A world-class collection of 19^th century French Sevres leads the charge atChristian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday September 27 at 426 Burnley Street, Richmond.

The Sevres collection, comprising 40 mainly ormolu mounted Celeste and Cobalt blue pieces, is unlikely to be matched in the foreseeable future.

The Sevres collection is supported by European and English porcelain, including Royal Worcester, Dresden vases and figures and rare porcelain clocks.

Mossgreen will auction one of the largest collections of hand-painted animated cels ever assembled in Australia from 2pm Sunday September 27 at the Henry Jones Art Hotel in Hobart.

Mainly limited edition, there are about 300 cels featuring such cartoon classics as Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and The Flintsones – and family favourites such as Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, The Jetsons, Top Cat and The Simpsons.

Recent blockbusters Lion King, Star Wars, Frozen, Toy Story and Avatar also are included.

A G. Schwechten burr walnut upright piano is a major highlight of Abbeys Auctions latest sale from 9am Friday September 25 at 480-482a Station Street, Box Hill.

Schwechten was a Berlin-based manufacturer of fine pianos, which began production in 1854 and continued until 1925.

These pianos are now rare and, reflective of the high quality workmanship in 19^th century German and Austrian workshops, among the finest ever built.

The late Mark Whitmore was a skilled metal and timberwork craftsman who owned the successful The Blacksmiths Market at 14 High Street, Maldon.

Whitmore died last year and both the building and contents are up for auction.

Auctioneer Steve Graham is handling the contents auction on site from 11am Wednesday September 23.

Whitmore fashioned items to order and for general sale in his expansive workshop – which, in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries, was occupied by wainwrights G.S. Little who made carriages, buggies and drays for public use.

A collectables feast of antique clocks, crystal, china, porcelain, kerosene lamps and lightshades highlight E.J. Ainger’s offerings at its forthcoming weekly sale from 9.30am Tuesday September 22 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

A large selection of antique and retro teak furniture – including sideboards, dining room settings and coffee tables – should also attract auction goers looking for a range of home ware items.

Gold and silver jewellery including pocket watches, pearls, rings and brooches are other attractions along with paintings, graphics and prints.  

Fred Williams was the first Australian artist to be honoured with a major exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

The year was 1977 and he already was regarded as Australia’s most important artist.

This exhibition introduced Williams to an international audience and the following year he began a series of new paintings on the Werribee Gorge – now regarded as among the most important of his career.

Nimble collectors will be out in droves this week for their chance to pick up one of the more unusual antique thimbles among a collection of 400 on offer at Young’s Auctions latest sale from 9.30am Friday September 18 at 229 Camberwell Road, East Hawthorn.

The thimbles come in all shapes and sizes and are made of different materials.

Some are from sterling silver, some with jewelled tops, others made of enamel, glass, Bakelite or plastic.

Mossgreen Quarterly Collectors Auction Series always throws up an interesting array of collectables and this latest effort – over two days from 10am Monday September 21 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale – is no exception.

While porcelain, glassware and sculpture feature prominently, the auction also is notable for rather unusual antique items.

Of particular note is an Austrian (Franz Bergman manner) cold painted bronze of a camel led by an attendant and ridden by a Bedouin playing drums and a stoneware two-headed sculpture by Alexander Leckie.

The Ballarat Mill Markets will be a first time venue for Glenelg Auctions (normally based in Portland) latest sale over two days from 11am Saturday September 19 and Sunday September 20.

The markets are located at 9367 Western Highway Warrenheip, Ballarat. 

According to auctioneer Brian O’Halloran, the auction items are among the finest offerings he has seen in country Victoria and feature a remarkable array of interesting collectables and memorabilia.

A fascinating collection of elephants and tribal artefacts belonging to collector Bob White will be auctioned from 2pm Thursday September 17 at Leonard Joel 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

The collection includes elephants in various forms and guises including a Royal Doulton figure, in the form of an early 20^th century drink set and as a pincushion complete with hat pins.

Other interesting items include Asian elephant incense burners, bone inlaid elephant figures, elephant bridges and late 19^th century elephants complete with howdahs.