LEONARD, issue 39, May 2015

The Mark Lissauer

Collection

Siegfried & Diane Hearst Collection of Asian Works

of Art

SydneyAsian Art & Objects

The China Art Super-cycle

Issue THIRTYNINe / MAY 2015 MELBOURNE / SYDNEY

DESTINATION HONg KONg

ASIANTEXTILES

AsiAn Works of Art亞洲藝術作品

SYDNEY

By Appointment

39 Queen Street,

Woollahra, New South Wales 2025

Australia

Tel: +61 (0) 2 9362 9045

Fax: +61 (0) 3 9826 4544

MELBOURNE

Primary Salerooms

333 Malvern Road,

South Yarra, Victoria 3141

Australia

Tel: +61 (0) 3 9826 4333

Fax: +61 (0) 3 9826 4544

Leonard is published 10 times a year by Leonard Joel. If you have any questions regarding Leonard please contact 03 9826 4333

Coverthe Mark Lissauer Collection sunday 31 May at 11am

Lot 1487A LArGE frAMED sUZHoU EMBroiDErYdepicting eighteen children playing within a double gourd, 121 x 86cm$1,200-2,000

leonardjoel.com.au

EvENt PaRtNER

IN aSSOCIatION WItH

M A R G A R E T R I V E R

Leonard Joel Specialists

PHoTogRaPHY

Rick Merrie

DesIgNeR

Maria Rossi

MaNagINg DIReCToR

NaTIoNaL HeaD oF CoLLeCTIoNs

John albrecht, Managing Director

& Head of Collections

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5619

Email [email protected]

CLassIC FuRNITuRe & objeCTs

sINgLe owNeR CoLLeCTIoNs

Guy Cairnduff, Head of Classic Furniture & Objects

& Head of The Specialist Collector

Phone +61 (0) 3 8825 5611


jeweLLeRY

Robert Haigh, Manager, Senior Jewellery Specialist

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5618


jeweLLeRY & PRe–owNeD LuxuRY

John D’agata, National Head of Jewellery

& Sydney Office

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5605


CReaTIVe DIReCToR

Monique Le Grand

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5620


aCCouNTs

Susan Saunders, Head of Finance & Administration

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5603


CoLLeCTIbLes

tae Schmeisser

Specialist Vintage Toys/Monthly Toys

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5625


aRT

Sophie Ullin, Head of Art

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5609


sPeCIaLIsT jeweLs & objeTs D’aRT

& sINgLe owNeR CoLLeCTIoNs

Robert Williams, Sydney Representative

Phone + 61 (0) 2 9362 9045


MoDeRN DesIgN

anna Grassham, specialist, Modern Design

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5637


booKs & MaNusCRIPTs

Chiara Curcio, Specialist, Classic Furniture

& Objects, Books and Manuscripts

Phone + 61 (0) 3 8825 5635


Leonard Joel is a proud supporter

of Arts Project Australia

MAY WE INTRODUCE OURSELVESWhether 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.

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CoNTeNTs

mAY contEnts

BROMLEY + BLaCkMaN 2FOREWORD 3 NEWS 4CaLENDaR 5JEWELS, OBJEtS D’aRt & aSIaN WORkS OF aRt, SYDNEY 6CLaSSIC FURNItURE & OBJECtS 8tHE MaRk LISSaUER COLLECtION 10JEWELS HIGHLIGHtS 12HaLLMaRkS, SIGNatURES & StaMPS ON JEWELLERY 13FINE aRt HIGHLIGHtS 14DEStINatION HONG kONG 15SPECIaLISt PRINtS 16vINtaGE INtERIORS 17MODERN DESIGN 18DREWEattS & BLOOMSBURY 20StOCk IN tRaDE aUCtION 21

WHERE CaN I FIND LEONaRD?

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 offi ces at

the start of every month. But don’t delay as copies run out quickly!

Connect with usstAY CUrrEnt WitH ALL LEonArD JoEL rELAtED nEWs

tHroUGH oUr soCiAL MEDiA CHAnnELs!

1 MaYleoNarD

bRoMLeY + bLaCKMaN

BERTIE AND FELIX BLACKMAN AND DAVID AND YUGE BROMLEYINVITE YOU TO AN EXHIBITION OF ARTISTIC INTERPRETATIONS OF

INFLUENTIAL AND ICONIC ART BY CHARLES BLACKMAN THE COLLECTION WILL COVER MANY FACETS OF BLACKMAN ,

FROM PAST DECADES ORIGINAL WORKS THROUGH TO ACATALOGUE OF WORK CREATED MORE RECENTLY WHICHWILL BE POWILL BE PORTRAYED IN MAJOR SCULPTURAL BRONZES ,BLACKMAN STUDIO COLLAGES , LIMITED EDITION SERIES

OF PRINTS , QUILTS , EMBROIDERIES , FASHION AND CERAMICS.ALSO ON DISPLAY WILL BE A VARYING BODY OF WORK

WITH ONE KEY THREAD , A LIMITED EDITION HAND BOUNDBOOK - AN OVERVIEW , COMPILATION AND MISSING ASSESMENT

OF BLACKMANS REMARKABLE PAST DECADE OF WORK

03 95108990 www.bromleyandco.com

BROMLEY + BLACKMAN

RD MAY - RD JUNE

AT

BROMLEY AND COBROMLEY AND CO

TO CHAPEL STREET

WINDSOR

3 3

93 95

2MAY LEONARD

FoRewoRD

For the sake of transparency parts of this

foreword first appeared in the November

2011 edition of LEONARD. I have updated it

to coincide with this Asia edition.

Before putting fingers to keyboard for this

foreword I had three short stories rolling

around my head. Let me very briefly share

them with you.

