The Year in Review: 2024 Auction Highlights

Diverse and Distinctive Single Vendor Collections

We brought to auction some rare and interesting single vendor collections in 2024, including a wonderful selection of Antique Scientific Instruments belonging to the eminent Australian surveyor, Sydney William Stokes, A Naval Officer’s Estate featuring vintage ship’s instruments, books, maps & nautical ephemera, and The Michael Phillips Collection of Folding & Fixed Blade Knives, collated over 5o years.

The Collection of Birgitta Sharpe & The Late Professor Eric Sharpe included a fabulous selection of Swedish furniture & design objects, fine art, books and antiques. While The Horak House, a 1940’s streamline Moderne home in Rose Bay, featured distinctive ‘time-capsule’ furniture by leading postwar designers, Paul Kafka and Decor Associates.

Our auction of the Nomadic Rug Traders Collection included exquisite antique and vintage rugs from across the globe, such as the beautiful Nichols Chinese Art Deco Rug, pictured, that sold for $2,750 including buyer’s premium (IBP).

Impressive Asian Decorative Arts

Single vendor collections were also a highlight of our Asian Arts department. We offered an Impressive Single Collection of South East Asian & Chinese Pottery in January, and we continued our auctions of the Dr John Yu AC Collection – in March, July, September and November. A highlight of the March auction was a rare Chinese Blue & White Medicinal Pouring Vessel, pictured. Dating to the Early Ming Dynasty, it featured Central Lotus Motifs & Cartouche Detail to the Outer Cavetto – and it went above and beyond the estimate, with a buyer paying $25,000 IBP.

Blue and white was also a favourite in the July auction, with buyer favourites including three beautifully decorated Kendi (pouring vessels first produced in 14th Century China distinguished by a long neck and spout with no handle) that sold between $2,375 and $3,250 IBP.

Whilst Chinese porcelain is a perennial favourite – this elegant Qing Dynasty Chinese Mustard Glazed Bowl was another that drew strong bidding – the scope of Asian arts saw our customers acquire a diverse mix of the beautiful, rare and collectable.

There was an Antique Indonesia Rain Drum ($3,750 IBP), a 19th Century Gilt Bronze Phra Malai Buddha ($4,000 IBP), a Vintage Koshida Satsuma Tea Service ($1,250 IBP) and a Chinese Silver Coin Guan Xu Period ($4,750). While an unusual Tampan Ceremonial ‘Ships Cloth’ ($3,500 IBP) and this stunning Japanese “Thousand Crane’ Porcelain Footed Jar ($1,375 IBP) also proved popular.

Fine Art Favourites

In Fine Art, we started 2024 with the big, bold and beautiful Peter Black Collection – featuring mid century and modern art, homewares & collectables from the owner of former Darlinghurst store, Loot Interiors. Highlights included Black’s treasured collection of 1960’s screenprints plus contemporary and Aboriginal works from William Dobell, Barney Ellega, Patrick Heron, Tracey Moffatt and more.

The Art Collection of the of the Late Ellen Margaret Waugh OAM was another highlight. Waugh taught thousands of artists over a period of thirty years and she acquired much of her collection from her students and colleagues. The auction highlights included sculptures by Australian artists, Robert Klippel – No. 185 Metal Construction 1965 ($23,750 IBP) and Margel Hinder – Sketch – Western Ass. Co. 1959 ($15,000 IBP) as well as a charming woodcut by Cressida Campbell – Cups 1984 ($16,250 IBP).

We brought a beautiful collection of works to auction by Cambodian artist Sokquon Tran, and offered The Collection of the Late Janette Beavis, while other highlights included David Boyd’s Girl Under the Wattle ($13,750) and Landscape Flinders Ranges by Lucy Culliton one of Australia’s favourite contemporary landscape artists. The winning bid went far surpassed the estimate of $2,000-4,000, with the work selling for $18,750.

