A Smorgasbord Of Fine Antiques
The Age
Saturday March 18, 2006
A comprehensive collection of 19th and 20th century antique furniture, ceramics, decorative arts, paintings and other collectibles will be auctioned from 4 pm on Monday at E.J. Ainger Pty Ltd, 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.
The collection comprises the finest pieces from deceased estates in Toorak, Kew, Hawthorn, Camberwell and Brighton. "We have been holding these special sales three times a year for the past 15 years and they have been very successful," managing director John Ainger said. "Interstate and local buyers alike know that every item offered at these auctions is a choice piece." Specialising in antiques and decorative art valuation and sales, E.J. Ainger is a third generation family business started in the 1930s. Mr Ainger said the auction had a particularly outstanding selection of English, French and Australian 19th and 20th century antique furniture. "The selection includes a very fine Victorian mahogany library bookcase with a shaped pediment and three glazed doors with shelves flanked by cared corbels," he said. "There's also a William IV mahogany library table with an inset leather top."Other furniture includes a rare Queen Anne walnut chest from the early 1700s, a French Louis XVI style kingwood Secretaire a Abattant, a pair of 19th century French walnut fauteuils, a fine mid Victorian flame mahogany sideboard and a Victorian walnut music canterbury. Buyers will also be interested in the Victorian walnut supper table of serpentine outline on an outstanding B9 carved birdcage base, the George III mahogany Carlton House desk, a Victorian mahogany bookcase with cylinder front and Victorian mahogany writing table and desk chair. There's a fascinating 17th century oak coffer with bog oak and holy inlay, an 18th century oak side table with frieze drawer and a late 19th century French walnut bureau de pente. Mr Ainger said the auction had fine English, Continental and Oriental ceramic items, including Royal Worcester, Sevres, Wedgwood, Moorcroft, Goldschneider, Royal Doulton and Satsuma. "One of the more appealing of these is a Royal Worcester ewer painted with Harry Stinton's trademark highland cattle." Other ceramic items of interest include a Grainger Worcester cylindrical ewer featuring a cathedral scene, a Royal Doulton vase with shepherds and a Meissen group model of a seated lady with three children _ all in 18th century costume. And there's an unusual Briftol cream ware cylindrical peace mug with coat of arms and a proclamation of peace between England, France, Spain and Holland signed at Ameens and dated March 27, 1802. There's also a fine pair of Berlin vases and two Austrian musician statuettes, one man and one lady, each on a rock base.Among the Oriental porcelain are Japanese ivory Okimono figures from the Meiji period (1868-1911), a pair of Satsuma signed Hakusan vases depicting the Lord of Satsuma surrounded by his court, and a Satsuma bowl signed by Yaki Tatsmozan.Mr Ainger said the auction featured several lamps, including a pair of Keith Murray Wedgwood art deco table lamps, Japanese bronze table lamps and a Gabriel Argy Rousseau lamp in the shape of a shade fan decorated with orange flowers. "There also are many desirable French bronze and ormolu clocks, candelabra and statues," Mr Ainger said. "One of these is a signed art deco bronze figure of a female nude by Pierre Laurel." Others include a Louis XV style bronze clock garniture and a French ormolu mantel clock. Of further interest to buyers should be the 19th century French Giltwood and Trumeau mirrors. Mr Ainger said the paintings on offer included works predominantly purchased from the artists concerned and belonging to a Kew deceased estate. "The collection includes a Sidney Nolan Ned Kelly Series oil and other artists include Samuel Byrne, Charles Hopgood, Ernest Buckmaster, John Loxton, Robert Dickerson, Taylor Ghee and Pro Hart." Viewing is today from noon- 5 pm, tomorrow 1 pm - 5 pm and Monday from 10 am. For more details, call 9428 2850 or visit www.ainger.com.au
© 2006 The Age
