $5,000
FINE JEWELLERY 257 AN ANTIQUE AUSTRIAN ENAMEL BROOCH IN SILVER $2,000 - $3,000
March Auction Highlights
226 A ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL WRISTWATCH $6,000 - $8,000
90 A WIENER WERKSTATTE GEM SET BROOCH IN SILVER $10,000 - $16,000
Fine Jewellery Auction Monday 23 March 2014, 6pm
MARCH
Preview Wednesday 18 March 2015 9am - 8pm Thursday 19 March 2015 10am - 4pm Friday 20 March 2015 10am - 4pm Saturday 21 March 2015 10am - 5pm Sunday 22 March 2015 10am - 5pm Monday 23 March 2015 By Appointment
Enquiries John D’Agata National Head of Jewellery & Sydney Office (03) 8825 5605 / 0408 355 339 john.dagata@leonardjoel.com.au
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Robert Haigh Manager, Senior Jewellery Specialist (03) 8825 5628 robert.haigh@leonardjoel.com.au
LEONARD
FINE JEWELLERY
NEW LEASE ON LIFE There is nothing more exciting than purchasing a piece of jewellery at auction. Jewellery is becoming one of the fastest growing categories at auction globally, in many cases leaving its rivals, Objets and Art, lagging behind. The Winston Blue, a 13.22-carat pear-shaped fancy vivid blue flawless diamond, sold at Christie’s Geneva in May 2014 for almost $23.8 million is a good example of just how far jewellery at auction has come. It was acquired by the luxury jewellery brand, Harry Winston and in every respect was a superstar lot.
Similarly in 2013, a collection of Fine Jewellery consigned by an Armadale socialite which included a large number of extravagant cocktail pieces went under the hammer at Leonard Joel . The beauty of this collection was that high and low value items were sold side-by-side telling a story about the owner and crossing several periods of collecting. Many items exceeded their estimates and buyers made multiple purchases, building on their own jewellery collections while keeping like items together.
Part of the reason for the upturn in sales locally is the large number of sellers from an older generation, now retired, and with fewer occasions to wear fabulous jewels, selling off their collections to a savvy younger generation looking for a special piece of quality jewellery to call their own. In addition, the buying public has more confidence in purchasing items online, sight unseen, so jewellers are now offering products at reasonable prices at auction thus cutting out the middle man.
More recently Leonard Joel secured the sale of Sam Frost’s 3.01 ct diamond ring made by renowned Australian jeweller BUNDA. Sam of course was selling the ring after being very publically dumped by reality TV show’s Blake Garvey in ‘The Bachelor’. Old fashioned superstitions were set aside as our rooms were inundated with enquiries and eager bidders who wanted to buy the famous ring. Ironically the ring was successfully purchased for $31,720.00 by an interstate phone bidder who knew nothing about the show and just saw value for money in the magnificent diamond ring compared to similar items available on the market. This new age woman made the purchase on behalf of her fiancé so that she could get exactly the type of ring she wanted. As Australia’s largest jewellery auction house, we see the full gamut of the jewellery market. It is always a pleasure to match up vendor to buyer, giving a piece of jewellery a new lease on life.
It is still however the privately owned jewels that are the most sought after. In 2010, Catherine Freeman, the famous Olympian, decided to sell part of her private collection of jewels and donate the proceeds to her ‘Palm Island’ charity. This worked on three levels: first, Freeman’s charity benefited from the donation, second, the purchasers were thrilled to be able to purchase an item that belonged to a famous Australian and third, Catherine obtained the best possible result from valuable items that she no longer had any use for.
