The Leonard Room saleroom at Leonard Joel assumed something of the appearance of a classical sculpture gallery on Sunday 26th October, when a single owner collection of bronze and marble statuary and Art Deco furniture was dispersed. However, it was lot 111, a life sized contemporary bronze figure of a man – widely believed to Mark Twain – seated on a park bench which secured one of the top prices, selling to a collector for $29,280 (IBP) after heated bidding between room and telephone bidders.
Other highlights from the collection included the monumental bronze statue Aeneas, Anchises and Asanius Escaping Troy, after Pierre Lapautre, which realised $34,160 (IBP) and a widely admired patinated bronze garden fountain (lot 120), which sold for $23,180.
Continuing the theme of statuary, an Italian marble group on pedestal, Kid and Goat, after Giovita Lombardi, was competed by two bidders to a final hammer price of $39,040. Held in the same Victorian Western District family for over 50 years, the statue will now be housed in the grounds of another landmark property on the outskirts of Melbourne.
Among the three remaining single owner collections in the auction, the Norm Frost Collection of Fine Timepieces provided further highlights, most notably a fine quality Regency mahogany cased musical bracket clock, which realised $20,740 (IBP). Also amongst the outstanding selection of bracket clocks was a George II example of compact proportions, signed Henry Fish, which found a new home at $17,000 (IBP).
Entries are now invited for the December Petit Classic Furniture & Objects auction. For enquiries contact:
Guy Cairnduff
Head of Classic Furniture & Objects
P: (03) 8825 5611
E: guy.cairnduff@leonardjoel.com.au