In 1990 I was a young auction store person at Leonard Joel (I prefer the English expression “porter”, but I will keep this real!) with an interest in jewellery, and I was lucky enough to have been mentored by Graham Joel, who gave me a long leash as I tried to win exciting business. In […]
It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year since our first Virtual Luxury auction in March 2020. Always ahead of the game, the auction was planned well before we had any inkling of the Covid restrictions and lockdowns that would plague us. The concept was a Godsend however and set us in […]
The “gold fever” that gripped Australia in the 1850s spread like wildfire, overturning the political and social systems as it tore through the landscape and changed it forever. The gold rush led to an increase in population, which helped to bring social as well as cultural development, and less than fifty years after gold was discovered, […]
Australian women artists in the early 20th Century were pivotal in the shaping of Modernism as we know it today. Framed by the world wars, the Wall street crash of 1929 and the Great Depression, Australia bore witness to an influx of change and social evolution. The rise in international media, education and access to […]
Lea Stein’s costume jewellery, although of a definite distinctive style, often transcends the varying tastes of differing demographics, with few being able to resist a gasp of delight when they spot a “Ric the dog”, “Buba the owl” or the most recognisable “Renard the Fox”. The wide range of colourful, multi-textured designs depicting familiar fond […]
Opals have a history and lore as colourful as the play-of-colour phenomena they exhibit. Greek mythology records that opals were the physical result of Zeus’ tears of joy, rolling down to earth upon taking his seat as King of the Gods after a decade long war fighting to overthrow his father and the Titans. One […]
Melbournians will no doubt recognise Tom Gerrard’s iconic characters, who can be spotted throughout the city’s streets and, more recently, gallery walls. We sat down with the globally recognised painter to find out more about his practice, inspirations, and philosophy around collecting art. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your practice? I’m […]
Often referred to as one of the most controversial street artists in the world, Banksy is now on every avid contemporary art collector’s radar. Achieving astronomical results at auction over the last five years especially, Banksy has re-branded the graffiti movement, paving the way for street artists to come. Banksy’s identity remains unknown, even after […]
It is probably not news to most that there has been a global move towards buying preowned goods, and that the Luxury market is ahead of the game, with sales going through the roof in online stores and at auction. The reason for the trend is a complex mix of sustainability, durability, affordability, and of […]
No matter how beautiful the actors or riveting the plot, sometimes it’s the furniture and set designs that are the real showstoppers in films. “American Psycho” was released over 20 years ago now, and yet it is still regarded as a benchmark for 80s apartment chic. Designing the home of Patrick Bateman fell to set […]