Just a quick post – I’ve only just discovered that Leonard Joel auction house (in Melbourne) will be holding an auction [link] of what seems to be remaining stock from the now-defunct Maker’s Mark jewellery gallery.
It’s on 13th September … there are some interesting pieces, particularly some older 80s pieces that seem to have been in old exhibitions at the gallery.
Those artists named against pieces (many are unknown):
- Jan and Tim Aerundell , Valerie Akid , Diana Anderson , Dianne Appleby
Helen Atkin-Kuhn , Merlyine Bailey , Godwin Baum , Gary Bradley- Annie Brownsworth , Susan Cohn , Carolyn Delzoppo , Arlene Fisch
- Hendrik Forster , Peter Gertler , Villiama Grakalic , Ragnar Hanson
- Kevin James , Greg John , Rosalie Lou , Carlier Magikawa
Sally Marsland , Siri Omberg , Liz Olah , Hugo Oliverio- Russell Petherbridge , Atika Rae , Wendy Ramshaw , Dan Scurry
- Imogen Smith , Gillian Snadden , Catherine Truman , Peter Tully
- Adam Wyspianski
Maybe these artists may like to know their older pieces are for sale, perhaps they can reclaim them?
Or, maybe the NGV should get to the auction and add to their contemporary jewellery collection?
[disclaimer: I am not at all associated with the auction house and this is not a requested advert]
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Update: just after posting the above, I decided to send a message to the NGV (via email and facebook; I wasn’t sure if I still had the correct email address, so covered both bases). They of course may already be all over this, but I felt it was too important an opportunity to leave to chance.
I usually consider emails private conversations – but in this case, as it’s my text and message, I’ve decided to share it here … as a kind of ‘open letter’ to the NGV, begging them to take this opportunity to add to their contemporary jewellery collection.
“You may already know this, but I couldn’t leave it unsaid in case you didn’t.
Leonard Joel auction house (in Melbourne) is, on 13th September, auctioning pieces from the now defunct Makers Mark jewellery gallery.
This strikes me as an exceptional opportunity for the NGV to add to their collection of contemporary jewellery, especially the Australia-made section.
There are some early pieces here from some well-established names in the Australian jewellery community.
The estimates seem to be astonishing considering the makers, and also when compared to gallery prices.
Further though, many of the pieces here seem to be from the 1980s and even 70s – when on earth will these ever resurface on the market?!
The success of the recent ‘Unexpected Pleasures’ exhibition surely indicates the interest in this art form!
I am barely falling short of begging the NGV to consider whether any pieces on offer for sale fit into the contemporary jewellery story the NGV wants to tell the jewellery community and the wider gallery audience.”
No, it’s not my best work … but it’ll do the job I think!
Being realistic though, the department probably already have a set budget and may not be able to do anything … but no harm in trying.
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Update (7th August): I’ve just had another look at the auction catalogue and the item previously attributed to Sally Marsland has been altered and is no longer named as hers (see comments for more information). And maybe my memory is rubbish, but it may be that some of the estimates are a little higher than they were last time I looked … maybe??
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Update (10th August): I’ve just had a comment from Helen Aitken-Kuhn who has advised the piece attributed to her isn’t hers after all. The incorrect attributions is certainly a concern.
This may sound odd – if you have any means of contacting any of the artists named in this auction could you please do so, so the artists have a chance to confirm ‘their piece’?
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