Mossgreen’s Quarterly Collectors Auctions Series should just about wrap up the Christmas shopping for those auction goers looking for relatively inexpensive unusual gifts.

The sale will be held from 2pm Tuesday December 8 at 926-930 High Street, Armadale.

Right from Lot 1 – an art deco enamelled nickel travelling clock – many of the offerings are not part of the normal Christmas fare displayed in large department stores.

With Christmas just around the corner, Philips Auctions final decorative arts sale for the year features a plethora of items that would make ideal presents for family and friends.

The auction, from noon Sunday December 6 at 47 Glenferrie Road Malvern, features quality items from a Melbourne philanthropist that include a stunning French commode, ormolu pier table, two vitrines and porcelain by Royal Worcester, Dresden and Limoge such as lemon and pink eggs and vases by Grainger & Co and Royal Dux.

A 1903 Robert Prenzel blackwood settle and three panels is a major highlight of E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming special two-day sale from 11am Saturday December 5 and Sunday December 6 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Each panel is finely carved in the Gothic Renassance style with Gryphons and the centre panel depicts foliage with the relief carved inscription ‘Salve’.

Another Prenzel panel features a lorikeet on an Australian native gum tree branch and was purchased by the Black family from his workshop and installed as part of a homestead fireplace at Tarwin Meadows.

First time art buyers would be well served checking out Leonard Joel’s fine art sale from 6.30pm Tuesday December 1 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra when 265 paintings will be auctioned – many of them carrying estimates of $1000-$2000.

The paintings cover different periods in Australian art history – from colonial to modern and even some contemporary.

Typical of paintings in this estimate range is Danila Vassilieff Street Scene 1934 (lot 6) and Rubery Bennett’s Rippling Melodies (lot 16).