Discovery Channel is setting out on a real-life treasure hunt in the new local production, Outback Opal Hunters. Heading to Lightning Ridge (NSW), Opalton (QLD), and …
Disclaimer Note We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking.
I am writing to you on the advice of our mutual acquaintance, Joy Clayton. Over 30 years ago, the fashion designer Jenny Kee worked with prominent Australian architect Glenn Murcutt on the design for her home in Blackheath in the Blue Mountains. Part of her vision was to incorporate elements which would reflect the Australian environment and in particular to use opals which were her design passion at the time and are still to this day.
To achieve this she purchased six wall panels composed of an excellent selection of boulder opal representative of the quality found during the 70’s in Quilpie. They were manufactured around 1978 by Des Burton. I have no doubt that you are familiar with these rough opal slabs which are laminated to a Ferro-cement backing. Each panel is 1800 x 880 mms in size and they weigh 100 kgs each.
I believe that these panels are unique and only about 20 of this size were made. Their innovative use by Jenny Kee was featured in the January 1987 Special Australian edition of Casa Vogue.
I am one of Jenny’s oldest friends and business associates and she has asked me to find a home for them. Together they can be used to create a wall either 10.8m x 0.88 m or 5.28m x 1.8m.
When Jenny sold that house and built another, the opal walls were dismantled and put into storage where they have remained for the past 20 years. They are truly magnificent and quite unique. I have attached a few print images for your interest. The boulder opal used appears to be A+ grade. They do not appear to be cracked or sample specimens. You would of course be able to confirm this.
Joy told me that there is talk of creating a Museum or Opal centre in Lightning Ridge. If so, the designers and architects may possibly be interested in these unique pieces, which are still in immaculate condition. You may however have other thoughts for their use. It is more than 25 years since they were last valued and I suspect this would be the first step in arranging to put them on the market.
I look forward to hearing back from you with any advice or interest.
With my very best wishes,
Adrian Newstead OAM
Adrian Newstead Fine Art Consultant
CONSULTANT, VALUER, EXHIBITION SERVICES
Adrian Newstead co-founded Coo-ee Aboriginal Art Gallery, Australia’s oldest continuously operating Aboriginal art gallery, in 1981. He is a valuer of Aboriginal and contemporary Australian art accredited by the Federal Department of the Arts, and acted as the Head of Aboriginal Art for Lawson~Menzies Auction House 2003-2006, and Managing Director of Menzies Art Brands 2007-2008. Adrian Newstead Fine Art Consultancy acts for, and advises, collectors when buying and selling collectable Australian artworks at auction and through private sale. A widely published arts commentator and author, Adrian is based in Bondi, New South Wales.
Disclaimer Note We forward all emails received for the Opal association to all members as a matter of course. This does not mean we support or endorse the product /message and suggest members do their own due diligence and checking.
Wishing all members, a happy Christmas and a safe prosperous new year.
OPAL NEWS
There appears to be a lot of happy faces in our industry. While the year ahead has challenges, the industry is very positive and more production on most of the fields is highly likely. It is pleasing to see that most of the sellers in Tucson who are members of the association have shown a united front by advertising together. I believe that it will be an immense success and the association plans to continue with this effort yearly. Working together to collectively promote opal as a gemstone choice instead of other coloured stones is a primary objective for the association while remaining competitive within the opal industry.
Last year we looked at changing the name to the Australian Opal Association, but we were told it was too close to other opal companies and couldn’t be registered but we will re assess the issue next year.
GOLD COAST MEETING
The December meeting was cancelled as we had 4 cancellations the last minute and couldn’t get a quorum-we should consider a conference call next year.
OPAL NONMENCULTURE
A meeting was held in Sydney by the opal association committee. It was agreed to adopt the main 8 categories on the flow chart which is attached. This has been agreed to by most of the other interested parties. The definitions and terminology are yet to be established and we encourage all your suggestions and inputs.
The definition of black opal being used to describe the appearance instead of being used exclusively for opals only from Lightning Ridge is attracting a lot of comment. I state that 75% of our members from the association surveyed were happy with N1 to N4 being black opal and N5 to N6 semi black opal. There is however some debate on the whether N5 to N6 should be called semi black OR dark opal. The term dark opal has not been accepted by the industry thus far. This was the result of a show of hands at a meeting mid-year. I also saw most members at the Gold Coast and Lightning Ridge shows. All effort was made to reach out to each member, but you may have been busy selling. We are aware that some opal retailers/duty free shops want every opal from the ridge called black opal. I believe that this is against our standards and against current gem industry certification. The word Black opal is a powerful respected” brand “name that needs clear definition and protecting. If the end customer only asks for black opal then its up to us to use more imagination in marketing and promoting all types of opal.!
One only need look at the ruby industry suffering negative news over the definition of Pigeon Blood ruby. Stones certified as pigeon blood command a higher price and as a result parties including dealers and certification labs have widened and relaxed their definitions causing end consumer confusion resulting in lack of confidence and sales.
