Lot 282: A Pair of Mid-20th Century Velvet Paintings of Indigenous Australians Signed

A pair of mid-20th century paintings executed in oil or acrylic on velvet, depicting portraits of Indigenous Australian children. The technique utilizes the velvet surface to enhance the depth and texture, characteristic of the mid-century velvet painting style. The first painting features a dark-skinned figure tasting a feather-like yellow flower against an ochre background. The reverse backing board of this piece bears handwritten text: Sucking Nectar from the Golden Grevillea Plant. The second painting is a close-up portrait of a child rendered with strong chiaroscuro lighting, featuring green highlights in the hair, set against a dark background. Both paintings are faintly signed in the lower right corner with what appears to be Percy Elve. Both pieces are housed in simple, light-colored wooden frames.