In our Fine Aboriginal Art auctions, the standout was the vivid and richly layered Anumarapiti by Pitjantjatjara artist, Tommy Watson (acquired for $42,500 IBP). Other collector favourites included the stunning Mina Mina Dreaming – Women’s Hairstring by Judy Watson Napangardi ($10,000 IBP), the striking My Country by Tommy Watson ($18,750) and the large-scale triptych by Jack Britten – Homelands (Bungle Bungles) ($16,250).

Pictured: Pictured: Victor Vasarely, Russian/France (1906-1997), Planetary Folklore Participations Composition No. 1 1969, Silkscreen, later impression from The Peter Black Collection

From Fabulous Fashion to Antique Jewels & Silverware

Across all of our departments, we auctioned some very special items last year, with buyers drawn to the unique, curious, collectable… and beautiful.

Our Fashion auctions featured a gorgeous selection of vintage and designer clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories, with customer favourites including The Collection of the Late Helena Carr, The Collection of the Late Janette Beavis and The Collection of a Parisian Maximalist.

Among items auctioned by our Jewels, Silver & Timepieces department, there was a set of Six Sterling Silver Plates from Skinner & Co, London, 1908 featuring scallop Fluted Rims and an unusual engraved Dog & Crown coat of arms ($6,250 IBP), and a stunning Timber Canteen of Early Victorian Sterling Silver Cutlery from Chawner & Co. (George William Adams), London ($23,750 IBP). Antique jewellery continued to hold appeal, with customer favourites including an Early Victorian Yellow Gold & Silver Mine Cut Diamond & Opal Brooch ($4,250 IBP) and this stunning Victorian 15ct Yellow Gold Lapis & Seed Pearl Chandelier Pendant ($3,000 IBP).

Beautiful Books, Divine Decorative Arts & Curious Collectables

Diverse finds in our Books, Prints & Ephemera auctions included The Complete Works of Rudyard Kipling ($687), The Letters of Queen Victoria in Nine Volumes ($812 IBP), an 18th Century Land Grant letter ($3,250) and a first UK edition of Lee Harper’s To Kill a Mockingbird ($687 IBP).

To coincide with the Paris Olympics, our Collectables department presented Olympic Games & Sports Memorabilia, while the mammoth Hillview Estate auctions held early in the year featured Star Wars, Pop Culture, Military Figures and Roman & Ancient Collectables.

Some of the fabulous finds in our Decorative Arts auctions included a Pair of Antique Art Nouveau Table Lamps, c.1910 ($5,250 IBP) and a classic Wedgwood “Ascot” Dinner Service in cream and gold ($2,750 IBP), while a Collection of Victorian Grand Tour Medallion’s, c.1836 proved one of the most popular items in our Eclectic Object auctions, selling for $937 IBP.

There was a diverse mix in our Oceanic & Tribal Art auctions, from a Rare Nineteenth Century Kasseng Shield, Laos to a Fine and Rare Lunet Friction Drum from New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, and a Lonka Lonka Shell Pubic Cover from Western Australia, with Hair Belt & Tassel ($5,500).

Proudly Supporting Charities Australia-Wide

Every year we host hundreds of commercial auctions, including weekly Unclaimed Post auctions (with proceeds supporting charities throughout Australia) and the Sydney Airport Lost Property Auction. Since 2013, Sydney Airport’s lost property auctions have raised $1.6 million for charitable community organisations, and the recipient this year was the wonderful Harding Miller Education Foundation, which supports high potential but socio-economically disadvantaged girls through a $20,000 scholarship over four years of high school.

Theodore Bruce is Australia’s oldest family run auction house – with regular auctions in all collecting areas, including Aboriginal Art, Asian Art, Books, Prints & Ephemera, Collectables, Decorative Arts, Fashion, Fine Art, Fine Wines & Spirits, Furniture, Jewels, Silver & Timepieces, Oceanic & Tribal Art and Single Vendor Collections – plus an expert and discrete valuation service for fine art, antiques and rare books.

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