ADELAIDE.- The Art Gallery of South Australia is showcasing for the first time over 50 exquisite pieces given to the Gallery for the people of Adelaide by respected Adelaide psychiatrist Dr Robert Lyons whose South Australian decorative arts collections is one of the finest privately held in Australia. These works are the highlights from 168 pieces he donated to the gallery in 2014.

Nick Mitzevich, Director of the Art Gallery of South Australia said that these works represent some of the most individual and fascinating nineteenth - and early twentieth-century South Australian and Australian decorative arts we will ever see. People will have an opportunity to see major pieces from the potteries of Bosley, Trewenack Pottery and London Pottery as well as the studio pottery of Gladys Reynell and women china painters of the early twentieth century.

Robert Lyons’ interest in art began by chance. In 1975 he had just moved to Adelaide and, he recalls, ‘the house I rented was filled with European and Australian art’. Robert’s self-acknowledged obsession for collecting has not stopped since.

Australian and South Australian decorative arts have always been of importance to Robert’s collection. He led the way when most collectors and museums were only beginning to rediscover a rich local heritage.

With his South Australian Germanic family heritage, Barossa Valley furniture, folk art and pottery became a natural extension to his collecting. Robert also found himself purchasing furniture from Khai Liew and at times bidding against famous rival collector Lord McAlpine.

In the early 1980s Robert decided to donate much of his ceramic collection to four public institutions. Between 1982 and 1984, more than three hundred of his European and Australian pieces were selected for the Art Gallery of South Australia.

In recent years, Robert donated a rare Margaret Preston Beaker and assisted the appeal to acquire Marc Quinn’s Buck with cigar both of which are on display.

Dr Lyons specialises in transgender health and heads the South Australia Gender Dysphoria Unit, is president of the Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health and has been CEO of Hewitt Services since 1990. He has also been on the Board of the Samstag Museum.

A Chance Beginning: Lyons Collection of Decorative Art opened at the Art Gallery of South Australia 3 April – 23 August 2015. Hours open daily 10am-5pm.