JOHN D’AGATA NATIONAL HEAD OF JEWELLERY & SYDNEY OFFICE
A CLUSTER DIAMOND RING BY BUNDA SOLD $31,720 IBP
LEONARD
11
MARCH
FINE ART
FINE ART RUBERT BUNNY (1864-1947) Danse du Printemps (Spring Dance) c1889 oil on canvas, 45 x 62cm $35,000 - 45,000
DANILA VASSILIEFF (1897-1958) Fitzroy Street Scene c.1938 oil on board, 45 x 54cm $20,000 - 30,000
Fine Art Auction Tuesday 24 March 2014, 6.30pm
MARCH
EMILY KNGWARREYE (C. 1910-1996) Alkahere 1995 acrylic on canvas, 121 x 91cm $30,000 - 40,000
Preview Wednesday 18 March 2015 9am - 8pm Thursday 19 March 2015 10am - 4pm Friday 20 March 2015 10am - 4pm
Saturday 21 March 2015 10am - 5pm Sunday 22 March 2015 10am - 5pm Monday 23 March 2015 By Appointment Tuesday 24 March 2015 By Appointment
12
NICOLE ALLEN (BORN 1967) Al 2012 (pair) hand-cast aluminium, edition 4/10 120cm height, each $3,000 - 5,000
Enquiries Sophie Ullin Head of Art (03) 8825 5609 sophie.ullin@leonardjoel.com.au
LEONARD
FINE ART
Auction Highlights ARTIST UNKNOWN Unusual Transitional Boomerang 1933, North-East Australia carved and shaped palm wood, 85cm length $2,500 - 3,500
THE ART OF THE ESTIMATE At the end of the creative act, the energy and vision the artist contributes to his artwork, transforms it into a fixed material object. Its value, by contrast is fluid in character. Harnessing the dynamic spirit of value in order to find the perfectly balanced and attuned catalogue estimate is the perennial challenge for the art specialist. Artist, subject, period, medium, scale and condition along with recent market activity are always pivotal factors to any assessment of value. However, sometimes special circumstances exist which compel the art valuer to consider additional aspects in determining the pre-sale quote. The Pro Hart auction held last July was one such circumstance inviting a context that differed quite markedly from the Seasonal Fine Art sales. Comprised of 170 paintings from Pro Hart’s own personal collection, the auction offered the “double whammy” combination of a single vendor and a solo artist sale. As a result, the elephant in the room (as well as on the catalogue front cover), was to ascertain where the estimates should sit on a barometer that starts with bold and ends with gun-shy. A bold approach would entail pricing works with striking estimates on the basis of the gold star provenance, secondly their first market release and thirdly the cachet that Pro Hart had retained this selection of works during his life. The opposing end of the scale would see estimates set well below current market results, prioritising the view that such a large trove of works, all by the one artist, might prove too much for the market to absorb at one time. While both strategies have their merits and place within the economic cycle, ultimately we decided against benchmark or mercenary-style estimates and adopted a conservative approach. This acknowledged the inherent challenges of presenting a large scale single artist collection but tempered it by setting estimates at the realistic end of recent results and thereby allowed maximum scope for market dynamics to play out. Consequently the alchemy of Pro Hart’s popularity, the continued demand for his work, the narrative of the auction combined with conservative estimates prompted and propelled an astonishingly competitive spirit that drove the auction to almost double expectations and achieve a rare white glove result. W. C. PIGUENIT (1836-1914) Lane Cove River from Cliffs near Bridge, New South Wales oil on canvas, 89.5 x 65cm $90,000 - 120,000
LEONARD
SOPHIE ULLIN HEAD OF ART
13
MARCH
CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS
NOW CONSIGNING
CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS AUSTRALIAN DECORATIVE ARTS & FURNITURE
ANTIQUARIAN BOOKS & MANUSCRIPTS
ASIAN WORKS OF ART
“LONDON LEAVE”, BY WILLIAM WALLACE ANDERSON, EARLY 20TH CENTURY SOLD $7,800 IBP
A DIARY IN PICTURES: PEKING SOLD $8,400 IBP
A LARGE CHINESE BLUE AND WHITE VASE WITH RUYI LUGS SOLD $15,600 IBP
Enquiries Chiara Curcio Classic Furniture & Objects Specialist / Books & Manuscripts (03) 8825 5635 chiara.curcio@leonardjoel.com.au
NOW CONSIGNING FOR CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS AUCTION 30 MAY AT 11AM 2015
MARCH
14
LEONARD
SINGLE OWNER COLLECTIONS
IN SITU, OR NOT IN SITU?
THAT IS THE SINGLE OWNER AUCTION QUESTION In the colourful and varied world of
be auctioned at the property in which it
from grand Victorian mansions, to country
but which would benefit from being
collecting, knowing where an item comes
resides, or removed to the auctioneer’s
antique warehouses, a Queensland
displayed as a whole, rather than dispersed
from can form a key part of the acquisition
salerooms. Holding an on-site auction at
homestead offering elevated vistas of
over multiple auctions. Here, the benefit to
process. The context in which an object
a client’s property can entail substantial
the Gold Coast, and the curated-chaos of
the vendor is being able to take advantage
or objects were originally collected is
costs, given that the entire infrastructure
artist David Bromley’s sprawling Chapel
of a suite of services already in place for an
something that has the power to separate
used to run an auction needs to be
Street studio. On the flip side, however,
auction including the property of multiple
the ordinary from the extraordinary and
transferred to a private residence. The
selling a one thousand lot collection
owners, while still retaining the essence
can imbue an object with a mystique
first criteria for determining whether this
in a property the size of a shoe box is
of the personal context of the collection.
