Sterling silver feast at Philips Auctions latest sale

Auction goers will be confronted by an absolute feast of sterling silver at Philips Auctions forthcoming Fine and Decorative Arts sale from 12pm Sunday May 5 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Leading the goodies is an extensive collection of English Victorian Vesta match cases (where matches are stored and can be lit by striking on the bottom of the case), collected in the 1940s and 1950s by one family who documented from where each piece came.

A particular passion for the late mother – with many collected from such famous venues as the Portobello Market – the cases are many and varied.

Of particular note is lot 202, an 1887 sterling silver and enamelled case featuring a British bulldog, lot 203 – an 1899 floral themed version inlaid with heads and buds of purple violets – and lot 205, comprising three cases dating from 1881-1906 with engraved tennis and motoring themes.

The auction also features a 20^th century silver collection from Launceston, Tasmania, including such gems as Harrods candelabra (lots 252 and 256), and a rare 1765 Georgian basket (lot 263) by maker Elizabeth Aldridge – an 18^th century English silversmith whose works are hardly ever seen on the auction market.

Other items of interest include art deco lamps (lots 449 and 450) and art deco figures (lots 35-101), with particular emphasis on an Egyptian themed table lamp (lot 73), dancing figure by Limousin (lot 75) a bronze “flutiste” (lot 77) and art nouveau Bacchanalian bronze figure (lot 78).

Several of the more interesting Australian art items are Sydney Long (1871-19555) etchings, including one which is a sand grain image of trees (lot 428).