Auctions Melbourne
Established in 1919, Leonard Joel is Australia’s premier auction house; a marketplace for the rare, the beautiful and the extraordinary.
Leonard Joel Melbourne offers specialist expertise and regular, curated auctions in Fine Jewels & Timepieces, Fine Art, Decorative Arts, Asian Works of Art, Modern Design, Prints & Multiples, Luxury and more.
Leonard Joel Melbourne is also renowned for The Auction Salon; a long-running and popular auction offering over 1,000 lots of Furniture, Jewellery, Art and Objects every week.
Our Melbourne premises have moved from our first home in Little Collins Street to McKillop Street, Melbourne, and then to both Inkerman Street, St Kilda and High Street, Armadale. In 1996 we moved to the former Hawksburn primary school at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra. Leonard Joel Hawthorn opened in 2024.
Melbourne Auction Highlights
Melbourne Auction Specialists
John Albrecht
Chairman & Head of Important Collections
Contact JohnJohn Albrecht belongs to one of Melbourne’s retail dynasties. His father Kurt Albrecht owned and operated the oldest jewellery retailer in Australia, Kozminsky, and had conducted business with the Joel family for many decades. After founding the modern day jewellery department at Leonard Joel two decades ago, John completed a bachelor of law degree and arts degree at Monash University. Later at RMIT he completed an MBA with a thesis on the commoditisation of Australian art and recent art fund activity. At Kozminsky, he was instrumental in the founding of their art gallery and was a director of the firm.
After a brief period as a securities broker John returned to his passion for all things auction and established Joel Fine Art for Leonard Joel in 2006. For two years John Albrecht and his team at Joel Fine Art conducted major Australian and Aboriginal fine art auctions and delivered numerous Australian art auction records. In 2009 John was invited to return to Leonard Joel as Managing Director and in 2011 completed a successful takeover of the company. He now oversees all important private collections.
Chiara Curcio
Head of Decorative Arts, Design & Interiors
Contact ChiaraChiara joined Leonard Joel in 2011 with a keen interest in antiques and the auction market. After completing her Bachelor Degree with a focus in Theory of Art and Design, Archeology, History and languages, Chiara joined Leonard Joel as a junior objects assistant. Her eager interest in object and furniture design and their histories moved her from junior assistant, to manager and then Decorative Arts specialist within a four year period.
In 2017, Chiara was appointed Head of Decorative Arts; within her tenure, she has pioneered two dedicated Asian Art auctions in this category per year and further developed partnerships with local and international collectors and societies within this field.
In addition to valuing and curating specialty auctions, Chiara is also a Senior auctioneer, offering eight years of auctioneering experience.
Rebecca Sheahan
Head of Fine Jewels & Timepieces
Contact RebeccaRebecca has over 20 years of experience in the jewellery and luxury goods sectors. She joined Leonard Joel in 2024 from four years at Smith & Singer (formerly Sotheby’s Australia) as a jewellery specialist and has managed one of Melbourne’s luxury brand manufacturing and retailing diamond jewellery businesses, Holloway Diamonds. Rebecca is a qualified gemmologist, diamond grader and valuer, and is a fellow of the Gemmological Association of Australia.
Wiebke Brix
Head of Art
Contact WiebkeWiebke Brix brings a wealth of experience, passion for art and expertise to Leonard Joel. Wiebke holds a PhD in Fine Art and has extensive experience in the gallery sector, as well as experience in project management and marketing.
Wiebke completed a master’s of studio arts with honours at Sydney College of the Arts under the influential contemporary Australian painter and sculptor Lindy Lee. Wiebke was then awarded a scholarship to complete a PhD in Fine Arts at Monash University in Melbourne, focusing on sculpture and installation art. After completing her studies, she commenced her career at Scott Livesey Galleries as Gallery Manager, working with important Australian artists such as Stelarc, Joshua Yeldham and Bruce Armstrong. It was through director Scott Livesey that she was first exposed to the secondary art market and developed an interest in the field.
In 2022, Wiebke decided to return to her adoration for the arts and took on the role of Art Curator at Alcaston Gallery. Wiebke’s tenure at Alcaston Gallery, known for its expertise in First Nations Art, has provided her with valuable insights into the indigenous art market.