Laverty brings Aboriginal collection to market
Peter Fish, Laverty brings Aboriginal collection to market, The Australian Financial Review, Thursday 19 February 2015
Deutscher and Hackett’s head of Aboriginal Art, Crispin Gutteridge, says the pair were renowned for buying artworks with the best provenance, and sought out the top works of figures like East Kimberley artists Rover Thomas and Paddy Bedford, Daniel Walbidi and Alma Webou from Bidyadanga, near Broome, and the minutely cross-hatched bark paintings of Arnhem Land’s John Mawurndjul. He says these factors were reflected in the number of their pictures loaned for exhibitions and retrospectives, which of course adds to their kudos at auction.
Gutteridge says the Lavertys “had the werewithal to visit the communities and were able to acquire the best works” for what he believes is the most well known private collection in the world. Among the latest offerings are Bedford’s monumental Brumby Springs with a presale estimate of $110,000 to $140,000, Emily Kngwarreye’s Untitled (right) at $60,000 to $80,000 and Alma Webou’s Pinkalakara at $15,000 to $20,000. Bedford’s more modest gouache paintings are expected to fetch around $5000 – and numerous other worthy pictures are estimated at between $2000 and $10,000. The sale, which is being held under the terms of Colin Laverty’s will, is expected to raise between $1.6 million and $2.4 million.