SYDNEY.- Bonhams Australia presented the first live saleroom auction for 2020 on Sunday 11 October 2020 with much excitement both in the room and continued active telephone and online bidding.

Celebrating the life and work of the Late Tony White, the auction offered for sale 220 unique pieces of exquisite bespoke jewellery, furniture, and key works from his extraordinary contemporary art collection including works by Brett Whiteley, Charles Blackman, Joel Elenberg, Robert Klippel, and Alison Rehfisch.

The Auction realised $1.4million with a clearance of 96% by lot and 150% by value - double the pre-sale estimate.

Bonhams Australia Director, Merryn Schriever commented: ‘It felt fantastic to welcome people back into the saleroom alongside our online platforms, and with over ten active phone lines bidding was at times frenzied over numerous lots of extraordinary and beautiful objects.’

There were many exciting moments during the afternoon with highlights including three paintings by Australian modernist painter Alison Rehfisch. A staggering result for Lot 127, Alison Rehfisch painting titled ‘Cagnes’, 1937 reached a new artist record selling for $103,700 (Estimate $2,000–4,000). A quintessential Joel Elenberg Mask series bronze sculpture realised $170,800 and many fine examples of Tony White’s unique pieces of jewellery realised well over the estimate.

Tony White had impeccable taste and created one-of-a-kind jewellery for over four decades, carving out a singular space in the Australian art world. Exquisitely made, his work is sculptural and wearable, combining the beauty of the past with timeless style inspired by nature and his explorations around the world. He chose to exhibit his work in fine art galleries and created pieces for celebrity clients as wide-ranging as The Pope to Kate Middleton.