Leonard Joel holds first auction in new Sydney premises

Decorative arts is the subject of Leonard Joel’s first auction at its new Sydney premises in The Bond, Queen Street, Woollahra.

Built in 1870 and originally a Masonic Lodge, this historic building contains a ground floor gallery and space to host viewings, auctions and other events.

The decorative arts auction, from 6pm Tuesday October 23, includes several local and interstate collections – including rare and important 18^th century porcelain.

One of the main features of the 18^th century collection is a rare 1739 Meissen documentary coffee cup and saucer (lot 122).

Other pieces are from such factories as Chelsea, Chantilly, Mennecy, Worcester and Saint-Cloud.

Further highlights include the Boorman Collection (lots 70-86), showcasing high quality Asian furniture and objects from pre-World War II Shanghai.

The war tore the family apart, but somehow the collection remained intact and was brought to Sydney in the 1950s once family members were reunited.

From a private Queensland collection, Josiah Wedgwood’s famous Portland vase (lot 250) is the result of four years of dedication to perfect a duplicate in black and white Jasperware of the original Roman cameo glass (AD 1 and AD 25).

Auction goers will be pleasantly surprised at the selection of English silver and furniture and also a pair of rare 17^th century Venetian screens (circa 1660 - lot 15) with 24 panels revealing pictorial scenes of the siege and sacking of Constantinople in 1453.

Renowned jeweller August Peyroula (1904-1937) is represented through a beautiful art deco gold compact (lot 301). Peyroula also designed for Cartier, Tiffany and Van Cleef & Arpels.

Other items of note include a silver gilt and cloisonné enamel box by Feodor, a circa 1820s bronze and Sienna marble French mantel clock and an early 20^th century Chinese hardwood altar table.