that might otherwise be lost.
will be a viable option is ensuring that the
certainly not the ideal way of displaying
estimated total sale price of the collection
a vendor’s collection. So, when space is
Since January 2010, the Leonard Joel
The term in situ can be understood as
will cover the projected operating costs. In
at a premium, it is time to explore some
Specialist Collector department has
meaning ‘the original place.’ While I am
some cases, the auctioneer will contribute
more creative options for capturing the
successfully managed the dispersal of
not sure that the ancient Romans who
an amount toward the vendor commission
essence of a collection. Depending on
no less than 56 single owner collections,
coined the Latin term were ruminating
charged to cover a portion of the operating
the proximity of the vendor’s property to
comprising 11,800 lots, sold to 4000
on the best way to structure an auction,
expenses, with the balance of costs being
the auctioneer’s premises, conducting the
successful bidders for a combined value
the desire to know ‘the original place’ of
met by a specified contribution from the
public viewing of the collection in-situ
of $10.4 million. Varying in composition
a potential purchase is often foremost
vendor, while in other instances, the value
but holding the auction at the salerooms
from the Andy Mac Collection of Street
in the mind of the modern collector.
of the collection is such that all expenses
is a neat solution to overcrowding in a
and Fine Art – the first of its type in
can be met by the auctioneer’s
small property. Alternatively, the entire
Australia – to the monumental scale of the
vendor commission.
collection can be photographed at the
Graham Geddes Collection of Important
vendor’s property and transported to the
Antiques & Objects - one of the largest
To the auctioneer and vendor, being able to impart something of the context in which a collection was assembled is a proven
The ideal outcome is a combination of
salerooms to be displayed and sold, thus
stock-in-trade dispersals in Australia at the
method of retaining the personal character
the two scenarios, with sensible estimates
taking advantage of an impressive in-situ
time – the Specialist Collector department
of a consignment and helping it to stand
agreed and, in some cases, a ‘no reserve’
interior, but allowing the convenience of
offers collectors the benefit of versatile
out in a market often crowded with similar
price-point set to ensure that literally all of
a viewing and auction at the salerooms.
auction platforms and a suite of services
offerings. Selling the collection in-situ,
the saleable items in the property are given
holding the public viewing at the client’s
the best chance to sell for the optimal price.
property and recreating the essential
that can be adapted to suit any collection. A third option is the inclusion of a collection as a dedicated component of
For enquiries about options for the
atmosphere of the collection, either literally
The second most important consideration
a mixed vendor auction. Here, one or
sale of your collection, contact:
or through images taken at the property,
when weighing up whether or not to sell
more collections can be presented in their
Guy Cairnduff
are some of the ways this can be achieved.
a collection in-situ is the physical lay-out
own section of a printed and/or on-line
Head of the Specialist Collector (03) 8825 5611 / 0407 828 137
of the vendor’s property. In recent years,
catalogue. This is particularly suitable for
A number of factors, both commercial and
Leonard Joel clients have been treated
collections of medium level value, which
practical, are taken into consideration when
to auctions in numerous interesting
do not warrant the financial outlay of a
determining whether a collection should
locations, spanning a broad spectrum
dedicated catalogue and separate auction
LEONARD
15
MARCH
THE MARK LISSAUER COLLECTION
THE MARK LISSAUER COLLECTION An Important Private Collection of Oceanic Artefacts & Asian Works of Art
The Mark Lissauer collection offers a rare combination of two diverse categories: Asian works of art and Oceanic artifacts. Accumulated over a period of 65 years, Mark’s collection serves as a veritable ‘road map’ of the regions he has visited and the tribes he has encountered, each item judiciously recorded in a series of over 20 handwritten catalogues. Mark began collecting while exploring the islands of Polynesia and Melanesia, acquiring items both foreign to the western world, such as the Fijian cannibal fork, or the New Ireland ceremonial dance mask, as well as more familiar totems such as the New Zealand Maori Tiki. Later exploring Asia, from the
Meo Tribe in Northern china to the temples in Tibet, Mark cannot think of a single place in the world’s largest continent he has not visited. His collection of Asian works of art offers a vast variety of items across of broad range of media, including textiles from Bhutan, Indian bronzes, a fine lacquered Sutra from Burma, woodwork crafted in Indonesia, an intricate Chinese Suzhou embroidery, Tibetan turquoise and Ikebana vessels from Japan. This ethnographic splendour will be on view at Leonard Joel’s Melbourne salerooms from the 16th- 29th May 2015 and the auction will take place on Sunday 31st May, commencing at 11am.
