Boulle furniture collection to the fore at Melbourne auction

Twenty pieces of 19^th century French boulle inlaid marquetry, brass and tortoiseshell furniture in mint condition belonging to a Toorak-based doctor is a major highlight of Kim’s Auctions forthcoming sale from 11am Sunday August 7 at 327-329 Warrigal Road, Burwood.

The furniture – the style of which was made famous during the 17^th and 18^th centuries by pre-eminent French cabinetmaker Andre-Charles Boulle responsible for much of the decoration and furniture in Louis XIV’s Versailles Palace – was purchased about 20 years ago from the former Acorn Antiques in High Street, Armadale.

Among the collection is a serpentine centre table, bureau plat, credenza, card table and a two-door display cabinet.

The auction contains a pair of Louis XV eight-branch gilded marble candelabras and several splendid clocks, including a boulle timepiece featured with the candelabras and a three-piece Roccoco salon clock set.

Another is an ornate mantel clock, and there are two walnut grandfather clocks – one Chippendale-style and the other French.

Several pieces of Sevres are featured including a large lidded vase, a pair of smaller lidded creations with a matching bowl.

The other porcelain on offer includes Royal Doulton and Royal Worcester vase and figures.

Other attractions include a pair of crustal lustre, a rocking horse and a 19^th century bronze figure entitled Muse des Bois.

Among the interesting Asian items is a 1050-year-old Chinese Han dynasty female figure on horseback and 1250-year-old (also Han dynasty) collection of four female musicians.

Other Asian items include ivory tusks, an Indian natural ruby necklace, a Chinese 19^th century ivory incense holder, a Cloisonne incense burner and a Tibetan bronze seated Quan Yin.

Works by several Australian artists – including Pro Hart, David Boyd and Sidney Nolan – feature in the sale along with a wide variety of jewellery, gents and ladies watches, and hand knotted Persian rugs.