An Australian transport magnate remembered at auction

Items from the prestigious Achilles III motor super yacht, owned by former transport magnate the late Doug Kefford, will be an important part of three major deceased estates to be auctioned online from 11am Sunday August 29 by auctioneer Phil Caldwell.

Because of current Victorian COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, all viewing is online and items can be purchased either by bidding online, over the phone or as absentee bids.

Auction items from the Kefford estate include an important Albert Namatjira watercolour, magnificent oil paintings and rare bronzes by Hugh Sawrey, an early colonial work by W.C. Piguenit and a Joseph Frost seascape.

One of the more fascinating Sawrey bronzes is a horseman in full flight flailing his stockwhip. 

The estate also has other important art works including a major Gallipoli campaign oil by Pro Hart and paintings by David Boyd, Hans Heysen, Ernest Buckmaster, Sidney Nolan, Charles Blackman and Leonard Long.

Rare Royal Worcester porcelain is a mainstay of Geoff and Pat Burridge’s estate, which features fine furniture and silver collected over 50 years.

Of particular note are the quality fruit painted vases by such artists as famous Worcester artists as John Stinton and Harry Davis.

Royal Worcester also is a highlight of the John and Nyra Borne collection with concentration on smaller pearls such as those by George Owen and Charles Baldwyn.

A nine-piece gilt French suite is another drawcard along with superb sideboards, davenport, chests, French buffets and antique Chinese furniture.

For those auction goers who love museum quality antiquities, ancient Greek and Egyptian artefacts are not to be missed, nor are Asian Buddhas and Roman glass.

Other auction attractions include exquisite pearls, diamonds emeralds, rubies and sapphires and a Longines gents watch.