Leski Auctions

A unique Australian coat of arms made in wool about 1880 by William Duncan from the outback Queensland town of Charters Towers (lot 132) is typical of the historic flavour of Leski Auctions forthcoming Australian & Colonial sale from 12pm Sunday may 26 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

The shield’s four quadrants (bale of wheat, merino sheep, three-masted sailing ship and gold minehead) are surrounded by Australian birds siting amongst a Scottish thistle, English rose and Irish shamrock with kangaroo and emu supporting two white ensigns.

The 2018 closing of the Joshua McClelland Print Room and the family-associated Rathdowne Galleries in Carlton is the end of an important era in Melbourne’s and Australia’s art market.

Leski Auctions has been asked to auction the paintings, prints, porcelain and furniture from 12pm Sunday May 5 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale – bringing to a close a Melbourne icon that was established in 1927 by Joshua McClelland when he set up an antiques business in his own name.

A 1922-25 French Sirene nickel plated bronze car mascot (lot 196) by George Colin (marked G. Colin, 10) is one of the more unusual and appealing items up for grabs at Leski Auctions forthcoming Decorative Arts & Collectables sale from 12pm Sunday March 3 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Featured on the auction catalogue’s front cover and originally distributed by Hermes, in 1922 Colin’s design was awarded Medailee for design by L’Auto.

West Indian Sir Garfield Sobers will always be remembered as one of the greatest – if not the greatest – cricketing allrounders of all time.

His extraordinary feat of hitting six sixes in one six-ball over for English county Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan on August 31, 1968 – the first batsmen ever to do so – from the bowling of hapless young Malcolm Nash is still talked about today and can even be found on YouTube.

So hard did Sobers hit the last of these sixes that it flew out of the ground and was not found until the next day.

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.

Auction goers who like to delve into Australian history will no doubt be impatiently waiting for the chance to bid at Leski Auctions forthcoming Australian & Colonial auction from noon Sunday December 2 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Australia’s past will be in sharp focus at the sale with further selections from long-time collector Rodney Pemberton’s collection of Australian colonial furniture to whet buyer appetites.

An 1880s Edward William Godwin (1833-1886) English Aesthetic Movement art cabinet (lot 198) is the major highlight of Leski Auctions forthcoming Decorative Arts, Watches & Collectables sale from 11am Sunday October 28 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Godwin was a progressive English architect-designer renowned initially for his “Ruskinian Gothic-style” creations of mid-Victorian Britain including The Guild Hall in Northampton.

He was among the first European designers to include the arts of Japan, which in 1853 had opened its doors to the Western world, in his works.

As a boy in the 1950s on the family property in the southern Mallee region of Victoria, Daryl Blythman became fascinated with Australian indigenous artefacts that predated European migration by thousands of years.

“My passion for collecting began thanks to my father who collected stone artefacts and axes that dated back to the Aboriginal tribes who lived or travelled through this area,” he said.

“It wasn’t long before this hobby became mine and ultimately my obsession, when I recognised that these items revealed a story that was unique to Australia.

A plethora of sporting memorabilia items that have never before been auctioned will be up for grabs when Leski Auctions holds its Celebration of Cricket! Sale from 3pm Sunday September 2 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

The auction follows the recent closure of New South Wales’ Central Coast Cricket Museum involving items on display for many years.

Other highlights include the collections of both a Melbourne and Sydney gentleman, along with various vendor items – again some of which have never before been auctioned.

Melbourne auctioneer Charles Leski – well known over many years in collector circles for his ability to unearth some of Australia’s more memorable collectables – has re-established his former business Leski Auctions at new premises in 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

To launch the new enterprise with a small team of experienced staff, Leski is doing what he has always done well – a trademark Australian & Colonial History & Artworks auction from noon Sunday July 15.