Respected Melbourne collections go to online auction

Items from the collections of three highly respected collectors will comprise the entire contents of Melbourne-based Gibson’s Auctions forthcoming Interiors Private Collections online sale from 11am Sunday October 11 at 885-889 High Street, Armadale.

The collectors include Edward (Ed) Clark Antiques, the late Bjarne Nielsen and Robyn Allen.

First coming to prominence as a key figure in the 1974 Melbourne sale of the Maharajah of Mysore Collection, Ed Clark has been in the antiques trade for more than 50 years.

Nielsen was a diamond merchant passionate about blue and white porcelain and, because his jewellery business meant several trips every year to Europe and the Far East, each time London antique dealers and galleries were a must see destination. The result is a precious blue and white collection majoring in antique Chinese pieces and Delft porcelain.

For more than 20 years, Robyn Allen ran the highly successful  Antique Selections and her fine eye for detail and passion for exhaustive research resulted in a well-earned reputation.

Given that COVID-19 lockdown restrictions still apply in Melbourne, bidding is only allowable online via live streaming with virtual viewings and condition reports sent by email.

In the current coronavirus pandemic world, online catalogues have led to an online auction buying frenzy with results often far outweighing normal expectations. This auction, offering items purchased over many years from overseas and throughout Australia, promises to be no exception.

Auction items range in estimate from a few hundred dollars to many thousands. The leading estimate of $6000-$8000 is for lot 85, a large Indian silver frame mirror, while a pair of blue and white covered Chinese Ming Dynasty vases from the Chongzheng period circa 1640 (lot 198) is $5000-$7000.

Several items are listed at $4000-$6000 including two late 18^th century Italian furniture pieces – a carved walnut commode (lot 11) and a carved walnut two-drawer side table (lot 17).

The other items in this price estimate are a 17^th century blue and white Qing Dynasty vase from the Shunzhi period (lot 181), a large pair of 20^th century famille-rose vases (lot 233), an 18^th century Dutch Delft liturgical bowl (lot 243), a classical still life painting entitled Flowers (lot 316) in the manner of Gaspar Peeter Verbruggen (Flemish 1664-1730) and a pair of 1770 George III sterling silver candlesticks by William Cafe of London (lot 345).  

An Iranian Persian Kashan carpet (lot 336) is estimated at $3000-$5000.