LONDON.- Bonhams announced today (24.6.10) that Dalia Stanley will join its Australian team as a Senior Specialist, an appointment that adds greatly to the company’s local strength.

Bonhams is relaunching its business in Australia with the Owston Collection sale on June 25 and 26, to be followed by its first sale of Collectors Cars in the Spring. With the appointment of Dalia Stanley the company shows that its commitment to growing its Australian business with leading specialists continues apace.

Dalia has enjoyed over thirty years in the fine art auction industry, beginning in 1980 when she left the academic life of Sydney University to join the auction house Geoff K Gray to pursue and develop her deep interest in fine art.

She was manager of the Fine Art Department for over ten years and was responsible for a number of ground breaking auctions including the sale of Luna Park’s memorabilia and the Benedictine Abbey Australian Colonial Collection in 1888.

In 1990 she established her premier boutique fine art auction house, Stanley & Co Pty Ltd, which specialized in the sale of private collections and on site auctions. The company conducted such historic sales as the contents of The Regent Theatre, Purrumbette, (the Victorian country house of the late Rene Rivkin), The Holdsworth Galleries, The Melbourne Doll Museum, the Estates of Maximillian Feuerring and Leo Steiner.

Over 15 years the company set numerous Australian auction record prices for Art Deco figures, Australian pottery and rare antique toys and dolls.

Dalia Stanley joined Bonhams and Goodman in 2005 following their purchase of the goodwill of Stanley and Co. Over the last five years she worked with that company, now Sotheby’s Australia, as Senior Specialist developing the departments of Fine and Decorative arts, Jewellery, and Collectables.

Dalia Stanley says: “With Bonhams I will be able to continue what I believe in, offering great service to clients, helping them to carry the load at what can often be a stressful time. The Bonhams brand stands for delivering a great experience with the best result. I am so looking forward to working with Robert Brooks, James Hendy and the Bonhams team.”

Commenting on this appointment, Robert Brooks, Bonhams chairman, said: “We are hugely fortunate to have Dalia join our new team. Her name is synonymous with academic excellence and a deep knowledge of Fine and Decorative Arts. Her reputation and integrity will be of great significance in growing our business in Australia. I am personally delighted to welcome her to the team.”