The first is the moment I heard the term

“super-cycle” coined in 2007 to describe the

completely historical industrial transforma-

tion underway in China – a transformation

that will blitz the equivalent that took place

in Japan between 1945 and 1985.

The second is the assistance I provided a cli-

ent to transact two works by a contemporary

Chinese artist in Hong Kong in recent years –

the works returned an approximately 800%

profit – yes that’s 800%! I told him at the

time that this windfall was, I believed, the

greatest I would witness in my lifetime.

My final story drives the title of this foreword

and it relates to an extremely useful publica-

tion titled, more recently, as Contemporary

Art Market 2014 (CAM14) which is produced

by ARTPRICE, the leader in international

fine art auction sales data and trends. It is

an annual read and it provides a wonderful

snapshot of global art movements.

The 2014 edition, like the 2010 edition I last

visited, confirmed that China’s utter domi-

nance of the market continues. CAM14 is

very statistical and survey

driven which is probably why I like it, as

crunching their numbers is made very easy

for someone as innumerate as myself. As I

progress through CAM14 I remain

overwhelmed by the continuing Chinese art

sales phenomena. To take just one statistic,

the artist Zeng Fanzhi generated €59.6 mil-

lion in sales at auction which is just shy of the

total generated by the world’s three biggest

grossing artists at auction! Just think about

that; a decade old contemporary art market

generates a single artist with a combined

auction value of the remaining world’s top 3.

Clearly the super-cycle is still in full swing.

Below I present several more statistics that

reflect the tectonic and lightening-speed

shift in the art market from West to East.

• 40% of global contemporary art sales

are now Chinese artists

• 47ofthetop100sellingcontemporary

artists are Chinese

• Asia now contributes 54% of the best

selling contemporary artists at auction

• Morepaintings are sold inChina than

the combined markets of France, the USA

and the UK

• Guangzhou, Nanjing, Hangzhou rep-

resent three of the top 10 contemporary art

selling capitals of the world

• TheChineseownedPolyInternational

remains the 3rd largest auction house in the

world by turnover with seven of the top 10

auction houses of the world emanating from

China

The scale of repatriation of Chinese art by

mainland Chinese is historically unprec-

edented and the combination of the sheer

volume of output from China, both now

and over the centuries, combined with the

extraordinary rise in wealth of the Chinese

more generally is creating nothing less than

a turbo-charged cultural collecting

phenomena.

It is only a matter of time before the eyes of

one the Chinese auction houses moves from

attraction to one of the global auction houses

to acquisition.

Art Market Trends 2010 can be viewed and downloaded at www.artprice.com

JOHN aLBRECHt

MAnAGinG DirECtor

& nAtionAL HEAD of CoLLECtions

THE CHINA ART SUPER-CYCLE

3 MAYLEONARD

News

EnquiriesAmanda sainiJewellery & Luxury Assistant03 8825 [email protected]

PrE-oWnED LUXUrY

noW ConsiGninG for AUGUst AUCtionTHE MELBOURNE AUCTION

A PAir of WHitE LoUBoUtin sHoEs WitH MULtiCoLoUr PiGALLE sPikEs, siZE 36$300 - 500

W-CLAss trAM DEstinAtion BoX $1,200-1,800

enquiriessasa Mitic, Manager, objects & Books(03) 8825 5604 | [email protected]

Dominic Kavanagh, Manager, Vintage interiors(03) 8825 5632 | [email protected]

AUCtion tHUrsDAY

14 MAY At 12PM

4MAY LEONARD

Forthcoming Auctions

CaLeNDaR

Auctions and viewing times are subject to change.

the vintage Interiors auction Every thursdayfurniture & interiors – 10am Jewellery & Wristwatches – 10.30am Art – 11.30am Books – 12pm objects & Collectibles – 12pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Beatles auction thursday 7th May 2015 – 12pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Stock In trade of Wally Johnson’s antique & Collectables sunday 10th May 2015 – 11am 130 Dynon road, West Melbourne, Victoria

Specialist Prints auction thursday 14th May 2015 – 11.30am 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Pre Owned Luxury auction thursday 14th May 2015 – 1pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Jewels & Objets D’art auction sunday 24th May 2015 – 1pm interContinental 33 Cross st, Double Bay, sydney nsW

Classic Furniture & Objects auction saturday 30th May 2015 – 11am 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

the Mark Lissauer Collection sunday 31st May 2015 – 11am 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Monthly toy auction thursday 4th June 2015 – 12pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Fine Jewellery auction Monday 22nd June 2015 – 6pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

Fine art auction tuesday 23rd June 2015 – 6.30pm 333 Malvern road, south Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria

BID LIvE ONLINE

SYDNEYaUCtION

SINGLEOWNER

aUCtION

SINGLEOWNER

aUCtION

inCLUDinG EntErtAinMEnt MEMorABiLiA

PHotoGrAPH of sEAn ConnErY As JAMEs BonD WitH sHirLEY EAton As JiLL MAstErson on sEt of ‘GoLDfinGEr’, nUMBErED 9 of 20, iMAGE 38 X 46CM

$300-$400

PHotoGrAPH of MAriLYn MonroE BY JosEPH JAsGUr, nUMBErED 3 of

25, iMAGE 36 X 46CM $300-$400

Enquiriestae schmeisserCollectibles Consultant03 8825 [email protected]

UNIQUE BEatLES PHOtOGRaPHIC aUCtION

AUCtion tHUrsDAY 7 MAY At 12PM

5 MAYLEONARD

jeweLs, objeTs D’aRT & asIaN woRKs oF aRT

JEWELS, OBJETS D’ART & ASIAN W RKS OF ART

Jewels, Objets D’art & asian Works of art Sydney auctionSunday 24 May 2015, 1pm

auction Location in SydneyinterContinental sydney, Double Bay33 Cross street, Double Bay nsW 2028

