Unique dinner gong to intrigue auction goers

A mid-20th century Ethiopian hippopotamus tooth and silver dinner gong is a unique auction item in what is rapidly becoming one of Philips Auctions more unusual sales - earmarked for noon Sunday October 25 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Auciton goers should also find a late Qing Dynasty (late 19th to early 20th century) large Cantonese pedestal bowl of great interest.

Limited edition boxed unusual shaped Limoges porcelain decanters are another major feature of this rather eclectic decorative fine arts sale.

Perhaps the most intriguing is the decanter of French Sempé Napoléon Armagnac.

The Armagnac is housed in a Limoges porcelain crown decorated in 18-carat gold and embellished with the Napoleonic bee and numbered 14656 with further information underneath.

Another decanter is French Chabot XO Armagnac, while a third contains French Larsen cognac housed in porcelain fashioned as a gilded Viking ship in full sail.

Other examples include French Chabot Armagnac and French extra Hine cognac.

The auction has a strong representation of 19^th and 20^th century sterling silver two silver plated claret jugs and a 1918 Birmingham four piece coffee service with the Alex Clarke makers mark. Among the porelain is an early 21st century green and red art glass blown vase.

An 1885 Victorian Sheffield hinged sterling silver spirit kettle in the George III manner with WG/JL marks for Goldsmiths and Silversmiths Co is another attraction, while a 1909 Birmingham silver topped glass perfume bottle with Charles May makers mark is not to be missed.

A mid-20^th century child’s vintage silk kimono and adult silk kimono are other worthy items along with a silk fur coat and collar and fine Tabriz silk rug.