Mysterious deceased collector brings quality colonial Tasmanian furniture to auction

Although the late John Richards remains much of a mystery to other collectors, his name lives on through the colonial Tasmanian furniture items he collected during his many visits to Australia’s island State.

As the owner of the renowned seafood restaurant Food Magic on Sydney’s norther beaches, John spent almost 20 years visiting Tasmania to follow his passion for sourcing the finest sea creatures to serve to customers.

During the course of his visits, the inveterate rare coin collector discovered a love for fine colonial furniture.

Part of John Richards estate, the 66 furniture items are included in Melbourne-based Leski Auctions Australian & Historical two-day sale from 10am Saturday December 7 and Sunday December 8 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

One of the collection highlights is an impressive circa 1855 colonial Australian half-tester double bed (lot 17), formerly owned by Carl and Caressa Crouch.

A circa 1840s colonial Australian book box of fiddleback blackwood, Huon pine and cedar (lot 2) is another strong attraction, along with an exceptional colonial writing box from the same era and similar timbers (lot 1).

Interesting is the 19^th century set of Imperial standard measures engraved with the words “New South Wales” by Bate, maker of the Original Standards for The Exchequer in cities such as London, Edinburgh and Dublin among others.

The auction contains many significant Australian historical items including an important pair of circa 1853 bronze portrait plaques of renowned Melbourne identity Dr Godfrey Hewitt and his wife Phoebe (lot 70) by English sculptor and founding member of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood Thomas Woolner (1825-1892).

Forced to emigrate in 1851 to Australia, which helped him obtain commissions for likenesses of public figures and British imperial heroes such as Captain James Cook, after 12 months Woolner returned to England.

One of his more famous works – a bronze statue of Anglo-Irish statesman John Robert Godley in Christchurch, New Zealand – was shattered in the February 2011 earthquake but subsequently repaired.

Woolner’s elder son Hugh (1866-1925) survived the 1912 Titanic sinking after it struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage to New York, and later became a stockbroker.

A circa 1750 Dutch East India Company bronze cannon (lot 192) is among the more unusual auction items and has been verified as authentic by the Western Australia’s Fremantle Maritime Museum.

Convict clockmaker Henry Lane, transported to New South Wales for forgery, appears through his mahogany case longcase timepiece (lot 97) and James Short of London is the maker of a rare mid-18^th century Gregorian reflector telescope in a mid-19^th century cedar case (lot 96).

Of the highest quality, Short’s telescopes were supplied to The Royal Society of London and used by Captain Cook on his voyages to observe Venus’s transit.

There are three extremely rare photographs of infamous bushranger Ned Kelly – including a pair of cartes-de-visite by Clifford, Morris & Co in Dunedin, one taken when he was sent to jail on August 2, 1871, the second when discharged from prison February 1874 (lot 365), and the third a glass magic lantern slide by photographer Charles Nettleton the day before his November 11, 1880 execution (lot 368) – among the convict photographs section.  

An important circa 1858 set of six Australian carved cedar target back chairs (lot 269), made by Melbourne makers George Thwaites and Daniel Livingstone, is part of the furniture highlights.

A 19^th century fine quality wine ewer by Melbourne silversmith William Edwards (lot 503) is a good example of the quality silver on offer, while a circa 1860 18-carat colonial gold brooch (lot 536) is great example of the antique jewellery available.  

However, the pick of the jewellery items is a stunning circa 1835 gold and diamond brooch named Halley’s Comet (lot 562) with a circa 1840 version of the same title (lot 563) also available.

Pottery features prominently in the auction, particularly a 1937 Castle Harris and Allan James unglazed earthenware vase (lot 769), and a Remued impressive green glazed pottery example (lot 771).