Submitted by aarAdmin on Fri, 09/26/2014 - 00:00
It was a great day for wine buffs at Philips Auctions September sale when 25 bottles of Penfolds Grange Bin 95 were quickly snapped up.
The highest priced bottle was a 1994 vintage – which sold for $755 including buyers’ premium – while the others (apart from a bottle of 2007 which reached $542.80) each went for more than $600.
This result augurs well for Philips Auctions forthcoming October auction when about three dozen carefully cellared Penfolds wines (including Grange) will be offered for sale.
Several taxidermy items – including a mounted zebra’s head and leopard skin (each bringing $2360) – changed hands with alacrity while a William Ricketts bust of an Aboriginal elder holding three children reached $885.
Chinese items continue to be popular – typical examples being a Chinese silver teapot, that brought $3186 on a $300-$400 catalogue estimate, a Chinese Canton ivory card selling for $1180, and a matching pair of enamel decorated Chinese cups changing hands for $2360 on a $400-$500 estimate.
A pair of antique imperial Chinese bowls reinforced the trend, selling for $4012. The Japanese section was equally impressive, with a wood and bronze charger reaching $1888.
Silver items also are much in demand these days – a sterling silver George II creamer bringing $1180 and an early George III sterling silver sweetmeat basket $1652.
Other typical silver item results included an Austrian .812 silver torah finial that sold for $590 and an early Victorian sterling silver hot water jug that changed hands for $1770.
These days, auction goers have renewed their interest in Persian rugs, with a large Kashan carpet selling for $1298 and a Persian style fine Indian wool carpet for $1180.
This auction Philips Auctions continued to dispose of furniture items from Hawthorn-based interior designer Geraldine Cooper – something the auction house has been doing for several months.
A typical example was the two Italian walnut rectangular coffee tables, each of which sold for $1180.
Other prominent furniture items included a blackbean extension dining table that changed hands for $1888 on an $800-$1200 estimate and a Victorian mahogany gentleman’s chair for $660 ($150-$250 estimate).
The Monday night jewellery auction brought solid prices – a gold necklace bringing $1888, while a fancy gold bracelet sold for $1003.
A ruby and diamond set bangle changed hands for $2124 on a $800-$1400 estimate, and a gold dress chain for $2242.
Among the more expensive items a stylish diamond set bracelet sold for $6490 and a stunning emerald and diamond cluster ring for $12,980.
A transition cut diamond weighing 1.51 carats also brought a good price, changing hands for $7670 a ladies gold Chopard wristwatch $9440.
Philips Auctions forthcoming October sale features a Georg Jensen silver collection that includes an Acorn cutlery service, silver dish and tazzas – while from the same estate are 30 jewellery pieces including a two-carat diamond.