Melbourne Highlights333 Malvern road, south YarraWednesday 13 May 9am - 8pm

Preview in SydneyLEonArD JoEL 39 Queen streetWoollahra nsW 202516 - 17 May 10am - 4pm20 - 23 May 10am - 4pm

Jewels & Objets D’art EnquiriesJohn D’Agata(02) 9362 9045 / 0408 355 339

[email protected]

robert Williams(02) 9362 9045

[email protected]

222A LArGE CHinEsE 19tH CEntUrY PoLYCHroME iVorY fiGUrE of A LADY $20,000 - 30,000

224An EArLY 20tH CEntUrY JAPAnEsE CArVED iVorY tUsk WitH siGnAtUrE $6,000 - 8,000

176 A rArE CHinEsE CELADon GLAZED EWEr, EArLY MinG PErioD$7,000 - 10,000

282 tWo GLAss snUff BottLEs, onE WitH QiAnLonG MArk$500 -700

6MAY LEONARD

jeweLs, objeTs D’aRT & asIaN woRKs oF aRT

Leonard Joel is honoured to present a selection of pieces from the famed collection of Siegfried and Diane Hearst. Diane, having given up her career as a concert pianist to make an even greater name for herself teaching and Siegfried a New York National Broadcasting Network impresario, were the musical toast of New York’s high society during the first half of the 20th century. The musical personalities were regularly called upon to lend pieces from their personal collection; which was mostly housed in their Santa Fe ranch, to museums and galleries. Mrs Hearst

is quoted from the following excerpt in The Australian Women’s Weekly 1949; “ See, here is a figure of the Wei dynasty, one century after Christ and there, on the piano, is a Han dynasty vase,” she said adding that many pieces have been lent to museums. After collecting Chinese art for 30 years, Mrs Hearst has now so interested her husband in the subject that she says he is now a “rabid collector”. As an impresario Mr Hearst is a business man primarily concerned with the engaging of artists and arranging concerts. The names of Artur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Arturo Toscanini,

Josef Krips and Otto Klemperer are just some of the great musicians whom he has worked with. Leonard Joel Sydney will be offering 33 lots from the collection in its May 24th auction. The collection including fine Asian art will include a selection of bronze Buddha’s, an important 18th century thangka, a small Qianlong marked Qing vase and a small Song/Yuan porcelain Guanyin. Also offered will be a selection of fine European decorative arts, including a 14th century and later Santos figure and religious carvings, a Gothic bronze Corpus, a Venetian Madonna

and Child, follower of Jacobello, a 17th century painting after Veneto Cretan and a pair of German 18th/19th century stained glass roundels.

EnquiriesRobert WilliamsSpecialist Jewels & Objets D’Art & Single Owner Collections02 9362 [email protected]

iMAGEs of siEGfriED HUrst AnD intErior of tHEir HoME

tHE siEGfriED AnD DiAnE HEArst CoLLECtion

AsiAn Works of ArtJewels & Objets D’Art

151A GiLt BronZE siX ArMs BULMo BUDDHA, QinG DYnAstYProVEnAnCE: froM tHE EstAtE of siEGfriED AnD DiAnE HEArst. $7,000 - 10,000

7 MAYLEONARD


CLASSIC FURNITURE & OBJECTS

Classic Furniture & Collectables auctionSaturday 30 May 2015, 11am

Preview saturday 23 May 10am-5pmsunday 24 May 10am-5pmWednesday 27 May 9am-8pmthursday 28 May 10am-4pmfriday 29 May 10am-4pm

EnquiriesGuy CairnduffHead of Classic furniture & objectsthe specialist Collector(03) 8825 5611 / 0407 828 [email protected]

Chiara CurcioClassic furniture & objects specialist / Books & Manuscripts(03) 8825 [email protected]

PiEtro BAZZAnti, (itALiAn, LAtE 19tH CEntUrY)

A fLorEntinE WHitE MArBLE AnD ALABAstEr fiGUrE of A GirL

$18,000 – 22,000

8MAY LEONARD


A VErY rArE CHinEsE QinG DYnAstY, 17/18tH CEntUrY (LonGPAo JifU) DrAGon roBE for AUCtion

iMPEriAL siLk

The Manchurian foreign rulers who gov-

erned China throughout the Qing dynasty,

used imperial dress to to re-enforce their

legitimacy and emphasize their heritage and

power.

“The Manchus literally wrote themselves

into existence by creating origins, myths,

divine ancestors and by developing a dis-

tinctive form of dress.”[1]

Imperial robes decorated with nine dragons

(longpao), known as jifu, literally meaning

‘auspicious dress,’ were the quintessential

attire of the Qing dynasty.

They were the dress of the imperial govern-

ment. Not designed for ritual or ceremonial

occasions, but for civil administration, they

were worn to recognize high position and

rank - one could only wear a coat of this

nature, if entitled to do so.

Imperial court dress is a feature of the mag-

nificent international exhibition that is cur-

rentlybeingheldattheNationalGalleryof

Victoria, “A Golden Age of China”, which

has on display a number of Imperial robes

from the Qing period.

The magnificent robe presented here, from

a Private Collection in Melbourne, is to be

auctioned in May at Leonard Joel. It is a

very fine and rare example of the outstand-

ing workmanship and remarkable symbol-

ism which featured in Imperial garments,

and is emblazoned upon every section of its

fabric from this same dynasty in China’s rich

history.

In ancient China, dragons were considered

to be the spiritual rulers of the universe: the

mythical creatures were composed of parts

of different auspicious animals, including

the antlers of a deer, the neck of a snake, the

paws of a tiger and the talons of an eagle.

