Dear Paul,
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
31 Lamrock Ave.,
Bondi Beach,
NSW 2026
Australia
PHONE: 61.2.93009233
FAX 61.2.93009433
EMAIL: [email protected]
WEB: http://www.cooeeart.com.au
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.
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