Watson’s Bay body is identified as Indigenous art dealer as NSW Police search for second mystery man
- Tim Klingender, 59, pulled from water in Sydney Harbour
- Leading Indigenous art dealer was on fishing expedition
A man found dead in Sydney Harbour after a suspected boating accident has been identified as a leading dealer of Indigenous art.
The body of Tim Klingender, 59, was pulled from the water by police just south of The Gap near Watson's Bay, one of the city's most famous lookout points just after 10am on Thursday.
Emergency crews had been responding to reports of boat debris in the water around 200m from land.
It comes as police are still searching for another man, aged 51, believed to have also been on board.
The body of Tim Klingender (pictured), 59, was pulled from the water by police just south of The Gap near Watson's Bay, one of the city's most famous lookout points just after 10am on Thursday morning
Police were seen pulling wreckage from the water with lifejackets among the debris pulled onto their boat
Police are still searching for another man, aged 51, believed to have also been on board
Mr Klingender, who was reportedly pulled form the water wearing only his socks, had gone out on a fishing expedition early on Thursday morning.
The death of the married father-of-two has left the art world reeling.
Gallery owner and art dealer Michael Reid said Mr Kilngender's death was an 'unimaginable and devastating loss to his family and indeed the Australian art-world'.
'Tim was quick to laugh,' Mr Reid wrote in a tribute posted on Facebook.
Rescue crews looking for the other man have extended their search from The Gap south down the coast to Wedding Cake Island off Coogee
'First in on adventure and always up for a chat. Tim had an elegant rakishness that leant towards the deliciously louche.
'Deeply understanding of the fine and decorative arts, Tim was an interior stylist as much as an important art dealer. Tim had ability, warmth, and presence, in spades.
'His funeral will be massive, as friends from just so many walks and corners of his life gather.'
Mr Klingender (pictured) was described by art experts as the 'architect of the Indigenous art market we have today'
Mr Klingender was considered one of the world’s leading dealers of Australian Indigenous art and counted wealthy private collectors and Hollywood celebrities, including comedian Steve Martin, among his clients.
He trained at the University of Melbourne where he studied fine art before going on to work for Sotheby's for 20 years, where he served as an international director between 1998 and 2009.
Melbourne gallerist D’Lan Davidson, one of the world’s leading dealers in Indigenous art, told the Sydney Morning Herald Mr Klingender was the 'architect of the (Indigenous art) market we have today'.
Rescue crews looking for the other man have extended their search from The Gap south down the coast to Wedding Cake Island off Coogee.
'Sea conditions around the search area are fair; there is a bit of a swell but visibility is fairly good for the Marine Rescue NSW search crews,' said Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond.
Police urge anyone with information to contact the Marine Area Command or Crime Stoppers.
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