STELLAR AUGUST AUCTION RESULTS REAFFIRM D+H AS MARKET LEADERS
Continuing its commitment to offering outstanding examples of Important Australian Art across all periods, Deutscher and Hackett’s major mid-year live auction held at its Melbourne premises on Wednesday 27 August once again achieved impressive top-end industry clearance rates of 115% by value and 92% by volume, culminating in the grand total of $11.7 million (inc. BP) overall.
Witnessing a packed auction room and enthusiastic bidding across all platforms, the museum-quality offering was keenly contested, with an average lot price of over $215,000 across the carefully considered selection of 52 works.
Importantly, a new artist auction record was achieved for trailblazing female exponent of modernism, Grace Cossington Smith, whose exquisite jewel of a painting, The reader (the school cape), c. 1916 represents one of rare few artworks from this formative pre-1920 period still in private hands. Selling for $981,818 (inc. BP), the stunning result not only constitutes the highest price at auction for any Australian female modernist artist, but attests to the growing appreciation and demand among collectors for quality works by Australian women artists from this period.
Other highlights included Howard Arkley’s wonderfully kitsch interior, New Room, 1993 sold for $2,025,000 (inc. BP); Fred Williams’ iconic Upwey landscape Burnt Hillside, c. 1968 – 69 sold for $736,364 (inc. BP); Brett Whiteley’s lyrically meditative Startled Heron, sold for $675,000 (inc. BP); and William Dobell’s fine London work, Young Man Sleeping, c. 1936 which realised $515,455 (inc. BP). Record auction results were also achieved for contemporary artists, Del Kathryn Barton (sculpture) and Jonny Niesche.
Deutscher and Hackett is now inviting consignments to its Important Australian + International Fine Art auction, scheduled for 26 November 2025 in Melbourne. Please contact our specialists at our Sydney or Melbourne galleries who will be happy to provide a market appraisal.
$500,000+ RESULTS
HOWARD ARKLEY
New room, 1993
ESTIMATE: $800,000 – 1,200,000
Sold for $2,025,000 (inc. BP)
GRACE COSSINGTON SMITH
The reader (the school cape), c.1916
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 600,000
Sold for $981,818 (inc. BP)
FRED WILLIAMS
Burnt hillside, 1968 – 69
ESTIMATE: $400,000 – 600,000
Sold for $736,364 (inc. BP)
BRETT WHITELEY
Startled heron, 1984
ESTIMATE: $350,000 – 450,000
Sold for $675,000 (inc. BP)
BRETT WHITELEY
The magpie, 1976 - 77
ESTIMATE: $450,000 – 650,000
Sold for $675,000 (inc. BP)
BRONWYN OLIVER
Lick, 1996
ESTIMATE: $350,000 – 450,000
Sold for $589,091 (inc. BP)
WILLIAM DOBELL
Young man sleeping, c.1936
ESTIMATE: $180,000 – 280,000
Sold for $515,455 (inc. BP)
ARTHUR BOYD
White bridge, c.1949 - 51
ESTIMATE: $350,000 – 450,000
Sold for $515,455 (inc. BP)