Australia's largest collection of Staffordshire dogs to go under hammer

The largest collection of Staffordshire dogs in Australia is set to be auctioned from noon on Sunday May 4 at Philips Auctions 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

The collection, which also includes several porcelain cats and lions, was owned by a Pennsylvanian woman whose son-in-law shipped it to Australia after she died.

According to antique trade experts, it is the biggest Staffordshire dog collection in living memory and contains several rare specimens from the 1850s to 1890s.

They include several large pairs more than 34 centimetres in length, a large facing seated spill dog pair, blue eyed spaniels, an 1855 parent and pup pair on a Thénard’s blue base, a pair of Staffordshire cats, several demure seated lions and one in more menacing pose.

The auction contains an interesting collection of French silver, the vendor inherited from his aristocratic French mother and some fine glassware featuring ruby glass epergnes, a Tiffany favrile trumpet vase and a striking art deco ruby glass trumpet light in a skyscraper style mount.

There are good examples of French furniture including a mid-19^th century mother of pearl inlaid palisander Bonheur de jour and a small collection of Victorian pieces purchased originally from Acorn Antiques.

A renowned porcelain collector is offereing several fine pieces including “Death of the Bear” by Spode – from the Indian sporting series – and rare examples by Rockingham, Leeds and Turner, Coalport, Derby and Wedgwood.

Unusual is a fabulous Cape Cod dolls house filled with miniature Victorian-style furniture, books with tiny pages and working chandeliers.