They became an embodiment of imperial

power and great authority. The emperor

ruled from the Dragon Throne.[2]

The nine five-claw (long) dragons depicted

in golden thread on the fabric of this coat,

were a motif that could only be worn by an

elite member of the imperial clan or one of

its high-ranking officials. The colour of the

robe too, clearly defines the status of the

wearer.

The chestnut bronze hue of this robe indi-

cates that it was once in the possession of

a first or second-ranking Imperial prince

of the late seventeenth/early eighteenth

century.

This rare example, with original Chinese

tailoring, has been carefully embroidered

with long dragons amidst colourful clouds,

with ‘flaming pearls’ a symbol of energy,

above crashing waves and a lishui (standing

waves) border, characteristic of the period.

The iconography embroidered to represent

the universe, with the earth, sea and sky.

The sleeves, with matching horseshoe cuffs

– matixiu, indicative of the Manchurian

equestrian heritage and are typical of Qing

court fashion.

This nine-dragon robe symbolises the Con-

fucian ideal of eight fields protected by a

ninth encircling it, as depicted by the four

dragons radiating from the neck and on the

chest, shoulders and back. These pointed to

the direction of the cardinal points on the

compass. Four additional dragons appear

on the skirts of the robe. A hidden ninth

dragon, unseen is placed on the inner flap of

the robe. Nine has a long association with the

emperor, and is a very auspicious number.

The imperial dragon Robes jifu have been

the subject of extensive research, are keenly

sought after, and there have been numerous

important international exhibitions dedi-

cated to them over the years.

For comparison, please refer to: a black

dragon robe in the Museum of Fine Arts,

Boston, dated to the first quarter of the

eighteenth century and illustrated in Vollm-

er’s, Ruling from the Dragon Throne, p. 100,

fig. 4.18; and a lovely pale blue example,

illustrated by Judith Rutherford and Jackie

Menzies in Celestial Silks, p. 65, fig. 31, now

in a private collection in Melbourne.

Two Kangxi period longpao jifu, one in

salmon, the other in black silk, recently sold

in international auction rooms, achieving

very successful results, selling for more than

$85,000 and $200,000 respectively.

We, at Leonard Joel are very proud to have

the opportunity to offer this extraordinary

example of a Qing dynasty imperial garment

from the late 17th/early 18th century, rich

in cultural heritage, along with a selection

of other robes from the same Private Mel-

bourne Collection.

By Sally A. Robin

Chinese Art Specialist

A rArE CHinEsE iMPEriAL sEMi-forMAL CHEstnUt BroWn ninE-DrAGon (LonGPAo) roBE (JifU), QinG DYnAstY, LAtE kAnGXi PErioD/EArLY YonGZHEnG PErioD (CirCA 1680-1735)EstiMAtE on rEQUEst

References:Rutherford,J.,andMenzies,J.,CelestialSilks:ChineseReligiousandCourtTextiles,ArtGalleryofNewSouthWales,31July–24October,2004.Steele, V. and Major, J.S., China Chic – East Meets West, Yale University Press, London, 1999.Vollmer, J. E., Ruling from the Dragon Throne: Costume of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, 2002; and Longpao: Dragon Robes, Hong Kong, 2013. [1] E. Vollmer, “Longpao: Dragon Robes”, Catalogue Note, 2013[2] Rutherford, J., “The realm of the dragon – Court Robes”, Celestial Silks, p. 59.

9 MAYLEONARD

THe MaRK LIssaueR CoLLeCTIoN

tHE MArk LissAUEr CoLLECtionAn Important Private Collection of Oceanic Artefacts & Asian Works of Art

the Mark Lissauer Collectionauction Sunday 31 May 2015, 11am

Preview saturday 23 May 10am-5pmsunday 24 May 10am-5pmWednesday 27 May 9am-8pmthursday 28 May 10am-4pmfriday 29 May 10am-4pm

EnquiriesChiara CurcioClassic furniture & objects specialist / Books & Manuscripts(03) 8825 [email protected]

1687 A nEW BritAin toLAi CErEMoniAL DAnCE AXE$1,000 - 1,500

these axes known locally as pem were used by the tolai from new Britain during mourning ceremonies and have a ritual function. the image at the base of the axe is the round eyes of the tubuan mask.

1845A HAWAiiAn Poi BoWL $3,000 - 5,000

known as a Poi bowl or food bowl circa 19th/20th century , being laborious to make many of the bowls show repairs such as these hourglass or butterfly patches that replaced broken or damaged sections, and were passed down through each generation.

1844A 19tH CEntUrY MAori BAsALt PAtU $3,000 - 5,000

these basalt clubs are known as patu onewa. they were highly prized objects due to the long and laborious time it took to manufacture them to an almost machined perfection.

1712 A MAssiM rEGion CAnoE sPLAsHBoArD, CirCA 1950 $1,000 - 2,000

As well as being ornamental they helped increase the freeboard of the canoe by allowing boards to be attached between the two splashboards and stopping waves spilling into the craft. splashboards were also believed to have magical powers bringing good fortune and safety to the owner.

1690A MiDDLE sEPik AnCEstor MAsk$3,000 - 5,000

originally worn by young men during initiation ceremonies. the mask would symbolise female and male ancestors, being a mask for each gender. the male ancestor masks were generally carved with elongated features of both bird and man whereas the corresponding female ancestor mask would be round and fuller.

Tribal Highlights

10MAY LEONARD

THe MaRK LIssaueR CoLLeCTIoN

CHinA - JAPAn - inDonEsiA - inDiA - t iBEt - MELAnEsiA - PoLYnEsiA

Asian Highlights

1269 A BronZE CErEMoniAL BHUtA BoDY MAsk$2,000 - 3,000

Bhuta is a sanskrit word that means passed away or spirit. Bhuta ceremonies were conducted to evoke a spirit, which was enabled by a highly stylized ritual dance where the masks are used, and the dancer then transformed into an oracle for their audience. these ceremonies were often commissioned by wealthy families and only occurred once a year.

