When auction goers turn up to Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming on site sale from noon Sunday December 2 at 25 Monomeath Avenue, Canterbury, they will be greeted by some of the finest quality 19^th century French furniture that Australia has seen for many years, according to auctioneer Christian McCann.

“One of these is an exhibition quality breakfront kingwood vitrine with fine marquetry inlay and ormolu mounts (lot 47) and another is similar quality serpentine shaped salon cabinet with hand painted panels (lot 154),” he said.

An Australian 1930 penny with an estimated worth of $19,000 is among a collection of album mounted pennies dating from 1911-1964 (lot 18) to be offered as part of Leski Auctions Stamps, Coins & Postal History auction from noon Sunday December 16 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Managing director Charles Leski says while 1930 pennies in any condition are extremely rare, it is even more unusual to see them as part of a large collection like the one for sale.

Romance has always surrounded the 1930 penny, which was never intended to be placed in circulation.

Asian art lovers will be impressed at the range of collectable items on display at Leonard Joel’s Asian Art Edit auction from 6.30pm Wednesday December 12 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

One of the more colourful items is a circa 1705 Edo Period Japanese four panel screen in the Kano Tomonobu school style and painted by its esteemed artist Fujiwara Toshinobu at 70 years old (lot 13).

Kano Tomonobu was the sixth generation descendant of the master Kano Eitoku who established the Kano tradition of crane paintings.

Melbourne couple Frank and Jill Jones were always a welcome site at the city’s art galleries, antique shops and auction houses.

Married in 1963 in London with years spent travelling and working in Europe, they returned to Melbourne in 1967 and eight years later moved into the family Toorak home.

It was then their collecting began in earnest – frequenting the likes of Leonard Joel, Sotheby’s, Joseph Brown, Christie’s, Adam Galleries, Franzi and Filcock, Littleton Gallery, Behruz and Parkside Antiques until they had become firm friends with all the proprietors. 

Looking for jewellery with a difference to give that special person for Christmas but unable to afford the staggering asking price that many such pieces seem to generate.

Then head to Leonard Joel’s from 6.30 Wednesday December 5 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra where you will be able to choose from a huge auction range in the Kellies Antiques collection – most with estimates of only a few hundred dollars.

From the opening lot – a pair of Victorian ram’s head drop earrings in 18-carat gold – the  offerings are unusual.

Australian pastoralist Thomas Chirnside (1815-1887) will forever be remembered for building the sandstone Italianate Werribee Park Mansion, now a major tourist landmark in Melbourne’s western suburbs.

When the late Neil Robertson was 12 years old he purchased his first antique – a decision that was to start him on a lifetime of collecting, particularly curios.

After completing high school, he worked in Australia and England as a bookseller before becoming the proprietor of Melbourne’s iconic Webber’s Booksellers, opened in 1931 by Margareta Webber.

His other interest was gardening – and to that end in 1988 he became involved in Australia’s Open Garden Scheme and served as its national executive officer for almost 20 years.

In the early days of automobiles, manufacturers would often proudly mount mascots on the radiator caps to better identify the make of the vehicle.

Many became elaborate works of art and a collectable prize for those who could afford them.

They only really went out of favour in the 1970s when authorities realised the extra damage they could cause pedestrians in the event one was hit by the vehicle.