Single owner collections a Leonard Joel auction highlight

A series of single owner collections for Leonard Joel’s latest furniture and objects auction from noon Sunday October 26 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra should have auction goers rubbing their hands with glee.

According to Leonard Joel’s head of classic furniture and objects Guy Cairnduff the items for auction are from the some of the most robust categories in the traditional decorative arts market.

“Many items have been kept together as collection to retain an element of their original owner’s intent in their acquisition,” he said.

The first 121 lots comprise a collection of bronze and marble statuary and art deco furniture bound to whet the appetite of any serious collector.

It features many fine examples by famous sculptors of bronzes depicting legendary historical figures, such as the Greek god Poseidon, Aeneas, Anchises and Ascanius escaping Troy, and an impressive matched set of four patinated cast iron Nubian figures on stands.

Marble figure groups and busts are another drawcard and the art deco items are great examples of the 1930s lifestyle.

Mr Cairnduff said the Norm Frost collection of fine timepieces offered some of the finest clocks and related items seen on the Australian market in recent years.

“A life-long bachelor, Norm was well known in horological circles and, through friendships formed through the Antiquarian Horogical Society in Melbourne, he sought advice on the sourcing, purchase and maintenance of fine clocks from around the world,” he said.

Norm had an obvious passion for bracket clocks – from the majestic complexity of the Regency 12-bell musical example by Rives & Sons to the rosewood cased shelf clock, compact in form but housing a sophisticated movement that was undoubtedly the envy of many an engineer.

A third single owner collection in the auction features a German bronze equestrian figure, several mantel clocks and fine and rare Irish Kilarney marquetry inlaid yew wood davenport.