Interior decorator auction covers many styles and eras

 Mossgreen’s latest auction in its Interior Decorator series has been carefully curated to include a selection of items that traverse many different styles and eras.

The auction, from 2.30pm on Sunday October 19 at 926-930 High Street Armadale, features more than 300 lots ranging in estimate from $100 to $20,000.

According to Mossgreen co-founder Amanda Swanson the sale is an ideal opportunity for buyers looking for something a little different with which to decorate their home – and, given the accessible price ranges, also is a great introduction to those who have never before considered attending an auction.

“The large array of food and wine oriented pieces on offer are just as usable in our lives today as they were when they were made,” she said in the catalogue introduction.

“Conversely, some pieces can now have a completely different use than for what they were originally intended.”

These include a selection of well-used coopered oak wine tubs and baskets once used to store wine and/or harvest grapes.

Now they can be used as courtyard planters for olive and citrus trees, as log bins next to an open fireplace, or as mobile herb gardens for suburban verandahs or inner city apartment balconies.

One of the auction highlights is a magnificent 18^th century French provincial bombe walnut commode (lot 135) complete with its original bronze hardware.

Another is a rare an 18^th century Qing dynasty Chinese Imari vase (lot 258).

Auction goers should be interested in a collection of pastel coloured moulded glass Murano photographic frames (lots 195-204) along with ever-popular glass carboys ranging in estimated from $100 to $400 – including rare cobalt blue examples that can be readily converted into lamps or other decorator pieces.

Lighting is another attraction, with examples ranging from an art deco floor lamp with a double-tiered parchment shade (lot 178) to a pair of carved rose quartz Chinese figural lamps with gilt French bronze mounts (lot 262).

Italian classic art deco pieces include two giltwood convex starburst mirrors, a pair of brightly coloured Murano glass crested cockatoos, and a pair of speckled and amber moulded Murano glass vases.