It’s signed L.Vandenburg but otherwise this painting of an Indigenous corroboree is a bit of a mystery.
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It was acquired this week by an antiques dealer from a Bullaburra estate but its size makes it a little unusual, being on the large side, at more than 3.5 metres. It appears to have been done on masonite, with some of the paint work crumbling away.
And while Hazelbrook Cottage Antiques owner Peter Staton has interest from dealers in Sydney already to buy it, he’s worried it may be of “significance” to the Blue Mountains region and wants to check on the origins before he moves it on.
“Our interested people are antique dealers [and it is] more for the size and funkiness [of the painting],” Peter’s daughter, Katrina Patrickson, said.
“We don't think it holds any massive value. We just thought people may know where it came from. Being so large it looks to have come from a school or club or even a council building?”
Mr Staton said the painting’s former owner told him they acquired it in the 1980s from a house being demolished in Leura.
Mr Staton has an interest in Indigenous artwork, having worked in a Darwin leprosy mission fitting artificial limbs in the late 70s.
“I believe it’s of a corroboree … we just thought we should check to see if it should be sold in the Mountains, to see if it has any significance,” he added.
Contact bclewis@fairfaxmedia.com.au if you know more.
