Mossgreen

The extensive collection of one of Australia’s most distinguished artists, Deborah Halpern, will go under the hammer from noon Sunday September 25 at Mossgreen 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

About half the 516 lots comprise Australian and international works of fine art, decorative arts, furniture, fashion and accessories the artist has collected throughout her life – either through purchase or inheritance.

In a career that stretched for 250 games with three VFL/AFL clubs, Australian Rules player Greg “Diesel” Williams was recognised as one of the elite footballers of his era.

Despite being relatively slow, Williams possessed superb handballing skills and was unparalleled at gathering possessions – so much so that as the years progressed his standing in the game continued to grow.

Williams was initially recruited but rejected early by Carlton before signing on at Geelong for the 1984-85 seasons where he won the club’s best and fairest award.

A part sheet of 1854 Western Australian four pence stamps is a vital part of Mossgreen’s forthcoming Australian Colonies stamp auction from 1pm Sunday September 11 at 935 High Street, Armadale.

Described in the catalogue as one of the crown jewels of Australian philately and one of the most stimulating and technically exciting philatelic items from anywhere in the world, the sheet comprising 100 stamps (featuring 17 varieties) carries an estimate of $150,000.

A letter dated June 9, 1914 from the Bendigo mayor to his counterpart in Ballarat is the earliest known item flown by aeroplane in Australia.

With a catalogue estimate of $25,000, the letter is a highlight of Mossgreen’s auction of collector Tom Frommer’s Grand Prix collection of pioneer Australian airmails from 3pm Sunday September 11 at 935 High Street, Armadale.

Frommer began collecting stamps as a teenager and early on developed a passionate interest in the exploits of pioneer aviators.

Two large diamond rings – one 5.5 carats and the other 5.09 carats – are major highlights of Mossgreen’s forthcoming Fine Jewels & Watches sale from 6pm Tuesday August 30 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

Both are accompanied by GIA Diamond Grading Reports denoting their colour and clarity and carry respective catalogue estimates of $80,000-$120,000 and $80,000-$90,000.

The auction is notable for several fine pieces including a 1970s diamond bracelet (estimate $32,000-$38,000) and a collection of mid-Victorian 18-carat gold, diamond and emerald jewellery.

Mossgreen CEO Paul Sumner has described Albert Tucker’s extraordinary painting Attack of the Beast 1953-55-86 as so powerful, it stops any viewer in their tracks.

“This brilliant work was painted at an important time in the artist’s career,” he says in the introduction to the Fine Australian and International Art catalogue for an auction which will be held from 6.30pm Monday August 29 and continue the following day from 2.30pm at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

Prince Albert House in the Sydney suburb of Mosman – a grand merchant’s house built about 1907 – is the imposing venue for a collection of paintings featuring some of the best known names in Australian art to go under the hammer through Mossgreen from 2pm Sunday August 21.

The home, at 13 Prince Albert Street, reflects the heritage and grandeur of its history and is a fitting auction location for a collection that also includes furniture and objects, decorative arts and fine wines acquired from some of Australia’s most iconic collections.

Motoring enthusiasts will be over the moon at the prospect of picking up a rare 1988 Ferrari 328GTB “Gran Turismo Berlinetta” factory right hand drive at Mossgreen’s forthcoming Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia auction from noon Sunday August 14 at 935 High Street, Armadale.

The Ferrari 328, with a catalogue estimate of $225,000-$250,000, has a 3.2-litre V8, four valve per cylinder layout and a top speed of 267 km/h – reaching 160km/h in 13 seconds.

Items belonging to the woman responsible for Flemington Racecourse’s rose garden and the wearing of flowers on major Spring Carnival racing days will be part of Mossgreen’s three-day International Decorative Arts auction from 4pm Sunday July 31 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

In 1962, the late Sheelah Wood convinced her Victorian Racing Commission committee member husband Sam (and other committee members) to wear a blue cornflower on Derby Day as a symbol of respect to soldiers killed in World War II – a custom already followed by the French.

A rare and original cedar “dunny” commode circa 1869 is part of an impressive collection of early Australian colonial furniture, belonging to renowned antique dealers Suzanne and Chris Morris, that will go under the hammer from 10.30am Tuesday June 28 at Mossgreen’s Australian & Colonial History auction 935 High Street, Armadale.

Reverend Henry Moulle (1801-1880) invented the dry earth compost toilet or closet following London’s “Great Stink” of 1858, when a defunct sewer system led to several cholera outbreaks.