Charles Blackman's 'Alice in Wonderland' Masterpiece for Auction
Tuesday 24 November at 7pm

A masterpiece by one of Australia’s leading and most beloved artists, Charles Blackman, will go under the hammer for the first time at the Australian and International Fine Art auction next Tuesday. The Game of Chess 1956 is one of only 42 paintings from the artist’s critically acclaimed series Alice in Wonderland, painted in 1956-1957. The series – recently reunited and celebrated in a major exhibition curated by Geoffrey Smith for the National Gallery of Victoria – forms one of the truly remarkable series in the history and development of twentieth century Australian art, with The Game of Chess remaining one of the most indelible and popular images.
In private hands since 1956, this vibrant and engrossing work is full of the imagery for which the Alice series is so famous: the young Alice, with her mop of bright yellow hair and red shoes and the formidable white rabbit, sitting on either side of a large chess board, each with hands poised to make their next move.
View Fine Art catalogue here.
Read MoreForthcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches Auctions
Melbourne & Sydney
In the next few weeks Bonhams & Goodman will be holding four auctions of exquisite jewellery collections totalling more than $8.5million.
The Fine Jewellery & Watches auction to be held in Melbourne is a collection of more than 240 lots and includes rare Art Deco jewellery; a collection of fine South Sea Pearl jewellery by Paspaley; a selection of modern gold jewellery by Tiffany & Co. and wristwatches by Rolex, Franck Muller and Cartier.
Fine Jewellery & Watches, Melbourne
(click to view catalogue)
Following shortly afterwards in Sydney will be a record number of 1000 lots of fine, antique and contemporary jewellery sold in three auctions over three days:
Affordable Jewellery, Sydney
Monday 7 December at 10am
Fine Jewellery & Watches, Sydney
Monday 7 December at 6pm
Modern Jewels, Sydney
Wednesday 9 December at 6pm
Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Motor Boats, Number Plates and Automobilia
Sunday 6 December at 11am
Collectors and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to view an exciting array of vehicles at Bonhams & Goodman’s largest ever mixed vendor auction of Collectors’ Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Motor Boats, Number Plates and Automobilia.
Taking place in Sydney on Sunday 6 December, highlights of the auction will include some absolutely outstanding collectors’ vehicles including:
1925 Bugatti Brescia
1925 Bentley 3 litre, ‘Old Mother Gun’ 4 ½ litre re-creation
1934 Riley Imp with Australian GP heritage
1937 Bentley 4 ¼ litre sports tourer
1951 Jaguar XK120
1955 Jaguar D-Type ‘toolmaker’s copy’
1966 De Tomaso Vallelunga Competizione
1985 Porsche 930 SE ‘Flachbau’
To view fully illustrated catalogue click here.
Read MoreCurrent Auctions
- Antiques & Interiors
22 Nov 2009
224 Young Street, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW - Bay East Art
22 Nov 2009
224 Young Street, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW - Australian and International Fine Art
24 Nov 2009
Level 1, 540 Malvern Road, Prahran, Melbourne, VIC - Fine Jewellery & Watches
25 Nov 2009
Level 1, 540 Malvern Road, Prahran, Melbourne, VIC - The Adelaide Collection
29 Nov 2009
444-446 Pulteney Street, Adelaide, SA - Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Motor Boats, Number Plates & Automobilia
6 Dec 2009
224 Young Street, Waterloo, Sydney, NSW - Affordable Jewellery, Sydney
7 Dec 2009
7 Anderson Street, Double Bay, Sydney, NSW
Announcements
- Charles Blackman's 'Alice in Wonderland' Masterpiece for Auction
Posted 6 November 2009 - Forthcoming Fine Jewellery & Watches Auctions
Posted 9 November 2009 - Collectors' Motor Cars, Motorcycles, Motor Boats, Number Plates and Automobilia
Posted 13 November 2009 - 1952 Melbourne Cup Sold for $86,400
Posted 15 November 2009 - Rare 19th Century Glimpses of Melbourne Found
Posted 21 October 2009
