Antiques, fine arts and collectables on offer

Auction will bring the past back to life

COLLECTING art and antiques can fill your life with joy, offering the tangible pleasure of admiring your collection every day. It could also bring you great financial returns.

These are the words of auctioneer Inge Roberts, of Ashbey’s Galleries.

She says auctions provide opportunities to those who wish to surround themselves with beautiful items that bring the past to life.

Ashbey’s antiques, fine arts and collectables auction on September 7 will feature new and unexpected items, Roberts says.

The catalogue includes silver and silverplate, ceramics, clocks, objets d’art, jewellery, Persian carpets, furniture and South African and international works of art.

“In all categories, only the finest examples have been chosen,” says Roberts.

Silverware: In addition to flatware, the silverware category includes tea and coffee sets, Polish and Russian Kiddush cups, tea caddies, sauce boats, tot measures, card trays, photograph frames and silver miniatures.

Ceramics, collectables, glassware and clocks: Roberts says collectors will be able to choose from ceramics, collectables, glassware and clocks that are sure to be part of the next antiques revival.

“Trends are temporary, but objects that highlight history hold their value.”

“This category includes Lladro figurines, Goldscheider masks, Rosenthal, Spode, Dutch Delft objets d’art, Japanese and Chinese objects, a Louis Vuitton pen, Mont Blanc and Waterman gold and silver pen sets, 18th and 19th century glasses, Victorian and Dutch longcase clocks, barometers, Victorian swords and a Siberian wolf lady’s jacket and a mink coat.”

The jewellery category will include diamond and multi-stone rings, bangles, Cartier cufflinks, pendants and watches.

Current trends: “The trend nowadays is that people are mixing and matching artwork in their homes, and could have an Old Master and a bright contemporary piece next to each other on a wall,” says Roberts.

The art collection on offer encompasses works from oils and watercolours to lithography and mixed media. “One highlight is an enormous work by the British artist John Fitz Marshall (1859-1932). The work is a landscape, oil on canvas, signed and dated 1889. Another highlight is a collection of five miniature watercolours by Pierneef.”

The trend in furniture also seems to be to put an antique piece next to a modern piece to create a statement, Roberts says. “One no longer walks into a ‘Regency’ room or an ‘Art Deco-style’ room.”

Experts believe there is growing support worldwide for antiques as an investment option.

For the upcoming auction, Ashbey’s rooms are packed with antique furniture including dressers, servers, work tables, writing desks, linen presses, dining tables and chairs, library tables, sofas, chests of drawers, Cape furniture and ornate mirrors.

The viewing times are from 10am to 1pm tomorrow, 9.15am to 4pm on Monday and Tuesday, and from 9.15am to 2pm on Wednesday at Ashbey’s Church Street premises.

The auction will be held at 10am on Thursday.

Ashbey’s illustrated catalogue may be viewed online at www.ashbeysgalleries.co.za (follow the link), or aww www. thesaleroom.com. Printed catalogues may be purchased from Ashbey’s at 43 Church Street, Cape Town.

For more details call Ashbey’s Galleries on 021 423 8060 or email Inge Roberts at inge@ ashbeysgalleries.co.za.

This Chinese ivory carved figure of a flower maiden and this early 19th century Dutch mahogany longcase clock by John May, Leydon, will go under the hammer this week.

Among the offerings in Ashbey’s upcoming auction is this 18th century Cape teak drop-leaf table.