With over 480 lots of sought after antiques and decorative arts on offer at the Philips May auction, there will be many opportunities for great buying and exceptional value. Complete with a great collection of silverware, glass and porcelain, this month’s event also sports a great choice of furniture, rugs and a wide range of desirable artworks.

A fabulous offering of clocks and bronze figurines provides a May highlight, including a captivating art deco dancing girl bronze figure by Limousin, a beautiful inlaid rosewood and ormolu portico clock with timber floral inlay, and many fine examples of garnitures and French mantle clocks. A particularly delightful carriage clock with ornate decoration is sure to attract great interest from keen buyers.

In a lively April Decorative Arts sale at Philips Auctions, silver and gold once again proved themselves to be highly sought after, providing terrific results for buyers and sellers alike. Strong performers included a Mappin & Webb five piece sterling silver tea and coffee service selling for $6,700, a very handsome French 18 carat gold snuff box reaching $8,500, and a striking two handled cup and cover with makers mark for Lewis Herne and Francis Butty. Notable results were also seen with a rare silver ewer achieving $5,800 and a very imposing silver soup tureen changing hands for $20,700.

The April Philips Modern and Antique Jewellery auction presents many wonderful items from a tasteful collection with a deep and resonant provenance. Collector and artist Martha Ash was a Polish born holocaust survivor who migrated to Australia with her husband Feliks in 1949. Together they established a highly successful clothing business. From humble beginnings in Murrumbeena, they established their lives in Melbourne, grew their business, and rose to prominence in the Melbourne Jewish and Artistic communities.

The Philips April auction promises to be a great event with an impressive 470 lots to be offered including a fine presentation of antique furniture, a huge range of silverware, and a fascinating collection of diverse Egyptian pieces.

Of note is a lovely collection of music boxes, highlighted by a marvellous example featuring drums, castanets, organs and bells. This delightful piece plays 36 airs, and comes with six cylinders, seven engraved bells and a crank winding mechanism.

The 2018 auction season got off to a fantastic start at the Philips February auction with a record attendance paving the way to a great year. Leading the charge was the offering of the Antony James estate which attracted great interest and generated strong sales, evidenced in a lot average of $200, and an overall result in excess of $30,000.

Major items of note from this collection were a significant offering of plates and coffee cans which all sold at a great rate, a charming pair of Derby Neptune and Venus figures which realised $1,920, two signed and engraved mugs reaching $984, and four Stag Hunt Teawares from Worcester and Chamberlain selling for $720.