Introducing our Team – Sally Hardy

An Eye for Art

Sally is a Co-Director of Theodore Bruce Auctioneers with her brother, James Badgery, Managing Director and Casi Prischl, Head of Auctions & Jewellery. Sally and James stem from a long line of auctioneers, with their great grandfather HS Badgery holding the second Auctioneers Licence in Australia and being an integral part of the stock firm, Pitt, Son & Badgery.

Their grandfather, Bevan, ran a Stock & Station agency in the Southern Highlands. Their father, Henry Badgery, was the owner and former Managing Director of James R Lawson Auctioneers.

Auctions didn’t immediately beckon, however. After school, Sally completed a degree in Visual Arts at Alexander Mackie College, a longstanding Sydney institution and forerunner of the University of NSW College of Fine Arts (COFA, now UNSW Art & Design). After college she travelled extensively through Europe, immersing herself in galleries and museums before joining Lawsons Auctioneers on her return to Sydney.

“My parents suggested I needed a job and there was one going at work, so I joined as an assistant to the Fine Art and Book departments. The Head of the Fine Art department left and I took on the job with much trepidation; learning much in a very hands-on role.”

The fine art auctions were very large at the time, and even with a strong knowledge of art history, all research needed to be completed through books and visits to the library.

Sally was with Lawsons for 16 years, building a fine arts team – “I had some lovely assistants, who went on to do great things in auction houses both here and internationally” – and getting to know a large base of loyal clients.

After Lawsons, Sally established her own valuation company, offering private and commercial art valuations for various purposes, including Cultural Gift Valuations for donations to Public Institutions.

In 2010 Sally joined her brother James at Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers – then establishing its Sydney showroom – as a consultant, and after six years she became a shareholder.

Sally now oversees the very successful Fashion and Fine Art auctions, with a hands on approach that covers all aspects of the auction process.

A Flair for Fashion

In addition to being a visual art specialist, Sally established and shaped the Fashion department to now offer regular auctions in vintage and designer clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories.

“We started holding fashion auctions about six years ago when we were located in Ralph St, Alexandria. I was always interested in fashion, and we had a few clients who mentioned they would like to sell their designer clothing.”

When the first auction went well, more soon followed. “We started to get a name for fashion auctions, and we’re continuing to build on that. We concentrate on high end designer items or really interesting vintage pieces in excellent condition. We’ve had some pretty amazing collections so far – including the Fashion Collection of the Late Helena Carr and the Janette Beavis Collection – and we’re focusing on offering more detailed catalogues and more high-end selections.”

Pictured: A Christian Dior Brown & White 100% Wool Mini Check Equestrian Style Jacket from the Helena Carr Winter Collection auction

Collecting the Eclectic

Like many working in the auction industry Sally’s passion for fine art and fashion has led to a collection of small and interesting works, and distinctive fashion finds.

“I started collecting art the moment I started in auctions,” says Sally. “At art school, I studied linocut and etching, and when I started in auctions, I began to buy etchings and woodblock prints, which were were much less expensive than oil paintings. I think the first was a Lionel Lindsay. I now have quite a collection of mainly Australian woodblock and linocut etchings.”

Over the years, Sally began to collect other works, starting with small oils. “It’s a very eclectic mix,” she states. “I’ve bought contemporary, modernist Australian, as well as works stretching back to the 1930’s. I also own a few earlier pieces that were created by various ancestors. My great grandmother was a painter, as was the wife of the first Badgery who arrived in Australia. My mother-in-law was a ceramicist, and now my daughter has taken up ceramics.” It’s a fascinating family line – of artists, auctioneers, and a great uncle who was also the first person in Australia to build an aeroplane.

Sally has acquired a number of artworks from Theodore Bruce over the years, including a French scene by Margaret Olley, an Adrian Feint oil painting, and one small sculpture. “Sculpture’s not really my thing but I like this one, which is of a woman’s head. I don’t know yet who the artist is, but I’ll work it out one day.”

Pictured: Adrian George Feint, Australia (1894-1971), The Chinese Screen 1956, Oil on board

Discovering the Fine and Fabulous at Auction

Having a passion for art, one of the most interesting aspects of Sally’s role is seeing such a variety of artwork come through the doors. “I like that you can see a whole range of things in one place. I enjoy going to galleries, but I think a fine art auction give you a much wider range to look at.”

Researching interesting and forgotten artworks, and meeting passionate – and colouful – collectors also holds appeal.

“When talking about his customers, my father often said never judge a book by its cover. We have people come in who look unassuming, and yet have the most extraordinary collections – and stories. I’ve been invited to people’s houses to evaluate or value artworks and found some really fascinating pieces.”

Some of the most memorable over the years include a collection of paintings by John Llewelyn Jones found in a school in the Southern Highlands (that brought him in to the public eye and established him as a lost Australian impressionist), an oil from Belgian artist, Jean Le Mayeur (1880-1938) – “Some storeman were unpacking boxes that had come in from an estate and suggested I take a look. I liked it and thought it was interesting, and this was before internet research was a thing. It sold for $88,000 in 1995″ – and a work by French artist, Moise Kisling (1891-1953). “After extensive research and the artist’s son, Jean, taking it to the Kisling foundation in Paris for verification, it sold for $104,000 in 1994.“

Not all customers were so lucky. “There was one client who had a house filled with all sorts of junk, but among it was a gouache by Fred Williams. Unfortunately, he had hung it over his stove and his tomato sauce had bubbled over and splashed on it. It sold for $1,000 when it otherwise would likely have fetched $50,000.”

Sally mentions another interesting work to feature in our April Art | Australian & International auctions. “A woman came in recently with a portrait of herself painted by Charles Blackman in his Woollahra Sydney Studio c. 1967. She had graduated as an art studio and was a frequent visitor to the home of Charles and Barbara, along with a wide circle of friends. Many years later, Charles gifted the portrait to mutual friend and journalist Guy Morrison, the couple walking it over from their home in Paddington, a few streets away from his. Before his death in 2007, Morrison gave the painting back to her. There’s no signature unfortunately so that’s a tougher sell – but it’s a lovely image with an interesting back story.”

One of her favourite stories concerns one of Australia’s most revered artists. “Some years ago, a regular client came in with an Albert Namatjira work, just when that artist was starting to take off. It was a lovely picture of a white gum – classic Namatjira – who was selling for $8,000-10,000 then. This one sold for $19,000, a record at the time. When the client dropped by to thank me, he told me he had brought the painting at a garage sale – for two dollars.”

Pictured from above: Charles Raymond Blackman, Australia (1928-2018), Jan c.1967, Oil on canvas and William Buelow Gould, Australia (1803-1853), Still Life, Fruit & Flowers 1851, Oil on canvas on board – both on offer in our April Fine Art | Australian & International Auctions

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Theodore Bruce Auctioneers offers regular auctions in Australian & International Fine Art, as well as Luxury, Designer and Vintage Fashion. To stay informed, please join our newsletter via the link below, follow us on Instagram or keep an eye on Upcoming Auctions.