Leski Auctions

Holocaust survivors are undoubtedly tough – and to show just how resilient, Polish Jew Martin Sachs lived to the ripe old age of 95 after becoming one of only 500 survivors from the horrors of the World War II German Mauthausen Labour Camp.

Only 20 when he was liberated in May 1945 by United States forces after losing both his father and mother in Belzec and Stutthof concentration camps during the war, Martin migrated in 1948 to Australia where he became a successful builder and developer.

Golfing champions couldn’t be further from mind when considering religious icons and artefacts coming up for auction – but in the case of Melbourne-based Leski Auctions two-day decorative arts and collectables sale from 10am Saturday and Sunday February 18 and 19, the two are inextricably linked.

Melbourne-based Leski Auctions director Charles Leski is rubbing his hands with glee at the number of star banknotes he has on offer at his forthcoming Coins, Banknotes and Stamps auction from 10am Thursday February 16 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

“Auction houses are lucky to see one a year,” he said. “Two or three is a big number and we have eight in the one auction (lots 433-440).”

Star notes are replacement banknotes – issued once a damaged note has been withdrawn from service.

In a fascinating look at Australia’s convict past, Melbourne-based Leski Auctions two-day Australian & Historical sale has a section on convicts and bushrangers that pays tribute to the country’s penal settlement days.

One of the items is an 18-carat gold pocket watch (lot 249) presented to the former Chief District Constable of Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) George Brown “as a token of respect and esteem on his leaving the colony”.

For anyone who has never attended a decorative arts and collectables auction, Melbourne-based Leski Auctions live sale from 10am on Saturday November 5 and Sunday November 6 is the perfect time to go and have a look to see if there is anything that might appeal as a Christmas present.

Catalogue estimates for the comprehensive range of items on offer (1296 in all) are extremely reasonable and affordable and the 727-729 High Street, Armadale address easy to reach.

Melbourne-based Leski Auctions is rapidly building a massive reputation for memorable two-day Decorative Arts & Collectables sales and its forthcoming auction is no exception with the auction house talking about it as a series of smaller individual categories to make it easier for auction goers to digest.

All up there are 1604 lots with 790 being auctioned on the first day – from 10am Saturday September 10 – and the remainder from the same time the following day at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

A nostalgic sporting memorabilia auction tinged with sadness is the predominant feeling behind Leski Auctions forthcoming Melbourne sale from 10am Tuesday August 23 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

One of the major highlights is Shane Warne’s batting helmet he wore during his first Ashes tour of England in 1993 (lot 271).

Warne, who died tragically on March 4 this year from a heart attack aged 52, took 708 Test wickets for Australia during his 15-year career from 1992-2007 as a leg spin bowler.

Michaels Cameras – forced to close last year because of the adverse economic impact COVID-19 has inflicted on Australia – is now selling its comprehensive camera collection through Leski Auctions from 6pm Tuesday August 9 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

The premises, on the corner of Melbourne CBD's Elizabeth and Lonsdale Streets, housed the world’s largest private camera museum containing more than 3000 items.

Pottery lovers will be delighted to see the late John Stephens collection hit the auction market when Melbourne-based Leski Auctions holds its two-day Australian & Historical sale from 10am Saturday June 25, continuing from 10am Sunday June 26, at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Creators are a special breed and the man who invented the Décor brand and brought world-class design, creativity and innovation to Australian homewares, the son of an English adventurer and grandson of a pearl fleet owner on his mother’s side, is no exception.  

This unusual mix produced Great Depression child Brian Middleton Davis who was born in May 1930 in Broome, Western Australia before the family moved to Melbourne where Brian enjoyed a happy childhood designing and building model boats and billycarts at their Brighton home.