1584 A 15tH CEntUrY Moko BronZE kEttLE DrUM, ALor isLAnD $800 - 1,000

Mainly found in Alor island, moko drums are highly sought after, as they are no longer being produced. they are ceremonial drums which are also used as dowries to acquire a bride or as a symbol of social status

1133A rArE roCk CrYstAL kAPALA CErEMoniAL BoWL$2,000 - 3,000

kapala is a sanskrit word meaning skull or forehead, and originally these were crafted from human skullcaps and heavily embellished with various precious metals and stones. kapala vessels, now commonly bronze or alloy based are used for esoteric purposes such as tantric rituals and offerings.

1469 An ELABorAtE oLD CHinEsE oPErA sinGEr’s HEADDrEss $400 - 600

kingfisher feather art, also known as tian-tsui, has been a highly regarded art work in China for the past 2000 years. Mainly commissioned by wealthy and noble families, tian-tsui was a highly specialised and painstaking craft which died with the rise of the Chinese revolution in the 1940s.

1215 A sUisEki, roCk forMAtion$600 - 700

suiseki are naturally occurring rock formations, and they are a representation of the beauty of nature and the superfluous relationship between man and nature. originally influenced by the scholars stones of China, their introduction into Japan is believed to have begun in the Asuka period (538-710 AD)

11 MAYLEONARD

jeweLs HIgHLIgHTs

June Auction Highlights

An AntiQUE AQUAMArinE AnD sEED PEArL nECkLACE in 15Ct GoLD$1,600 – 2,400

JEWELS

An iMPrEssiVE PAir of CoLoMBiAn EMErALD AnD DiAMonD EArrinGs $40,000 – 60,000

An AntiQUE soLitAirE oLD EUroPEAn CUt DiAMonD rinG WEiGHinG 2.0Cts, CoLoUr G CLAritY si. $10,000 – 12,000

A CHAnEL J12 AUtoMAtiC WristWAtCH $3,000 – 5,000

Jewels auction Monday 22 June 2015 at 6pm

Sydney viewing Highlightsfriday 12 June 10am-4pmsaturday 13 June 10am-4pmsunday 14 June 10am-4pm

Melbourne viewing Wednesday 17 June 9am-8pmthursday 18 June 10am-4pmfriday 19 June 10am-4pmsaturday 20 June 10am-5pmsunday 21 June 10am-5pm

enquiriesrobert Haigh, Manager, senior Jewellery specialist

(03) 8825 [email protected]

12MAY LEONARD

HaLLMaRKs, sIgNaTuRes & sTaMPs oN jeweLLeRY

When considering the purchase of jewellery at auction it is important to carefully examine the piece and locate any and all the marks on it. Many pieces, even of the highest quality are very often unmarked, but when marked they can reveal great detail about the piece. Without marks much of the history may be lost if given to the next generation or sold on the open market to the highest bidder. Marks may be found anywhere and it is important to check over the entire piece carefully, as the marks might be hidden in obscure places. Some of the more common places to check are on the inside of a ring shank, on the back of a piece or on its clasp. There are a multitude of marks that may be found and a great deal of useful information can be ascertained from them. English hallmarks for example will

provide the exact year the piece was assayed and the type and purity of the metal of manufacture. We may find more standard marks such as ‘750’ for 18ct gold and ‘925’ for sterling silver. The number refers to the purity of the metal in parts per 1000. Many jewellers and jewellery houses will sign their items and may also include a design reference number. This is done to enhance brand identification and shows pride in manufacture. These marks can reveal for all time valuable information such as how many items of a particular design were produced and the original price. This is done using the marks to research and verify the piece. Questions like who commissioned a piece and why, may still be problematic but the marks can identify the craftsman who made the piece. The bigger Houses keep extensive records, especially on

the bespoke pieces commissioned by wealthy, famous or infamous clients. This can all add a significant premium to the market price - a true indication of the desirability of an item. Take, for example, the recent sale of the Wendt brooch in Leonard Joel’s March Fine Jewellery sale which hammered for $9000 against an estimate of $800 - $1200. When looking at the marks on pieces there are numerous considerations but the first thing to identify is whether the marks are genuine. First, we can ascertain whether the marks have been applied in the correct fashion, for example stamped rather than cast into the piece. If they are cast, then the piece has been copied from the original and would be valued at a mere fraction of the original and may even be illegal to own. Secondly, does the mark match the period of the

piece? For example, Georg Jensen has a particular stamp depending on the period of its manufacture. If the period of the piece and the stamp do not fit, serious questions must be asked. A third consideration is quality of manufacture. If a famous house signature such as VCA or Cartier appears but the quality is not up to their high standards, it must be more closely examined. Another check to be made is of such things as stamped design references, to ensure they match the original. At Leonard Joel our team of specialists, valuers, and qualified staff would be happy to assist with any questions you may have about the marks on pieces you are considering purchasing or selling at auction.

