Despite being one of the oldest art traditions, Indigenous Australian art remained relatively unknown to the broader world until the second half of the 20th Century, when artist communities emerged. Ahead of our Indigenous Art auction in February 2021, I’d like to highlight some of the key regions encompassing Australia’s diverse Indigenous artforms as well as […]
One of the most powerful ways to transform one’s look or capture an expression of style is through jewellery. None understood this better than David Webb. Often referred to as the quintessential American jeweller, David Webb’s jewels captured the zeitgeist of the 1960s and ‘70s. Appealing to a new generation of independent American working women, […]
Looking back with gratitude and goodwill. While it may seem a little cliché or unoriginal to be thanking clients and friends of a business at a year’s end, it has always been my intention at Leonard Joel that we never forget that the market we make for the beautiful and the rare is only made […]
The rarity of natural blue diamonds is undisputed; many jewellery designers never encounter a natural example of the stone throughout their entire careers. (While it is often claimed that pink diamonds are more rare than blue, this may be due to an increased demand, rather than reduced supply.) The only mines sourcing blue diamonds are […]
Dean Sunshine is known in the arts community as a street artist aficionado. He began his blog ‘Land of Sunshine’ in 2010 with a mural by Keith Haring featured in the first post. Sunshine has maintained a deep interest in Keith Haring’s life and practice. I am delighted to share with you an interview with […]
Emerald is the most prized and well-known stone of the beryl mineral family, (aquamarine being another). The use of emeralds in jewellery and objects of personal adornment date back millennia; the oldest emerald, from South Africa, is 2.97 billion years old. Emerald is the birthstone of May and the gem of the 20th and 35th […]
Jessie Traill is one of Australia’s most important 20th Century printmakers, and we are delighted to present two exceptionally rare examples of her printmaking practice in our upcoming Prints and Multiples auction in November. In particular, her View from Old Temple Court, made in 1923. In 1909, Jessie moved to a studio at 43 Temple […]
Dora Chapman was one of South Australia’s greatest creations, and her diverse career from artist, teacher, feminist, carer and wife is a fascinating one. The auction market has recently seen prices for Dora Chapman’s highly collectable screenprint series from the 1970s rocket in price, as collectors are starting to acknowledge her incredible role in 20th […]
Max Robinson is a respected visual designer and artist, having begun his career and practice in design. When asked about Max Robinson, your first thought may be his design of the Australian $10 note. While this is his most notable design, Robinson’s ouvre is much broader. He loved art from an early age, and studied […]
Nora Heysen achieved many firsts in her career. She was the first woman to win the prestigious Archibald prize for portraiture, and the first female Australian official war artist. As a young girl, Nora was strongly encouraged by those around her to pursue her artistic talents. Sydney Ure Smith, Lional Lindsay, and Will Ashton (friends […]