Historic silver items at Sotheby's Australia auction
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 23rd October, 2018
The historically important Lonsdale Silver Presentation is a major highlight of Sotheby’s Australia’s forthcoming Asian, Australian & European Arts & Design auction from 6pm Wednesday October 24 at 14-16 Collins Street, Melbourne.
The eight lots of inscribed sterling silver were presented in 1842 to Captain William Lonsdale by the people of Melbourne in recognition of his services to the founding colony.
These have remained in the care of his descendants for 176 years and include an inscribed and crested William IV sterling silver three-branch candelabra epergne by Robinson, Edkins & Aston of Birmingham circa 1830-1837.
The epergne carries a catalogue estimate of $150,000-$250,000.
Other major features include a large 18th century Chinese well modelled De Hua figure of Bodhidharma from the Qing Dynasty, a 1948 painting of Howard Ashton, Esq. by artist Hilda Rix Nicholas (1884-1961) and several Albert Tucker paintings including Courtship 1949.
Dame Lucie Rie (1902-1995) is featured with Vase circa 1970 while an unusual 19th century Qing Dynasty Famille-Rose ‘eight horses’ vase is another attraction.
Chinese jade pieces such as a rare Ming Dynasty grey and black jade carving of a recumbent deer feature prominently among auction items.
