Stone lions a perfect entree to auction mecca
Author: Richard Brewster | Posted: 16th February, 2017
The massive and heavy pair of stone and metal lion figures that greet visitors to Delamere Farm at 20 Old Moorooduc Road, Dromana make a perfect entrée to the 20 hectares of classic walks and French parterre gardens (a concept that originated in 15th century Renaissance France) in which can be found a bronze dancing girl and two-metre tall horse figures.
It is the ideal setting for auctioneer Phil Caldwell’s forthcoming auction from 11am Sunday February 19 of quality Australia art, antique furniture, porcelain, sculptures, Persian rugs, early Asian antiquities and jewellery and watches.
Until they recently sold it and bought another property, Delamere Farm was owned by V8 Supercar racing identity Rod Nash and his wife Lisa.
With partner Rusty French, Nash’s company Ford Performance Racing (and its performance parts offshoot Tickford) is the power behind the Bottle-O sponsored Ford racing team.
A major auction highlight is the early 1900s Alcock & Co full size fiddleback blackwood billiard table (complete with original scorer and cue rack), which the previous property owner purchased 30 years ago from the former Acorn Antiques.
According to Caldwell, at the time it was one of the most expensive billiard tables in Melbourne.
Within the farm’s library is another fiddleback blackwood piece – a rare D-end desk – and an impressive eight-door breakfront mahogany bookcase.
Banquet dining room attractions include mahogany extension dining table, 12 matching upholstered dining chairs and sideboard and the sitting room is the ideal venue for French gilt suites, boulle and marquetry commodes and vitrines, and a kingwood bureau plat. Unusual is the rare white concert Wurlitzer comet organ.
Australian artwork features the likes of Lloyd Rees Tasmanian highlands view, an early Arthur Boyd landscape, Pro Hart’s Eureka Stockade, paintings by David Boyd, Hugh Sawrey, Charles Blackman, William Dobell, Sidney Nolan and Robert Dickerson, and colonial impressions of a prospector and Tasmanian wilderness in the 1860s.
The auction porcelain features investment quality Royal Worcester and imperial Sevres pieces. These include an exhibition size baluster shape two-handled Royal Worcester vase and an impressive large lidded Sevres centrepiece bowl.
Among the antique clocks is an original French Empire period ormolu mounted timepiece and a fine 1880s French Chinoiserie lacquered mantel clock.
Other auction attractions include large gilt salon mirrors, French winery signs and wine racks and a large Australian wine collection.
