An important painting by the respected Zhang Zhenshi -famous for the official portraits of Mao- bears witness to Australia’s relationship with China in the post- Cultural Revolution years. And it’s got PANDAS!
Siamese Buddhist Temple Mural-Style Painting, c.1850 Executed on linen, likely from central Thailand, this painting illustrates a scene from the Ramayana (Ramakien in Thai tradition) — the revered Thai epic adapted from the Indian Ramayana. The composition and iconography are consistent with Rattanakosin-period temple murals of the early-to-mid 19th century. Right side: A hunt by…
Moorabool’s June 2025 auction offered a rare piece of early Malaysian art, fresh to the market from a local estate. Soo Kau Koay (Malaysian, 1946–2021)Oxcart Dream, 1971Batik dye on cottonSigned and dated lower right: “S.K. Koay ’71”Frame 61 × 91 cm; work 87 × 56 cm Provenance: Private collection, Australia; acquired c.1970s by a visitor…
AN extrordinary Chinese celadon vase painted with underglaze blue and copper red horses and pine trees is a highlight of Moorabool’s April sale. Read about it’s fascinating story here…
A rare ‘Primitive Modern’ artwork Fresh to the market, by notable South African artist Cyril Skotnes (1926-2009)
A signed photograph from a fascinating local celebrity of the early 20th century is in the coming Moorabool Auctions – Madam Scotney, the ‘Songbird of Ballarat’ .
An exploration of the Australian potter E G Greenway from Melbourne, inspired by a beautifully flower-painted pottery vase from around 1930. Based in suburban Melbourne, Ellen Grant Greenway has not received the recognition she deserves, so this is a brief overview of her fascinating pottery business from the 1930 beginnings in her home up to the building of a custom factory in Blackburn in 1949.
Join us in exploring the extraordinary journey of John Andrew Gardner, a local Victorian artist whose work has captured the essence of the Australian landscape.
Delve into his life, explore his artistic milestones + life-changing incident, and preview the comprehensive collection available at Moorabool Auctions,Geelong – going under the hammer Saturday 14th December, 2024.
Featuring the 1928 TT Phillip Island ‘SHELL CUP’, 1st to be held in Australia + on Phillip Island – plus the 1935 12-hour trial trophy- a Kangaroo Mystery Clock! These items are extremely rare pieces of Australia’s Racing History
A newly discovered painting of Sydney Harbour can be attributed to Convict artist George Peacock. Read our in-depth examination as we even pinpoint the exact place the artist sat as he painted the image…
An extremely rare convict artist’s work, from the personal collection of the man who first documented him in the 1960’s… including some fresh research on Frederick Strange.
A pair of rare Robert Prenzel carvings will feature in Moorabool’s November sale, with provenance back to when they were ‘new’ in the 1920’s.
A rarely seen Dutch landscape, of Veere, Holland, painted by Dutch-born artist J.H. Scheltema. Best known for his scenes of the Australian bush, this work was painted on a return trip in 1898-99.
Uranium Glass — What Is It? Uranium glass is a type of glass with uranium added during manufacture, giving it a desirable green or yellowish hue. The practice began in the early 19th century and was especially popular during the Victorian period (1837–1901). Glassmakers found that adding small amounts of uranium oxide created beautiful, vibrant…
Abel Pann, a prominent Jewish artist with close ties to Marc Chagall, created this fascinating work in 1916 while trapped in wartime Paris. While it has all the required symbols for an illustration of the Bible story, such as the snake and the apple, there’s something more intended: Pann has developed the images as a commentary on the situation he found himself in.
A rare piece of Royal Moroccan porcelain has a fascinating story to tell – it goes under the hammer on September 13th in the next Moorabool Auctions.
A remarkable artefact from Australia’s WWII period with Royal Connections…. goes under the hammer 13th September.
A rare print Christian Waller, “Perhaps it Was the Dark Held Out His Hand, and Morning Came and Stole His Hand Away” is a highlight of our upcoming auction.
This exceptional work not only showcases Waller’s remarkable talent but also her profound ability to evoke emotion through her art.
Philip Miller’s Gardener’s Dictionary, 1768 First published in 1731, The Gardener’s Dictionary was republished numerous times — this example dating to 1768. Philip Miller was the authority of the era on all things botanical, stemming from his role as the first head gardener of the famous Chelsea Physic Garden, 1722–1770. The Chelsea Physic Garden had…
An exciting discovery in Geelong: a small oil painting, signed and dated, identified as a long-lost David Roberts original — known from a print engraved in 1831 and published in 1832. It depicts a picturesque stretch of the Rhine river, with the Round Tower of Oberwesel and other fortifications. David Roberts was a Scottish artist…
