Carrie Perkin of the Australian is reporting more legal maneuvering at the Lawson-Menzies auction house. Over the past few months the AW Blog has posted about ongoing issues concerning Australian auction house Lawson-Menzies and sister house Deutscher-Menzies. Most issues are concerned with house ownership, guarantees and improper ownership disclosures. The Menzies Art Brands were recently to have changed policy and agreed to start a program of more transparent disclosure of property being offered for sale.The current issue revolves around provenance and previous and current catalog listings of a painting by Neil McLeon, Bradford Station. The painting was purchased through the Menzies Art Brands 8 years ago by the current owners. The owners now wishing to sell the painting had some conservation and research done, which now questions the provenance from the original sale. The painting was listed in a current sale and then withdrawn due to the questions.
Perkin states In August, they instigated legal proceedings against Menzies Art Brands, which owns auction houses Deutscher-Menzies and Lawson-Menzies, over catalogue discrepancies.
Menzies Art Brands owner, Melbourne businessman Rod Menzies, is also being investigated by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over allegations of misleading and deceptive practice under the Trade Practices Act. Mr Menzies is vigorously defending the allegations.
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