Chinese auction treasures in Victorian English setting

Normally found in a more familiar Asian setting, a collection of Ming Dynasty polychrome carved Buddhas, Chinese ivory and jade will feature prominently in one of Melbourne’s historic Victorian English mansions as part of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday September 18.

The mansion is located at 878 High Street, Armadale and other important Chinese treasures on show include a signed pair of iron Cheng Hua period temple Guanyins.

One of the big attractions for this auction is the art – in particular a 2.4-metre high oil painting depicting the Sacking of Carthage.

There also are important works by Australian artists including Walter Withers, Hugh Sawrey, David Boyd, Pro Hart, Norman Lindsay, Charles Dickerson, Ray Crooke and J.H. Scheltema.

Particularly eye catching is an extremely rare 17^th century Flemish tapestry of palatial proportions.

The auction features an outstanding collection of French and English clocks and clock sets that include rare bracket clocks (on their original brackets) and Sevres panelled mantel timepieces.

There is plenty of antique furniture to attract traditional auction goers including French provincial furniture featuring dining tables, a rare pair of bookcases, bergères and console tables. A furniture highlight is the Italian walnut cassone.

Fine Japanese antique bronze figures are another attraction – along with a collection of Satsuma and a rare two-fold Japanese screen.

The auction also contains a superb array of garden statuary, fountains and garden urns.