A feast of quality furniture and collectables at Melbourne auction

Antique English furniture from Melbourne’s historic mansion Stonington, formerly owned by Menzies art auction house founder the late Rod Menzies, joins part two of the Pascoe collection of tea caddies, French antiques and Australian art at Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from 12pm Sunday May 22 at 7 Harper Street, Abbotsford. 

Neil and Jannis Pascoe spent a lifetime collecting wooden tea caddies of all shapes and sizes and about 70 of these were auctioned by Christian McCann on April 3 in Melbourne – with the remainder being offered at this sale. 

The auction includes fine antique gilded mirrors and consoles, French bronze figures and figure groups by well-known artists, a rare oak and ormolu display case, ormolu mounted Boulle furniture and English furniture from the 17^th to 19^th centuries for auction goers to consider. 

French and English timepieces from the 18^th and 19^th centuries are another strong attraction along with a range of jewellery including bangles, rings and necklaces. 

Among the quality English furniture is an exceptional Georgian burr walnut five-drawer secretaire bookcase (lot 237) and a pair of oak ‘chamber writing tables’ by the iconic Gillows of Lancaster and London (lot 252).

Other furniture attractions include a 19^th century mahogany mirror backed four-door sideboard (lot 289). 

Typical of the Pascoe tea caddies on offer in this auction is lot 295, a rare 19^thcentury creation in the form of a breakfront sideboard with architectural columns. 

An exhibition quality 19^th century kingwood and mahogany French commode with a heavy Brosche Violette marble top (lot 15) is a great example of the European furniture on offer, along with 19^th century bergère armchairs (lot 56).

French bronze sculptures are always popular and lot 47, a 19^th century example showing a cherub holding a lobster and perched on a seashell, is bound to attract plenty of attention. 

A 19^th century French ormolu and carrara marble salon clock (lot 13) is one of the quality timepieces while lot 48 is a superb pair of 19^th century French bronze and gilt Empire candelabra.

An exceptional 19^th century ormolu centrepiece with 18^th century Chinese hand painted bowl (lot 78) is one of those auction items that is not to be missed.