Jade Auction Highlights

HALLMArks, siGnAtUrEs & stAMPs on JEWELLErY

ROBERt HaIGH

MAnAGEr, sEnior JEWELLErY sPECiAList

A PAir of Art DECo JADE AnD DiAMonD EArrinGs SOLD $1,952 IBP

An Art DECo CArVED JADEitE AnD DiAMonD PEnDAnt SOLD $2,440 IBP

An Art DECo JADEitE AnD DiAMonD BrooCH SOLD $1,708 IBP

13 MAYLEONARD

FINe aRT HIgHLIgHTs

CHArLEs BLACkMAnGolden Eve 1971oil on board, 135 x 181cm$45,000 - 65,000

DAViD LArWiLLUntitled c. 1981oil on canvas, 85 x 101cm$8,000 - 12,000

JAMEs fArDoULYsMy Cat Doula 1966oil on board, 38 x 48cm$8,000 - 10,000

Fine art auction tuesday 23 June 2015, 6.30pm

Melbourne viewing Wednesday 17 June 9am-8pmthursday 18 June 10am-4pmfriday 19 June 10am-4pmsaturday 20 June 10am-5pmsunday 21 June 10am-5pm

Enquiriessophie Ullin, Head of Art

(03) 8825 [email protected]

June Auction Highlights

frAnZ Von stUCkAthlete bronze$12,000 - 14,000

14MaY leoNarD

DesTINaTIoN HoNg KoNg

SOPHIE ULLIN

HEAD of Art

You probably don’t need to read the newspaper or consult Google to know that London and New York now have another contender in the ranks for the title of serious major art centre: Hong Kong. Testament to this, the latest TEFAF Art Market Report revealed that China accounted for 22% of the $70.7 billion market, matching the U.K. at 22% behind poll leader the U.S. at 39%. It is impossible to ignore the region’s exponential growth. In under a decade Hong Kong has cemented itself as an art powerhouse, boasting itself as the third jewel in the Art centre crown. I experienced a slice of the pulsating action in March when I answered the alluring siren call to attend Art Basel Hong Kong, the third edition of the stellar fair brand, now in its third year. I had visited the previous fair incarnation Art Hong Kong (2008-2012), which was instrumental in putting the region on the art radar. On these first trips I witnessed the topography of the commercial art scene shift at lighting speed from a local to global focus, international contemporary galleries spawning branches with alarming and amazing alacrity. This led critics to label Art Hong Kong as a

branding exercise, an echoing of the retail colonisation model espoused by multinationals like Apple. Unsurprisingly, there was speculation as to whether the fair and new galleries were more akin to art pop-ups, spaces that barely invested in creating depth and were yet to prove that they could or would cater beyond a narrow audience. The push was evident amongst auction houses too. Major players Christie’s and Sotheby’s have been ensconced in Hong Kong for many years, but have recently been joined by Bonhams who have set up rooms. The rapidity of the growth in commercial art in Hong Kong is to some degree unexpected in a place that is a trading hub at its core. Given the credence Hong Kong gives to luxury brands, the million dollar question is whether the fundamentals of this art hub can move beyond both this abiding brand reliance and overwhelming financial thrust to also embrace the depth and scope of its cultural aspects. My recent visit went some way towards tempering these views. As a sometimes

jaded, battle-weary veteran of many fairs, I happily found myself in a more nuanced and sophisticated fair environment with much to discover and uncover. There was a notable increase in the presence of heavyweight galleries from Europe and the U.S., who brought with them a more serious tone and considered attitude, banishing any notions of razzle-dazzle or traces of vanilla art . Rather, much of the work on view was by turns contemplative, captivating and provocative, engendering the necessary push and pull effect that creates a satisfying and stimulating art experience. Contemporaneously the international gallery outposts have acclimatised to their new environment and are working hard to calibrate themselves towards an expanding market with a desire to educate and invest in the long term growth of the region. They are achieving this in part by offering diverse exhibition programs which are better balanced between Asian and European artists. Importantly, Hong Kong is not simply allowing the commercial realm to dominate the art sphere. It is dedicating vast resources to creating cultural

institutions at a level only matched in the 21st century by the U.A.E.’s prodigious cultural pursuits. Recently, the former Police Married Quarters in Hong Kong was transformed into a not-for profit platform for creative industries, whilst Asia’s oldest independent contemporary artist-run space ParaSite moved to new and expanded premises last month. Furthermore, there is the development of the enormous and ambitious West Kowloon Cultural District, housing multiple arts venues including the much anticipated art museum, M+ (opening 2018). It will certainly be fascinating to observe how Hong Kong’s innate, resounding energy and entrepreneurial spirit are galvanised in shaping the city as a major art hub. Certainly one of the most exciting aspects from the Australian perspective is that we are poised on Hong Kong’s doorstep, the wide gap separating us from the Northern Hemisphere is finally beginning to close.

DEstinAtion HonG konG MoVinG BEYonD tHE BrAnD

15 MAYLEONARD

sPeCIaLIsT PRINTs

enquiriesOlivia Fuller, fine Art specialist(03) 8825 5624 | [email protected]

Maggie Skelton, Manager, Vintage interiors Art(03) 8825 5630 | [email protected]

AUCtion tHUrsDAY 14 MAY At 11.30AM

noEL CoUniHAnMexican Girllinocut, 63 X 46cm$400 - 600

ALUn LEACH-JonEsUntitled Abstractscreenprint, 75 X 75cm $300 - 500

HAL tHorPEFruit and Flowers

hand coloured woodblock40 X 26cm

$800 - 1,200

In March 2011, the Art Department was delighted to revive a Leonard Joel tradition with the launch of our Specialist Prints auction series. These auctions bring together Australian and international graphics of various techniques ranging from early 19th century hand-coloured engravings and etchings to modern and contemporary screen-prints, lithographs, linocuts and photographs.

The Specialist Prints auction has held its place as the leading auction of its kind, with record auction prices set for a number of artists.

With four print auctions each year, Leonard Joel offers a wide range of prints for clients to add to their collections, as well as a team of Art Specialists happy to provide obligation-free market valuations.

