Art deco the theme for a Melbourne auction

 Now in his 60s, a vendor who does not wish to be named and who purchased specific art deco pieces to decorate his period St Kilda Street, Brighton mansion has decided it is time to downsize as he moves into retirement.

As a result, his entire collection will be auctioned from 9.30am Tuesday September 24 by E.J. Ainger at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Managing director John Ainger has described the sale as a designer auction with art deco furniture and French designed cherub vases, wrought iron standard lamps and coffee tables typical of the offerings.

“The art deco wrought iron is superb along with a Le Corbusier combination chrome and leather lounge suite,” he said.

Le Corbusier was the name adopted by Swiss-born and French citizen from 1930 Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (1887-1965) – a well-known architect, designer, painter, urban planner and writer, and one of the pioneers of what is now called modern furniture.

His career spanned five decades during which he designed buildings in Europe, Japan, India and North and South America.

Highly influential in urban planning, Le Corbusier was dedicated to improving living conditions for residents of crowded cities – preparing a master plan for India’s Chandigarh city and contributing to several of its building designs.

He was a founding member of the Congres International d’Architecture and, in 2016, 17 of his projects in seven countries were inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites as The Architectural Work of Le Corbusier, an Outstanding Contribution to the Modern Movement.

Other items in the collection include a much sought after ebonised Kawai baby grand piano, French Louis XV style drawing room chairs and commodes, Venetian and gilded mirrors and an impressive king size reproduction mahogany and red leather bed.

The auction also contains 20^th and 21^st century commodes and painted bedroom furniture, wooden window louvres, massive chandeliers, wrought iron and marble tables, Tuscany-style iron panels – and a large Egyptian consignment of Napoleon III household and mansion doors.

There are several paintings from a Templestowe estate and 45 jewellery pieces supplied by leading Melbourne jewellery expert and auctioneer Robert Haigh from Australian Fine Assets.