Australiana auction to bring enthusiastic crowds

Leonard Joel’s Australiana auction from 1.30pm on Thursday May 15 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra will have live bidding – both through the Leonard Joel and Invaluable websites – and feature many unusual items bound to intrigue auction goers.

Typical of the offerings is a Macintyre sterling mounted inkwell with a porcelain plaque inset for the 9^th Australian Light Horse regiment.

Another is a large bronze sculpture of an Australian soldier entitled London Leave by early 20^th century bronze maker William Wallace Anderson, whose works are on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

The sale contains many fascinating pottery items and particularly intriguing is the Bendigo Pottery corncob adorned cheese bell on a base, while a small William Ricketts hand built jug with face motif and branch handle, and inscribed Mt Dandenong 1936 is another attraction.

Born in 1898 in Richmond, Ricketts settled permanently in Mount Dandenong in 1934 and today many of his works are on display at the William Ricketts Sanctuary.

He made frequent trips to central Australia to live with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrernte Aboriginal people, whose traditions and culture inspired his sculptures.

Another auction highlight is the New South Wales print of Aborigines Salmander, Bulkabra and Gooseberry by Charles Rodius and printed by L. Austin in 1830.

A set of early 19^th century Australian Union Club ship, colonies and commerce meat plates from Hobart is another interesting item.

An 1850s Australian cedar sofa should receive plenty of attention while a 19^th century Australian cedar miniature chest of drawers with mirrored doors should whet auction goers appetites.