The upcoming May auction will feature works by Jason Benjamin, Eric Thake, Leslie van der Sluys, Jan Senbergs, Murray Griffin and a special collection of photography by Gordon De Lisle.

sPECiAList Prints

16MAY LEONARD

VINTage INTeRIoRs

Vintage Interiors will be celebrating art and design of the early 20th century and interwar period as an exclusive feature in its May 14th Auction. Departments are seeking entries from all categories of this exciting and formative era in design including Art Nouveau, Secessionist, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco and Bauhaus. We have witnessed a trend toward pieces that include Austrian bentwood furniture, Arts and Crafts designs inspired by Walter Burley Griffin, Warren McArthur’s revolutionary aluminium framed furniture, reproductions of classic French Art Nouveau prints, Art Nouveau and Deco chandeliers, Art Deco Bakelite appliances and interiors, and examples of fine porcelain and silver by notable manufacturers such as W.M.F. With a thematic sale comprising such a variety of sub categories we are excited to announce this call for entries.

For enquiries please contact:Dominic Kavanagh, Antiques, Interiors and Design,(03) 8825 [email protected]

Sasa Mitic, Objects and Collectibles (03) 8825 [email protected]

Maggie Skelton, Art and Sculpture (03) 8825 [email protected]

VintAGE intEriors

WAntED for AUCtion

EARLY 20TH CENTURY AND INTERWAR THEMATIC AUCTION

An oriGinAL J.J. koHn BEntWooD sEttinG CoMPrisinG A tWo sEAt sEttEE, CArVEr AnD sEVEn CHAirs. (stAMPs to BAsE)EstiMAtE UPon rEQUEst

17 MAYLEONARD

MoDeRN DesIgN

MoDErn DEsiGn

I wonder how Leonard Joel would have reacted if he had ever been told that one day

his auction establishment would sell a leather sofa designed as a giant glove from a far

away Italian design house for $9,760 (IBP). I don’t think he would have been able to

conceive such a change in design and utility could ever take place in what was then an

Australia with a very English aesthetic sensibility. But the change has taken place and to

borrow a Robert Hughes line our Modern Design auction on Wednesday evening was

a furniture and design version of “the shock of the new!”

Extraordinary design across so many categories sold to a room full of architects,

designers and passionate collectors who seemed as relaxed about the acquisition of

these modern pieces as their parents would have been about the purchase of a set of

mahogany English chairs! Anna Grassham, our specialist in this exciting category, has

brought her signature love of people and great design to this auction category and her

playful yet serious curatorial approach to these auctions speak for themselves.

Here we highlight three further results, apart from the 1971 Joe chair by Poltronova,

that speak of the new passion for Modern design at auction. The design studios

and personalities of Meadmore, Eames and Featherston dominated proceedings

but European design also enjoyed strong results. Lot 60, the supremely refined and

pared down desk by Andre Laurent, realised $8,540 (IBP) and buyer focus on rare lines

continued when a single Eleanor chair by Featherston, lot 148, sold for $6,710 (IBP)

with its elegant, extended wing-like armrests delighting collectors. Confronting design

found its metaphor toward the end of the auction in lot 311, a pair of Serge Mouille wall

lights, which resembled helmet designs from the 1951 classic The Day the Earth Stood

Still. The pair quadrupled their low estimate to sell for a staggering $4148 (IBP) after

three telephone bidders competed for the pair.

Anna Grassham, now recognised in auction circles as the “go to” person for Modern

Design selling, was delighted with the grand 332 lot offering that realised over

$390,000 IBP.

Now coNsigNiNg for classic furNiture & objects auctioN 27 august

enquiriesAnna Grassham, Modern Design specialist(03) 8825 5637 | 0478 114 [email protected]

18MAY LEONARD

MoDeRN DesIgN

PAir of sErGE MoUiLLE WALL LiGHts sold for $4,148 iBP

A GrAnt fEAtHErston ELEAnor ContoUr CHAirsold for $6,710 iBP

PoLtronoVA GLoVE sofA sold for $9,760 iBP

An AnDrÉ LAUrEnt DEsksold for $8,540 iBP

19 MAYLEONARD

DReweaTTs & bLooMsbuRY

PrEsEntinG

CHINESE CERaMICS aND aSIaN WORkS OF aRt DonninGton PriorY, nEWBUrY, BErksHirE rG14 2JE

tUEsDAY 19tH MAY, 10.00AM

DREWEATTS & BLOOMSBURY

View the auction catalogue at www.bloomsburyauctions.com View the catalogue online at www.dreweatts.com

A white jade table screen,19th century

Est. £3,000-5,000

A rare embroidered imperial apricot ground twelve symbols dragon robe, Jifu, 19th century

Est. £8,000-10,000

A pair of cloisonné enamel doublecrane censers, 150cm high

Est. £6,000-8,000

A set of four Chinese watercoloursof Chinese costumes, circa 1825

Est. £400-600

A large archaistic zun vessel,59cm high

Est. £1,200-1,800

namikawa Yasuyuki. An unusualsmall enamel box, Meiji period

Est. £1,500-2,000

Viewing times: friday 15th May, 9.30am-4.00pm; saturday 16th May, 9.00am-12.30pm; sunday 17th May, 10.00am-2.00pm; Monday 18th May, 9.00am-6.00pm; Day of sale, from 8.30am

bidding and Information: [email protected] | 01635 553 553 | www.dreweatts.com

20MAY LEONARD

sToCK IN TRaDe auCTIoN

stoCk in trADE AUCtion WALLY JoHnson’s AntiQUEs AnD CoLLECtABLEs

The name of the antiques and collectables dealership operated by Tom Szekeres and his son, Chanon for the past 16 years, Wally Johnson’s Antiques and Collectables, came about through a combination of exasperation, timing and perhaps some subliminal family influence. “Wally Johnson was the name of a dog belonging to my wife Julie’s grandmother. When we went to register the name of our business, all of the names we had chosen were already taken. We decided that this name was as good as any – and it happened to be available!”A cabinet maker by profession, Tom, with his wife, Julie, has been involved in antique dealing in some form or another since 1969, when they opened their first shop, Sovereign Antiques, on High Street Armadale. This was followed by a nightclub, Hogie’s, in Malvern East, which was run in parallel with numerous design and construction projects, both in Australia and overseas.Now, Tom has made the decision to move away from the retailing side of his business, to focus on bespoke furniture design and manufacture. The stock in trade of Wally Johnson’s Antiques and Collectables will be dispersed in an on-site auction at Tom’s premises, 130 Dynon Road, West Melbourne, from 11am on Sunday 10th May.

