From 6.30pm Monday June 16, Leonard Joel has a jewellery auction featuring a loose fancy vivid yellow diamond weighing 2.2 carats with a catalogue estimate of $25,000-$35,000.

Other strong attractions include a diamond riviere necklace, a diamond ring by Canturi and diamond line bracelet.

There also is a range of wristwatches including a Piaget gold example, a Patek Philippe, a Chanel and ladies Jaeger, Cartier, Rolex and Tag Heuer specimens.

An impressive sculpture of famous German composer Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) by noted French sculptor Emile Antoine Bourdelle (1861-1929) will be a major highlight of Leonard Joel’s fine art auction from 6.30pm Tuesday June 17 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

Bourdelle was well known for his works – making about 80 sculptures from 1888 until his death, with Beethoven’s figure featuring quite prominently.

A rare 1860s southern Chinese lacquered wood palanquin acquired several years ago from an old Tasmanian collection will be a major highlight of Philips Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday June 15 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Palanquins were mainly used for transporting members of the aristocracy, protecting them from dust and dirt and hot and cold weather during their travels.

To mark the 50^th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in Adelaide for the first leg of their Australian tour, from noon on Thursday June 5 Leonard Joel will auction a remarkable collection of 50 photographs of the band and the crowd who turned out to meet them.

An estimated 300,000 people (about one-third of the city’s population) lined the route from Adelaide airport to the city to catch a glimpse of the Beatles when their plane touched down on June 12, 1964.

Part of a bigger world tour, it was the only time the Beatles ever came to Australia.

Fine quality French, English (Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian) and Australian antique furniture, featuring sideboards, bookshelves, tables, dining suites and bedside cabinets, will be a strong crowd puller from 9.30am Tuesday June 3 for E.J. Ainger at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Many of the collectables and other items of interest, including an extensive oriental porcelain collection from the 19^th and 20^th centuries, come from various estates in Toorak, Kew and Hawthorn.

A range of Australian, colonial, antique and historical items will comprise one of Mossgreen’s most fascinating auctions for the year when offered to buyers from 2.30pm on Tuesday June 3 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

One of the sale’s leading attractions is the first edition account entitled The Eureka Stockade by Carboni Rafaello and published one year after the rebellion on December 3, 1854.

Items from the late Joe Dioguardi’s Ringwood estate join the contents of a Hawthorn mansion and two Kew homes and other private vendors in Amanda Addams Auctions latest sale from 6.30pm Monday June 2 at 344 High Street, Kew.

The auction contains a feast of ceramics and pottery from the 19^th and 20^th centuries including a rare bird decorated planter by Australian potter John Campbell.

Other makers to feature are Moorcroft, Royal Doulton, Doulton Lambeth, Royal Worcester, Wedgwood, Belleek, Cloisonné and Satsuma.

Avid model steam engine collector Greg Edwards is auctioning more of his collection through auctioneer Steve Graham from 10am tomorrow at 64 Urquhart Street, Woodend.

The sale includes a 1920s British Atkinson steam truck – a model so large Greg Edwards can sit on it.

Greg was only 13 when he began collecting model steam engines – and eventually built his stocks to more than 200, describing his collecting habits as “a bit of a disease”.

A strong link to Camberwell’s historic past will be among items to be auctioned from 9.30am Friday May 30 in Young’s Auctions special sale at 229 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn.

The link comprises items from and a painting of a late 19^th century mansion on the corner of Riversdale and Trafalgar Roads – knocked down in the 1970s to build a hospital on the site.

The items include a leadlight window from the mansion and cast iron posts and lacework fencing.

The entire contents of a magnificent Templestowe mansion will be auctioned on site at 11a Read Street from noon Sunday June 1 by Christian McCann Auctions because the family is moving back to China.

The auction comprises the finest French, English and Chinese antiques, art and decorative arts and, according to Christian McCann, is a sale any serious collector or enthusiast must not miss.

Included in the auction is superb antique French furniture featuring ormolu mounted Boulle pieces, commodes, display cabinets, armchairs, gilt mirrors and library items.