Philips Auctions

A military breastplate of the type used during the English Civil War in the mid-17^th century is one of the more unusual items to go under the hammer from noon tomorrow at Philips Auctions at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Belonging to a former armour collector who claims the breastplate dates from about 1790 (the latest period this type of armour was used in battle), nevertheless, according to United Kingdom photographic records, it looks just like breastplates used until about 1650.

Paintings by the man responsible for building the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in St Kilda Road will be a major highlight of Philips Auctions decorative arts and furniture sale from noon on Sunday, June 16.

Eric Westbrook was appointed NGV director in 1954 and, at the time, the gallery was housed in a decrepit Victorian-era building – later redeveloped as the State Library of Victoria.

Once upon a time, furniture auction houses were the places people would go to offload their less than desirable items that no one else really wanted. Usually holding weekly sales, often these venues would be crammed to the rafters with either unwanted junk or items that would be sold off at very competitive prices.