This Australian auction is a rare beauty

Aptly named “An Eye for Beauty”, this private collection – featuring a rare 19^th century German pate-sur-pate phanolith neoclassical charger of The Argo by Jean Baptist Stahl (lot 507) on the catalogue front cover – is the forthcoming two-day offering from Melbourne-based Leski Auctions from 12pm Saturday July 22 and Sunday July 23 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Born in 1869 into a family of potters, Stahl invented and designed the phanolith – and his detailed, translucent, finely worked porcelain won him the Grand Prix at the 1900 World Fair in Paris.

Stahl created Art Nouveau master pieces, noted for their detailed modelling of figures that created a three-dimensional illusion by modulating white porcelain transparency.

The eclectic collection has something for every auction goer from, on the first day, clocks, silver, religious icons and tribal artefacts to jewellery and Chinese and Asian art.

Second day items include a range of porcelain and ceramics, glass, furniture, lamps, paintings, military and other collectables.

Typical of the timepieces is an antique 19^th century French three-piece clock set in white Carrara marble with eight-day time and strike movement and Arabic numerals bordered by urn garnitures (lot 6). Other attractions in this section are two grandfather clocks (lots 16 and 17).

A fine array of silver (lots 37-144) include baby rattles (lots 41 and 42), cruet sets (lots 48 and 49) and a Georgian presentation tankard (lot 56).

Of particular note is a set of three early 19^th century Georgian Sheffield plated tureens (lot 51) and two antique silver tea services (lots 65 and 66).

Striking is an exceptional antique 19^th century English tantalus in the form of a cart with three barrels (lot 114, while an early 20^th century Walker & Hall punchbowl (lot 131) and an American 925 silver chanukiah are worth closer looks.

An early celestial globe (lot 146) is the highlight of the general section (lots 145-262) that includes an early 19^th century writing box (lot 150), an unusual tea caddy (lot 157), an exhibition quality thermometer (lot 164) and an Italian micro mosaic panel (lot 170).

Other features of this section are fine ivory miniatures such as lot 195, a bronze statue of Shakespeare (lot 197) and another of David and Goliath (lot 253).

Religious icons and tribal artefacts are to the fore in lots 263 to 280 while jewellery and watches stretch from lots 281 to 365.

Eye catching is the pair of 19^th/20^th century Chinese silver elephant vases complete with carved jade rings semi-precious stones (lot 366), while a Chinese carved jade table screen (lot 371) from the Republic period (1912-1949) is an intricate and colourful adornment.

A circa 1870 Japanese writing box (lot 434) and Meiji period (18678-1912) Satsuma vase (lot 456) are other highlights.

Pottery and ceramics (lots 480-587) is the opening section for Sunday with a 1785 rare English statue “Derby mansion house dwarf” (lot 483) one of the major highlights.

A pair of early 19^th century Derby porcelain (lot 488) and Sevres (lot 503) mantel urns are other attractions, along with a Meissen “jester” (lot 490) and Moorcroft pieces (lots 540-561).

Lots 588 to 733 comprise the glass section of the auction and features such delights as s Cedenese Roman style amphora (lot 589), antique wine glasses, Baccarat perfume bottle and Galle vases.

Furniture is characterised by a late 18^th century Georgian two-door bookcase (lot 736), an ornate 18^th century bonheur du jour lady’s desk (lot 739), a circa 1825 Regency-style Gillows cellarette (lot 742) and a circa 1835 fold-over card table (lot 751).

The French furniture includes a 19^th/20^th century gilded vitrine (lot 762) and a circa 1870 boulle fold-over card table (lot 767).