Thoughtfully collected trove of Melbourne couple to be sold by Leonard Joel in Melbourne.

By Richard Brewster, on 06-Dec-2018

Melbourne couple Frank and Jill Jones were always a welcome site at the city’s art galleries, antique shops and auction houses.

Married in 1963 in London with years spent travelling and working in Europe, they returned to Melbourne in 1967 and eight years later moved into the family Toorak home.

It was then their collecting began in earnest – frequenting the likes of Leonard Joel, Sotheby’s, Joseph Brown, Christie’s, Adam Galleries, Franzi and Filcock, Littleton Gallery, Behruz and Parkside Antiques until they had become firm friends with all the proprietors. 

Included in the collection of Melbourne couple Frank and Jill Jones is a 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty hardwood table screen (above) inset with an inscribed white jade plaque decorated on one side with a scholar and his attendant in a landscape. The screen was purchased in January 1987 from Jane Carnegie Oriental Art, just one of the many Melbourne dealers they frequented when forming their collection. Others were Leonard Joel, Sotheby’s, Joseph Brown, Franzi and Filcock, and Behruz.

Included in the collection of Melbourne couple Frank and Jill Jones is a 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty hardwood table screen (above) inset with an inscribed white jade plaque decorated on one side with a scholar and his attendant in a landscape. The screen was purchased in January 1987 from Jane Carnegie Oriental Art, just one of the many Melbourne dealers they frequented when forming their collection. Others were Leonard Joel, Sotheby’s, Joseph Brown, Franzi and Filcock, and Behruz.

Influenced by their travels, the Jones’s interests spanned fine art, English and Asian ceramics, textiles, rugs and furniture.

So diverse was their collection, they also built an accompanying reference library, which occupies two rooms of their former home and is testimony to the breadth of their intellectual pursuits.

Now the collection will be auctioned from 5pm Monday December 10 at 333 Malvern Road, South Yarra.

The auction has many highlights including Still-Life of Australian Flowers by Australian artist Justin O’Brien (lot 98), bought in 1980 from Joseph Brown and Elioth Gruner’s Gladioli 1934 (lot 287) from the same source.

A 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty hardwood table screen (Lot 184 ) inset with an inscribed white jade plaque decorated on one side with a scholar and his attendant in a landscape is another attraction – purchased in January 1987 from Jane Carnegie Oriental Art.

Auction goers should find a 19th century Chinese Qing Dynasty embroidery panel (Lot 165 ) appealing, while an 18th century Chinese lacquer table purchased in July 1981 from Joshua McClelland Print Room is an interesting furniture piece.

Likewise, a 19th century Chinese hardwood reclining armchair bought in November 1987 from Parkside Antiques has plenty of architectural fascination and a Japanese Meiji period embroidered four-fold screen would make an interesting bedroom adornment.

Two similar late 18th century George III mahogany open armchairs are another attraction along with an antique late 19th century French gilt metal mantel clock.

Among the sterling silver on offer is a George II circa 1755 silver coffee pot from William Hunter of London, purchased in January 1976 from Sotheby Parke Bernet & Co.

Viewing will be from 10am-4pm Friday to Sunday by registration only at 7 Torresdale Court, Toorak.

Sale Referenced:

About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.