Sevres porcelain auction a reminder of Catherine the Great

A Melbourne porcelain lover’s 18^th century Sevres porcelain collection is comparable to that of Russian Empress Catherine the Great (1729-1796), according to auctioneer Christian McCann. 

Items from her collection, on loan from Russia's Hermitage Museum, were viewed last year by the Australian public at the National Gallery of Victoria. The museum began as Catherine's personal collection built up during her 34-year rule and now occupies the entire Winter Palace in St Petersburg. 

“It is the same age from the same French factory and 18th century Sevres is rare to see at auction,” he said.

The Melbourne collection is part of Christian McCann Auctions forthcoming sale from noon Sunday September 3 at 426 Burnley Street, Richmond.

It joins important Royal Worcester pieces and exhibition Vienna, Dresden and Meissen that should see porcelain collectors keen to bid on auction day.

McCann said the auction included an 18^th century French ormolu roll top desk from the United Kingdom’s Keith Skeel Collection in Loudham Hall, Surrey.

Other world-class furniture on offer includes a rare 18^th century provincial commode and 19^th century Paris made salon, occasional and drawing room pieces – along with exceptional ormolu mounted boulle, gilt wood mirrors and consoles.

A rare pair of Corramandel tables is featured among English Regency and George III mahogany and rosewood furniture.

The Le Roy exhibition ormolu and Sevres clock will captivate plenty of clock collectors – and rare English boulle bracket and long case clocks and large French ormolu and bronze salon timepieces should attract a lot of interest.

Art also is on the agenda with works by such renowned Australian and international artists as David Boyd, J.H. Scheltema, Ernest Buckmaster, Pro Hart, English landscape painter Benjamin Leader, Allan Bernaldo and Ivars Jansons essential viewing.

There is an outstanding collection of antique Japanese bronze including a bird mounted vase, animal figure groups and a rare pair of temple vases.

Empire, ormolu and cut-glass basket chandeliers are other attractions along with antique Chinese carved ivory, porcelain and jade.

Other auction items include rare 19^th century bronze and ormolu sculpture, cherub mounted candelabra and signed bronze groups by Clodion.