Exquisite furniture and paintings from the Victorian branch of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation is among highlights of Philips Auctions first 2020 sale from noon Sunday February 16 at 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.

Among the major features are a 19^th century European school portrait of a young lady in a black dress with lace collar (lot 367), a Regency style early to mid-20^th century mahogany bureau plat (lot 432) and a late 19^th century Louis XVI giltwood canape with musical score motifs imprinted on the aqua silk taffeta (lot 436).

E.J. Ainger is launching its first auction for the year with a magnificent circa 1978 Bosendorfer ebonised grand piano that is bound to excite genuine piano buffs.

The auction, from 9.30am on Tuesday February 4 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond, has several ornate furniture pieces – including a corner cabinet, commodes and chairs – along with a screen, solid wood bookcase and wrought iron seating.

Viewing 10am-1pm Saturday February 1 and 9am-5pm Monday February 3.

The United States might have been the first country to land a man on the Moon (Apollo 11 July 1969) but the Russians can lay claim to being the first to land an unmanned robotic probe on the surface and return a lunar soil sample to Earth (September 24, 1970).

From Mare Fecunditatis (Sea of Fertility), it was the third sample overall to come back following the efforts of NASA’s Apollo 11 and then Apollo 12 space flights in November 1969.

Auction goers looking for quality jewellery as Christmas gifts will find it hard to resist the range being offered by Australian Fine Assets at E.J. Ainger’s auction rooms from 2pm Sunday December 8 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

This is the second collaborative jewellery sale between the two companies – essentially being driven by AFA chief executive officer Robert Haigh, one of Australia’s leading jewellery experts who until 2017 was manager and senior jewellery specialist at Leonard Joel.