Rare 17th century furniture an auction feature

A collection of rare 17^th and 18^th century oak furniture, Roman antiquities and 18^th century lacquered cabinets are the highlights of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday April 15 on site at 69 Avoca Street, South Yarra.

The collection belongs to a retired gentleman, who does not wish to be named, and who is relocating to his Sorrento residence on the Mornington Peninsula.

Many of the auction items have been purchased over the years from leading Melbourne antiques stores such as John Dunn, Graeme Geddes and Glenleigh Antiques and well-known auction rooms Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

One of the highlight items is a 17^th century oak refectory table and side table. Another is an 18^th century two-door lacquered chest on a stand.

Other attractions include ormolu mounted French furniture, including Boulle salon pieces, and a carved gilt wood suite.

There is an exceptional 18^th century carved gilt wood mirror, an 18^th century oil painting in an elaborate gilt frame and fine 18^th and 19^th century hand painted Sevres porcelain.

The works of leading Australian artists are on show including Hans Heysen, Chris Canning, Fred Williams, Albert Sherman, Ernest Buckmaster, and an important watercolour by Norman Lindsay.

Early Roman and Greek antiquities from the 3^rd and 4^th centuries with important provenances are further attractions, along with Chines Han Dynasty terracotta figures.

There also is a superb collection of Chinese porcelain, bronze, cloisonné and jade and Japanese Meiji period netsukes purchased during the 1980s in New York.