Enquiries Chiara Curcio Classic Furniture & Objects Specialist / Books & Manuscripts (03) 8825 5635 chiara.curcio@leonardjoel.com.au
THE MARK LISSAUER COLLECTION AUCTION SUNDAY 31 MAY AT 11AM 2015
MARCH
16
LEONARD
THE MARK LISSAUER COLLECTION
Highlights
AN INDIAN SIX STRANDED SILVER AND LAPIS LAZULI NECKLACE $500 - $600
A TIBETAN THANGKA Vajrapani below, surrounded by deities $800 - $1,000
A SANTA CRUZ ISLAND KAP KAP, stylized bird, tortoise shell fret work $1,500 - 2,500
C H I N A - J A PA N - I N D O N E S I A - I N D I A - T I B E T - M E L A N E S I A - P O LY N E S I A
LEONARD
17
MARCH
DREWEATTS & BLOOMSBURY
DREWEATTS & PRESENTING BLOOMSBURY AUCTIONS’ SALE OF
CONTINENTAL, ENGLISH & MIDDLE EASTERN BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPTS, LONDON, THURSDAY 19TH MARCH 2015
This prestigious auction includes 25 incunables charting the the mathematician Euclid and a book on cryptology and codes development of printing in Europe from 1471-1500. It features a that suggests Shakespeare’s plays were in fact written by Sir Francis text that influenced Shakespeare, the first printing of the works of Bacon.
Lot 4 Plautus (Titus Maccius) Comoediae, [edited by Georgius Merula], first edition, 1472. Est. £10,000-15,000 The influence of the comedies of Plautus on the work of Shakespeare, Dryden and Molière (amongst others) is well documented.
Lot 129 (Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg ), Gustavus Selenus Cryptomenytices et Cryptographiæ Libri IX , first edition, 1624. Est. £2,000-3,000
Lot 115 Euclid. The Elements of Geometrie, translated by Sir Henry Billingsley, preface by John Dee, first edition in English of the first complete translation, 1570. £20,000 - 30,000
The work purports to attribute the authorship of Shakespeare’s plays to Sir Francis Bacon. One panel supposedly depicts Bacon handing a text to Shakespeare (a man holding a spear), while another supposedly depicts Augustus holding the Cap of Maintenance over the head of Bacon, who is writing on a folio-sized piece of paper.
Lot 157 Shakespeare (William) Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies, edited by John Heminge and Henry Condell, [Fourth Folio Edition], CoventGarden, 1685. £10,000 - 15,000 The last of the 17th century editions of Shakespeare’s collected plays.
View the auction catalogue at www.bloomsburyauctions.com
MARCH
18
LEONARD
DREWEATTS & BLOOMSBURY
BLOOMSBURY PRESENTING DREWEATTS’ AUCTION
THE PETE WATERMAN COLLECTION OF UNIQUE SCRATCH BUILT HISTORIC LOCOMOTIVES IN GAUGE 1 AND LARGER GAUGES LONDON, THURSDAY 16TH APRIL 2015 Music producer Pete Waterman has dedicated more than 50 years of his life to model train making and has managed to take it to new heights with his pursuit ‘Just Like the Real Thing’, which supplies locomotive kits in 7mm scale to model makers. He can be seen at many of the UKs model railway exhibitions promoting railway modelling and giving encouragement to all who also love the hobby as builders, or those just admiring the skills of others.
The collection illustrates snap shots in time of a quickly developing industry and the progression of locomotives in the L&NWR and other regional railways companies. Add to this some of the most skilled and eminent model locomotive builders who have devoted many years and thousands of hours of their lives to building these locomotives and you have one of the finest collections ever to come up for sale.
