Ethel Spowers, Tug of War 1933, 1933, colour linocut on paper, edition 6 of 50

Thumbnail shown for reference only. Smith & Singer holds the rights to its photography — see the full images on the original lot page ↗

Auction result

Tug of War 1933

Ethel Spowers (Australian, 1890–1947) · 1933

A$77,318 price realized incl. premium

≈ $52,105≈ £39,985≈ €46,874 Show prices also in

Hammer A$63,000 · with buyer’s premium A$77,318

You’ve used this month’s free price views. A free account shows the hammer price, buyer’s premium and price realized for every lot — no card, no fees.

Email alerts for new results and upcoming sales

Medium: Woodcut / linocut · Prints & multiples all woodcut / linocut results →
As published: “colour linocut on paper, edition 6 of 50”
Support: Paper
Edition: 6/50
Signed / inscribed: Inscribed 'Tug of War. 6/50.' lower left; signed and dated 'E. L. Spowers. 1933.' lower right
Category: Prints (general)
Dimensions: 20.5 x 28.8 cm (image); 22.6 x 31.6 cm (sheet)
Auction house: Smith & Singer
Sale: Important Australian Art (AU0870)
Date: August 21, 2024
Location: Sydney, Australia
Lot: 62
Estimate: A$25,000 – A$35,000 (≈ $16,848 – $23,587) (≈ £12,929 – £18,100) (≈ €15,156 – €21,219)
Source: Auction house smithandsinger.com.au ↗
Retrieved Sep 25, 2026

View original lot page ↗

Own a work by Ethel Spowers? Get a free auction estimate →

Own this work? Add it to My Collection → Private to you, with alerts when comparable works sell.

Similar size by this artist

Works by Ethel Spowers with a longest side of about 28.8 cm (11.3 in) (±20 %).

Bank Holiday, 1935

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut, printed from six blocks: yellow ochre, cobalt blue, reddish brown, green, grey and black, e

Leonard Joel · Apr 10, 2024A$22,000 ≈ $14,569 ≈ £11,472 ≈ €13,416Sign up free to see price

Still Life, 1932

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut, printed in colour inks, from five blocks, ed. 21/30

Leonard Joel · Mar 21, 2023A$18,000 ≈ $12,021 ≈ £9,820 ≈ €11,155Sign up free to see price

The Green Bridge, 1926

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut ed. 20/30

Leonard Joel · Oct 21, 2020A$8,500 ≈ $6,021 ≈ £4,610 ≈ €5,080Sign up free to see price

Resting Models 1934, 1934

Woodcut / linocut · ed. 1/50

Menzies · Sep 26, 2019A$33,136 ≈ $22,425 ≈ £18,145 ≈ €20,502Sign up free to see price

Kites 1936, 1936

Woodcut / linocut · Paper · ed. 13/50

Smith & Singer · Nov 20, 2018A$36,600 ≈ $26,605 ≈ £20,710 ≈ €23,294Sign up free to see price

Wet Afternoon, 1930

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut ed.16/50

Leonard Joel · Oct 12, 2017A$44,000 ≈ $34,377 ≈ £26,164 ≈ €28,995Sign up free to see price

All Ethel Spowers results of this size →

More results for Ethel Spowers

The Battle 1933, 1933

Oil · Canvas

Menzies · Nov 20, 2024A$282,273 ≈ $183,751 ≈ £145,063 ≈ €173,974Sign up free to see price

Illustration to the Frog Prince 1925, 1925

Watercolor · Paper

Menzies · Nov 20, 2024A$12,273 ≈ $7,989 ≈ £6,307 ≈ €7,564Sign up free to see price

Bank Holiday, 1935

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut, printed from six blocks: yellow ochre, cobalt blue, reddish brown, green, grey and black, e

Leonard Joel · Apr 10, 2024A$22,000 ≈ $14,569 ≈ £11,472 ≈ €13,416Sign up free to see price

Afraid of the Dark, 1927

Woodcut / linocut

Leonard Joel · Apr 10, 2024A$2,200 ≈ $1,457 ≈ £1,147 ≈ €1,342Sign up free to see price

Still Life, 1932

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut, printed in colour inks, from five blocks, ed. 21/30

Leonard Joel · Mar 21, 2023A$18,000 ≈ $12,021 ≈ £9,820 ≈ €11,155Sign up free to see price

The Green Bridge, 1926

Woodcut / linocut · ed. linocut ed. 20/30

Leonard Joel · Oct 21, 2020A$8,500 ≈ $6,021 ≈ £4,610 ≈ €5,080Sign up free to see price

All results for Ethel Spowers →

Also in this sale

Important Australian Art · Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024

Ned Kelly: Crossing Bridge 1964, 1964

Oil · Board

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$1,227,273 ≈ $827,059 ≈ £634,686 ≈ €744,026Sign up free to see price

Lake Colac and the Warrior's Hill, from Corangamorah 1863, 1863

Oil · Canvas

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$981,818 ≈ $661,647 ≈ £507,749 ≈ €595,221Sign up free to see price

Acacia Sapling (1977), 1977

Oil · Canvas

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$981,818 ≈ $661,647 ≈ £507,749 ≈ €595,221Sign up free to see price

Summer Snow at Perisher (1976), 1976

Oil · Canvas

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$797,727 ≈ $537,588 ≈ £412,546 ≈ €483,617Sign up free to see price

Sydney from Lewis’s Ground (1840), 1840

Oil · Canvas

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$736,364 ≈ $496,236 ≈ £380,812 ≈ €446,416Sign up free to see price

Green Heron (1983, cast later), 1983

Sculpture · ed. AP

Smith & Singer · Aug 21, 2024A$613,636 ≈ $413,529 ≈ £317,343 ≈ €372,013Sign up free to see price

All Smith & Singer results →

Similar works

Woodcut / linocut results by other artists in a similar price range.

Country Home (M. & S. 2011-001), 2011

Woodcut / linocut · Paper · ed. 15/50

Phillips · Sep 17, 2026£41,280 ≈ $55,216 ≈ €48,093Sign up free to see price

The Front Room 1987, 1987

Woodcut / linocut · ed. 2/5

Menzies · Aug 27, 2026A$44,182 ≈ $31,767 ≈ £23,389 ≈ €27,279Sign up free to see price

Alison 1986, 1986

Woodcut / linocut · ed. 1/1

Menzies · May 7, 2026A$24,545 ≈ $17,812 ≈ £13,077 ≈ €15,133Sign up free to see price

Christmas Bells 1925, 1925

Woodcut / linocut · Paper

Smith & Singer · Apr 28, 2026A$36,818 ≈ $26,339 ≈ £19,555 ≈ €22,550Sign up free to see price

Gumnuts 2008, 2008

Woodcut / linocut

Smith & Singer · Apr 28, 2026A$42,955 ≈ $30,729 ≈ £22,815 ≈ €26,309Sign up free to see price

Rebus Composite, 2015

Woodcut / linocut

Strauss & Co · Feb 21, 2026ZAR 311,918 ≈ $19,376 ≈ £14,372 ≈ €16,467Sign up free to see price