Boulle furniture leads the procession at Christian McCann Auctions

Furnishings from the historic Essendon mansion Rosebank will be part of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon on Sunday June 14 at 426 Burnley Street, Richmond.

Originally built in 1892 by Melbourne pioneer entrepreneur Thomas Napier, the mansion – complete with iron lacework return verandahs, balconies and sweeping central staircase – is a well-known local landmark and was a convent for many years before being recently restored to its former glory.

The auction features boulle salon furniture from the “Boulle Room”, dining room furniture from the banquet room, library furniture, chandeliers, clocks and porcelain.

According to auctioneer Christian McCann, it is the largest collection of antique boulle furniture seen in Australia for years and includes items from a private Canberra collection.

Boulle furniture is named after the famous 17^th and 18^th century French cabinetmaker André-Charles Boulle, preeminent in the marquetry field and whose name has been given to the fashion he perfected of inlaying brass and tortoiseshell into his creations.

On offer at the auction are ormolu mounted boulle credenzas, centre tables, pier and salon cabinets, bureau-plats and occasional items.

Other furniture pieces include an exceptional French walnut extension banquet table with 18 matching upholstered leather chairs and walnut carved banquet sideboard, and 18^th and 19^th century ormolu mounted French vitrines, commodes, cabinets and desks.

Among a fine collection of European sculpture and 19^th century signed bronzes is a life-size terracotta figure of a young Marie Antoinette, wife of Louis XVI – both of whom were guillotined following the 1789 French Revolution.

There also are Japanese bronzes, animalia and groups, the feature of which is a museum quality pair of figures.

The auction contains art by well-known Australian artists Hugh Sawrey, Pro Hart, Robert Dickerson, David Boyd, J.A. Turner and John Glover.

Ormolu and crystal chandeliers and antique French carved gilt wood mirrors and furniture are other auction attractions – along with an array of 18^th and 19^th century salon clocks and clock sets, and a massive ebony cased bracket clock with eight bells.

French 19^th century ormolu mounted Sevres leads the porcelain offerings and for Royal Worcester lovers there are several wonderful signed pieces by George Owen, Harry Stinton and Charles Baldwyn.