Historic Hawthorn mansion venue for grand auction

One of Hawthorn’s original grand Victorian mansions “Crossakiel” is the setting for Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday November 6 when the entire contents of the property will go under the hammer.

Built in 1886 by Richard Gutheridge, the mansion at 26 Kooyongkoot Road was bought two years later by merchant Randal James Alcock – believed to be a son of Henry Alcock who in 1853 migrated to Australia with his family and established the highly successful and internationally famous billiard manufacturing company Alcock’s in Melbourne.

Alcock, who had no children, lived in the house until his death in 1927 from cancer and his wife Sarah remained there until she died in 1934.

The mansion was then sold and used as a boarding house until lovingly restored to its magnificent current status.

The auction contains outstanding French and English antiques including a burr walnut mirror back banquet sideboard (from the former Acorn Antiques), a massive 20-seat antique Cuban mahogany banquet table in original condition and a mahogany breakfront wardrobe.

Among the French furniture on offer are 19^th century gilt wood, ormolu mounted kingwood and marquetry pieces along with rare antique boulle salon items.

A highlight is the rare antique American rosewood cased piano.

The antique timepieces are world class and include a rare French kingwood ormolu long case clock and an English 10-bell long case example.

Among the other timepieces on offer are antique English bracket clocks, Boulle salon clocks, and ormolu and bronze clocks and antique clock sets.

Collectors can choose from magnificent antique porcelain including ormolu mounted Sevres, Royal Worcester and exhibition size Dresden vases.

There also is a range of Chinese porcelain, bronzes and ivory.

Australian and international artists of note include David Boyd, Hugh Sawrey, Arthur Boyd, Ernest Buckmaster, J.H. Scheltema, and Haughton Forrest.

An interesting item is the sewing machine gifted to the vendor in 1979 by former United States president Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy while in their employ.