Auction wine collection discovered in cellar of demolished home

A 300-bottle wine collection – discovered by accident in the cellar of a demolished Melbourne home – is a strong highlight of Kim’s Auctions forthcoming sale from 11am Sunday August 27 at 327-329 Warrigal Road, Burwood.

The collection contains leading Australian wines including several bottles of 1995 and 1996 Penfolds Grange, 1992 Henschke Hill of Grace, 1994-1997 Rockford Basket Press, and 1995 and 1996 Pipers Brook.

International brands include 1998 Chateau Deson and 1993 Pol Roger champagne.

The auction features several paintings including a floral study by famous Sydney-based Chinese Australian artist Fu Hong.

Born in 1946 in Beijing, Hong held many influential artistic positions in China (including “artist’s gallery” director of the China National Artistic Association) before arriving in 1990 in Australia.

Since then, he has gained a deserved national and international reputation for his original synthesis of representational painting with impressionist and expressionist leanings.

Famous for portrait, figure and floral works, Hong has held 40 solo exhibitions in in Australia and overseas including a major show at the China National Art Gallery in 1998 and in 2009 an exhibition at the Tian Jin National Museum.

Winner of several major portrait awards, he has been a frequent entrant and finalist in Archibald Prize contests.

Perhaps Hong’s most famous effort in this regard was his portrait of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch for her 100^th birthday, for which he was a 2009 Archibald Prize finalist.

The widow of Australian newspaper publisher Sir Keith Murdoch and mother of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Dame Elisabeth devoted her life to philanthropy, held several influential positions and supported more than 100 charities in the arts, medical research, social welfare, flora and fauna and animal welfare fields.

There are many other attractions to interest keen auction goers including several ancient Egyptian artefacts.

One is an ancient Egyptian limestone statue of the god Ptah the high priest dating from the Middle Kingdom period 2050BC to 1800BC.

In ancient Egyptian mythology, Ptah was the god of craftsmen and architects, the spouse of Sekmet and Nefertun’s father.

Another is an ancient Egyptian cartonage of the god Maat, goddess of truth and justice, complete with vulture wings – from the 18^th-19^th dynasty.

A third is a museum quality ancient Egyptian collar of a cartonage from 26^th the dynasty depicting the god Horus.

A fourth is an Egyptian stone shaved priest head from the Ptolemaic period 304BC to 30BC.

A fifth artefact is a rare marble figure of a baboon, representing the lunar god Thoth, deity of wisdom and scribe to the gods, from the Egyptian Roman period circa 1^st century BC to 1^st century AD and formerly part of the German Astrid collection.

From China is a large Ming Dynasty jade disc mounted on a Perspex stand and a fine spring and autumn rice wine ladle with three dragon faces from circa 722BC to 481BC.

Another feature is a pre-Colombian classic of a Mexican smiling figure from Vera Cruz circa 600AD to 900AD that was part of the David Jones Art Gallery “Pre-Colombian Art of Mexico” 1979.

Impressive is a large Indus Valley coil formed clay vessel painted with papal tree and bull design.

An accompanying Oxford Laboratory thermoluminescence analysis test report states the vessel is between 3900 and 5900 years old from the Mehrgarh culture in the Indus Valley.

Further attractions include a giant antique African elephant’s tusk, a pair of 19^th century gilded candelabras and French mantel clock.