IDENTIFIED “BREUGEL”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31117, 21 July 1966, Page 7

IDENTIFIED “BREUGEL”

Art Appraiser To Visit N.Z. (Special Crspdt. N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, July 19. Mr Anthony Opie, a Sotheby appraiser of porcelain, furniture and silver, will tour Australia and New Zealand from September to November to advise on collections in the main cities of both countries. Mr Opie, who was born in Palmerston North, is the son of Mr F. G. Opie, a barrister who was Deputy Mayor for many years and president of the Manawatu Arts Society. He became an auctioneer and valuer in Palmerston North after leaving Victoria University, Wellington, and later conducted chattel auctions in that city, and managed an antique business in Napier. He came to Britain in March, 1959, and joined Sothebys. During his work for Sotheby’s, Mr Opie has made a name for himself by his successes in identifying works of art which have long been considered almost valueless. It was he who correctly identified Joos de Momper’s “A Village in Winter,” sent from New Zealand as a possible Breugel, which was sold at Sotheby's on July 6 for £4OOO.

Mr Opie is convinced that there are many Australian and New Zealand owners who have in their homes important examples of fine art which they do not recognise. It is his hope that he may at least be able to advise them on the correct designations.