Robert and Elizabeth Morgan and the Cartier diamond ring Lot 11 from the Estate of Dauvergne Morgan, estimated at $30,000-50,000 at Artvisory.
On 22/23 June, Artvisory, the South-Yarra based Melbourne auction-house will sell a curated auction they have called Rare+ Beautiful
It is a very broad offering, that ranges from pieces created from virtually every corner of the globe.
Day one includes a large collection of some sixty lots of English silver, dating from the 17th century up to the Regency period, which Artvisory have consigned from a private Melbourne collector, including a collection of Georgian sterling silver tea-caddies which are very rare to see at auction these days. This collection features seven of them, with two lots being matching pairs.
Then there is a group of very opulent Russian diamond encrusted gold and enamelled easter eggs and ‘objets d’art’ created under license with the Faberge brand. The collection was consigned from an Adelaide vendor who bought them a long time ago from a specialist in New York. The group is led by lot 6- A diamond set 14kt gold, pink enamel and nephrite carousel clock which Artvisory have estimated at $10,000-15,000
Highlights of Day one includes lot 109 which is an extraordinary and massive carved ancient woolly-mammoth tusk. Catalogued as up to 10,000 years old, with later and very intricate Chinese carving, the tusk is estimated to fetch $20,000-30,000.
Elsewhere in the offering is a very rare French 13th-15th century limestone carving of a Bishop-Saint, ( Lot 189) which is consigned from an Adelaide collection and estimated $25,000-35,000
Most topically there is a collection of Cartier jewellery, consigned from the estate of Dauvergne Morgan of Melbourne, whose father was a very well-known grand-prix driver back in his day. Driving with Stirling Moss to many famous victories in the 1950’s and 1960’s Robert ( Rob) Walker bought some fine jewels from Cartier in London as gifts for his glamorous wife Elizabeth (Betty) which are up for auction at Artvisory as part of her estate. The timing coincides very well with the major exhibition ‘Cartier' at the National Gallery of Victoria from June until August this year. The star of the collection is lot 11 a 3.05 carat emerald cut diamond ring estimated to fetch AUD$30,000-50,000 that Rob Walker bought for his wife Betty back in 1957 for 1350 pounds, which would be equivalent to AUD$100,000.00 in today's money terms.
On the second day there is a very comprehensive English 18th century glass collection, comprising over 200 lots and which includes a number of very rare examples of Beilby, Newcastle, Jacobite and early baluster glasses.
Day-two also features a collection of early Indian stone sculptures from the 6th century to the 15th century, led by Lot 172 a large and finely carved torso of Buddha dating to the 6/7th century CE and estimated to fetch $6,000-9,000
The furniture section includes French, Italian and Spanish antiques of great variety.
The 426 lot auction spreads over two-evening session auctions on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 June, presumably timed to coincide with daytime hours in Europe and it appears likely that there would be interest from buyers in the UK and Europe.
Published by antiquesreporter.com.au