Comprising over 900 lots, the auction will include items ranging from the fun and affordable, to serious antique furniture, such as the fine quality, late 19th century cedar and Blackwood retail display cabinet, lot 265, which was made for the art product manufacturer Windsor & Newton. The cabinet was formerly part of the original shop fittings of Windsor & Newton retailer, Deans Art Supplies, Pty Ltd, in Little Collins Street, Melbourne and has a personal connection with Tom: “I worked at Dean’s Art Supplies after I left school,” says Tom. “There were three of these display cabinets and they contained special things belonging to the owners of the shop. Junior staff weren’t allowed to go near them, only trusted staff were permitted to open them. This is the only remaining one of the cabinets that we know of.” The cabinet will be offered with an estimate of $8,000 – $12,000. Also included in the auction are fittings, fixtures and signage associated with prominent Melbourne landmarks, providing a fascinating link between ‘old’ and ‘new’ Melbourne, which is sure to be of interest to local history and Australiana collectors.

Stock in trade of Wally Johnson’s antiques & Collectablesauction Sunday 10 May 2015, 11am

Preview & auction Onsite130 Dynon road, West Melbourne

Preview Wednesday 6th May 10am to 8pmthursday 7th May 10am to 5pmfriday 8th May 10am to 5pmsaturday 9th May 10am to 5pmNo viewing Auction Day

EnquiriesGuy CairnduffHead of Classic furniture & objects(03) 8825 5611 / 0407 828 [email protected]

21 MAYLEONARD

leonardjoel.com.au

Melbourne Head Office333 Malvern RoadSouth Yarra VIC 3141 Australiat. 03 9826 4333 f. 03 9826 4544

Sydney

39 Queen StreetWoollahra NSW 2025 Australiat. 02 9362 9045 f. 03 9826 4544

AUS $17.50 NZ $25.00

NEW ART & CULTURE

VAULTART.COM.AU

RameshNithiyeNdRaN

ISSUE 9 MARCh 2015El AnAtsui GilbErt & GEorGE ClAirE lAmbE riChArd lEwEr dAvid lynCh nyApAnyApA yunupinGu

NEW ART & CULTURE MAGAZINE

ART COLLECTOR: CLINTON NGClinton Ng might not play favourites with his art collection, but he can’t

conceal his enthusiasm for the pieces that light him up. When quizzing

Ng about why A Bar at the Folies-Bergère, Vik Muniz’s freewheeling riff

on the Manet masterpiece, currently takes centre stage in his Sydney

apartment, his response is the mark of someone with unswerving faith

in art’s transformative potential: “It just gives and gives and gives.”

But Ng, who has spent the last decade cultivating a 400-work collection

– which includes everything from photographs and video works by Thomas

Ruff, Wolfgang Tillmans, Rosemary Laing and Shaun Gladwell, to sculpture

and paintings by Olafur Eliasson, Thomas Hirschhorn, Ahmed Alsoudani,

Hiromi Tango and Sam Jinks – knows that a collector’s trajectory isn’t down

to passion alone. By religiously attending art fairs and combing the internet

with missionary zeal, the busy gastroenterologist – who sits on the board

of Art Month Sydney and whose own policy of giving has sparked loans

to institutions including the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the University

of Queensland and the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia – hopes to

capture the breadth, depth and virtuosity of the present moment in

contemporary art.

HOW DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER COLLECTING AND WHAT PROMPTED

YOU TO INVEST IN YOUR FIRST PIECE?

I was bored shitless doing my PhD on irritable bowel syndrome and I found

myself surfi ng the net for art and visiting galleries to remain sane. I’ve been

drawn to art from a young age and have always loved drawings, crafts and

comics as well as books with beautiful illustrations. My parents actively

encouraged this.

I view collecting in terms of a relationship, and like any relationship the

connection is important, whether it’s on an emotional, intellectual or some

other level. The work has to have something signifi cant to say and must

say something I can relate to. I’m also strategic. The last thing any collector

wants is to fi nd out that a piece they have paid good money for is worthless

in a monetary or cultural sense. I always ask myself if the work will stand

the test of time and I buy to encourage artists to make and show more.

THE FIRST PIECE YOU ACQUIRED WAS STUDY FOR RED CENTRE BY JOHN

COBURN OVER 10 YEARS AGO. WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF YOUR

COLLECTION AND HOW HAS YOUR FOCUS EVOLVED?

I’ve always collected contemporary works that refl ect the experience of life

today, with all its complexity, uncertainty, harshness, joy and beauty.

Read the full article in Issue 9 of Vault Magazine, Out Now.

VAULT ISSUE 9 OUT NOW GILBERT & GEORGE, CLAIRE LAMBE, EL ANATSUI, RICHARD LEWER,NYAPANYAPA YUNUPINGU, DAVID LYNCH & MORE

SUBSCRIBE NOWTO VIEW SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS VISIT VAULTART.COM.AU

LEONARD, issue 39, May 2015

Documents

Transcript of LEONARD, issue 39, May 2015