Davidson Auctions’ Fine Art Sale on 16 August Features the David Angeloro Collection of Australian Sculpture

By David Hulme & Brigitte Banziger, on 13-Aug-2020

In their fine art auction to be held live on 16 August in Sydney, Davidson Auctions prominently features the David Angeloro Collection of 20th century Australian sculpture. This follows on from the very successful offering of the collection of female Australian artists from this collector last year.

In the sale comprising a total of 468 lots, several important exponents of sculpture are included, among them Rayner Hoff, Barbara Tribe, Tom Bass, Arthur Fleishmann and Dora Ohlfsen.

Barbara Tribe's Medusa, estimated at $25,000-40,000, is the most important of the works from the David Angeloro Australian sculpture collection offered at Davidson Auctions on 16 August in Sydney.

The most significant of these are the ones by Barbara Tribe (1913 – 2000). David Angeloro was a friend of the artist and became her driver later in her life, and all of the Tribe works were purchased directly from the artist. The outstanding sculpture on offer here is Medusa, 1931 (Lot 101 ), edition 1/12, cast 1991, and estimated at $25,000-40,000. Smith & Singer sold edition 8/12 in October 2018 for a $39,000 hammer price.

The sale also includes Tribe’s much rarer Sea Nymph, 1934 (Lot 102 ), edition 1 of just 2 and cast in 1998, carries estimates of $18,000-30,000.

One of Rayner Hoff’s best known sculptures Faun and Nymph, 1924 (Lot 137 ) was cast as a limited edition by the Art Gallery of NSW in 1997-98, and this edition 39/100 is offered with estimates of $1,500-2,500.

A rare Frank Hinder carved Queensland maple sculpture from the 1950s Reclining – After Henry Moore (Lot 136 ) is estimated at $500-900.

Another hand carved wooden sculpture should generate attention from New Zealand: Paul Beadle’s Figure of Christ, 1954 (Lot 156 ) is from the estate of H.C. (Nugget) Coombs with estimates of $1,500-3,000.

“Nugget” was one of the most prominent public servants, serving as Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia from 1960 – 1968, and there are a number of other artworks offered in this sale once owned by Coombs, including lot 93 Leonard French, lot 98 Fred Williams, lot 271 Justin O’Brien.

Other interesting offerings include Neville W Cayley’s Kookaburras in a Bush Landscape (Lot 35 ). This large work at 75 x 100 cm is one of the best watercolours by this eminent bird painter to come on to the market for many years, carrying hopes of $7,000-12,000.

Three Tim Johnson Papunya Tula works from 1982-83 (lots 76, 77, 78) on offer may be of historical significance and elicit institutional interest; lots 76 and 77, estimated at $3,000-5,000, were shown in the Perspecta exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW in 1983.

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About The Author

Brigitte Banziger and David Hulme are the principals of Banziger Hulme Fine Art Consultants, established since 2003. With their combined experience of over 40 years, they provide private collectors as well as companies and public institutions with independent expert art valuations. In addition to their appraisals for insurance, family law, deceased estates and market values, they assist clients with transparent advice when buying or selling an individual artwork or an entire collection, for some of Australia’s most significant private collectors. David Hulme is an approved valuer for the Australian Government’s Cultural Gifts Program, and both Brigitte and David are members of the Art Consulting Association of Australia, where David served as President from 2015 to 2019. David Hulme is a regular art market critic and commentator on the Australian art market and has been interviewed by numerous media, including the 'Australian Financial Review', 'The Australian' and 'The Sydney Morning Herald'. He has also been interviewed on Network 10’s 'The Project', on the ABC’s Radio National Breakfast show with Hamish MacDonald, the ABC’s 'The Business' program amongst many others.

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