Connoissuer collection an auctioneer's dream

Leonard Joel will auction the Dr George Wilcox collection from 1pm Sunday March 8 at the Intercontinental Sydney Double Bay 33 Cross Street, Double Bay in Sydney as part of its Jewels and Objets D’Art sale.

The late doctor was a connoisseur of fine clocks, furniture, silver and decorative arts - particularly of English origin. 

Dr Wilcox shared the collecting bug with his wife Pam – so much so that George always bought the antiques while his wife exclaimed, “George, you can’t afford that!”.

The furniture is notable for an exceptional George III satinwood Bonheur Du Jour, attributed to well-known cabinetmaker George Simson.

A similar piece by the same cabinetmaker sold anonymously at Christie’s London in June 2007 for £13,200.

The feature clock is a late Georgian (about 1820) musical automata by James Smith.

Ceramics feature a fine Bar Flight & Barr Worcester porcelain shell-decorated marble part dessert service – made by John Barker for the Gordon family and painted in his distinctive hand.

The service is referred to in the Dictionary of Worcester Porcelain, Volume I, 1751-1851.

The description by John Sandon claims the service was made about 1812 for the Gordon family and sold in 1980 in Scotland from the estate of a descendant.

Viewing at 39 Queen Street, Woollahra.