Lot 53 A fine exhibition quality model of a 7 ¼ gauge Great Western Railways 0-6-0 Beyer Goods. No 337 Locomotive and Tender. £100,000 - 120,000
Lot 52 A fine exhibition quality model of a 7 1/4 inch gauge Great Western Railways Castle Class 4-6-0 Locomotive and Tender. No 4073 ‘Caerphilly Castle’. £100,000 - 150,000
Lot 55 The fine exhibition quality 5” inch gauge model of the Sir William Stanier London Midland and Scottish Railway Pacific 4-6-2 LMS Coronation Class Locomotive and Tender B R No 46235 City of Birmingham. £50,000 - 60,000
Lot 54 A fine exhibition standard 7 1/4 inch gauge model of the Great Western Railway Class 3700 4-4-0 tender locomotive ‘City of Truro’, No 3440. £100,000 - 120,000
Lot 56 An extremely rare and historically important late 19th Century Great Western Railway cutaway instructional model. The model being a 7 ¼ inch gauge 805 class 0-6-0 tank engine built by the apprentices at the Wolverhampton Works, circa 1874. £5,000 - 7,000
View the auction catalogue at www.dreweatts.com
LEONARD
19
MARCH
MODERN DESIGN
MODERN DESIGN REAL OVER REPLICA
Let’s not lie to ourselves, this is the age of consumerism: new car, new shoes, new hat
perfect and was constructed using enduring materials and methods contemporary
... new house! The best of everything is available at the tap of a pay pass. However,
to the piece, brought to life by a craftsman’s vision. An original piece quantifies the
let’s take a moment to think about the true meaning behind the old and the new, the
relationship between the designer and the choices they have made in constructing
real and the replica.
an object, an embodiment of the time and thought devoted to considering, for
The fascination with pre-owned objects is perhaps best described by a term used in
instance, how a certain type of wood bends and ages, or how soft aluminium curves
the interpretation of Japanese art forms, Shibui, which was shared with me recently
perfectly when framed properly.
by a scholar of design history. Similar to ‘patina,’ the more widely used reference
Educating buyers is important: real products are manufactured using innovative
for the gentle softening to the surface of an object over time through natural age
techniques and materials. Many replicas are produced overseas, in poverty stricken
and use, Shibui describes the ‘life’ behind the qualities of any experience, a sense
countries, are of sub-standard quality and made from materials that are not created
of evolving perfection - or in the context of furniture design, the wear and tear, the
to last and are mere imitations of grand designs, with no meaning or reverence for
folds and forms and the natural beauty that only time brings.
the original concept.
We all have the opportunity to choose pre-owned objects over something bought
A chair is not just a chair if you are looking for true design - you will never find what
new off the showroom floor. When we buy something pre-owned or of the period,
you are looking for in the substitute replicas of today. Wait and search, find the
we not only help the environment, we select an object that has taken decades to
magic in the real.
Enquiries Anna Grassham Specialist Modern Design (03) 8825 5637 anna.grassham@leonardjoel.com.au
POLIFORM - B&B ITALIA - CASSINA - VICO MAGISTRETTI - ARTEMIDE - KNOLL - ARFLEX - EAMES
NOW CONSIGNING MODERN DESIGN FOR APRIL 2015 MARCH
20
LEONARD
VAULT
ISSUE 9 ComIng Soon SubScribe now and receive your copy of vault Magazine firSt Gilbert & GeorGe Claire lambe el anatsui Christian rosa riChard lewer nyapanyapa yunupinGu david lynCh Chapman brothers & more
SUBSCRIBE now VAULTART.COM.AU
new art & Culture maGazine
el anatSui AG and BA (detail), 2014 aluminium and copper wire and nylon dimensions variable photo Jonathan greet image courtesy the artist and october gallery, london
LEONARD
21
MARCH
MODERN DESIGN IN COLLABORATION WITH
MR BIGGLESWORTHY
Leonard Joel is delighted to announce the introduction of Mr Bigglesworthy to the Australian market. This New Zealand Modern Design concept store created by superstar duo Emma and Dan Eagle is now officially launching as part of our April 2015 Modern Design auction. The collection will showcase authentic pieces from the 1950s through to the 1970s. Highlights include work from Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Vodder and Grete Jalk just to name a few. Dan and Emma love the promise and potential of
modern design and their collections are a culmination of passion, knowledge and shared appreciation of the eras in which they were created. The couple have been collecting and selling mid-20th century furniture for the last decade and along the way creating one of New Zealand’s most reputable design stores. Leonard Joel look forward to showcasing this stellar collection from Mr Bigglesworthy and welcoming design lovers to our viewing and auction.
Enquiries Anna Grassham Specialist Modern Design (03) 8825 5637 anna.grassham@leonardjoel.com.au
leonardjoel.com.au Melbourne Head Office 333 Malvern Road South Yarra VIC 3141 Australia t. 03 9826 4333 f. 03 9826 4544
Sydney 39 Queen Street Woollahra NSW 2025 Australia t. 02 9362 9045 f. 03 9826 4544
ILLUSTRATED Modern Design 23 April 2015 PAUL JENSEN, SELIG Z SOFA $5,500 – 6,500