Submitted by aarAdmin on Fri, 05/10/2019 - 00:00
A rare pair of Chinese bronze and enamel vases (lot 347), decorated with birds (including peacocks), lotus and flowering peony and iris, was the top selling lot at Leski Auctions May 5 Melbourne sale of the iconic Joshua McClelland Print Room and family associated Rathdowne Galleries (which closed in 2018) comprehensive range of prints, paintings, porcelain and furniture – going under the hammer for $19,000 on a $10,000 high estimate.
The leading art work was Eric Thake’s Grass Flower, Moorabool, 1974 (lot 224) which sold for $13,000 on a $7500 high estimate, while Ethel Louise Spower’s colour linocut Collins Street, 1926 brought $9000 (lot 170).
The business was established in 1927 when McClelland started dealing in antiques under his own name. He died in 1956 just after changing the business name to the Print Room, which was then operated by his wife and family.
Highly influential in the art world (possibly helped by the fact the National Gallery of Australia took many of the Print Room’s art in its early collecting years), the name is a misnomer – for it never solely exhibited prints, dealing also in a wide range of antiques.
Other auction highlights included a 19th century English rosewood folio stand which sold for $6000 – six times its high estimate – and David Tulloch’s (1829-1869) five hand coloured engravings showing views of the Mount Alexander and Ballarat goldfields (lot 90).
Charles Blackman’s Conte on paper of Australian comedian and satirist Barry Humphries circa 1963-64 (lot 216) was another drawcard – knocked down for $5500 on a $5000 high estimate – while lot 105, comprising engravings, etchings and lithographs of Melbourne, Victoria and other parts of Australia brought $5000.
Other notable items included a 17th century English oak chest of drawers circa 1680 (lot 308) which sold for $4800 ($1500 high estimate), Francois Cogne’s (1829-1883) Collins Street (from Queen’s Street) coloured lithograph (lot 107), hammer price $4200 ($500 high estimate), Emma Minnie Boyd’s (1858-1936) The Mineshaft Central Victoria 1883 (lot 127 - $3800 on $800 high estimate) and a Chinese famille vase (lot 346 - $4000 on $3000 high estimate).
