Strong offering in Theodore Bruce’s first foray in Sydney.

A new name on the Sydney auction scene, Theodore Bruce, kicks off its operations in the suburb of Beaconsfield on Sunday, October 24, with a 400-lot sale of furniture, ceramics, glass, art and gewgaws.

Gewgaws? Oddities such as a Victorian cigar cutter, a brass steamship porthole, a 1970s Memphis fabric panel, a vintage typewriter. You know the sort of stuff.

And in between the miscellanea is a good line-up of furniture including a profusely carved 19^th century Chippendale style suite of two arm chairs and settee (lot 226), a Napoleon III gilt bronze mounted Boulle side cabinet (lot 249), a Swedish 19^th century cedar and mahogany square piano (273), and enough 18^th and 19^th century mahogany chests of drawers (235,245, 251, 266) to house the undies of the entire complement of Commonwealth Games athletes.

The paintings and prints include an extra large English School 18^th century oil of a gentleman at his writing desk (lot 237).

There are even a few oriental rugs that might be worth inspection. For instance Lot 257 looks more like a Baluch than a Bokhara as described in the catalogue, and Lot 279 just might be a large Persian Kirman.

And there’s plenty of Asian art, African and New Guinea tribal art, silver, glass, copper and brass wares, and myriad pottery including Staffordshire, Poole and Susie Cooper.

As befits a firm bearing the name Bruce, there’s a smattering of Aussie pottery by the likes of Jenny Orchard, Ian Sprague, Sturt Pottery and Les Blakebrough.

Theodore Bruce is a byword in Adelaide, where the firm has been active since 1878. Heading up the Sydney operation are partners James Bruce – the 4^th generation of the auction family – and James Badgery of Sydney’s respected Badgery family.

Bruce is also chairman of Bonhams Australia, which will doubtless refer mid-level business to the new firm.

James Badgery’s father Henry was for many decades a leading light at Lawson’s and the original Badgery arrived in the colony on the First Fleet. As well as cutting his teeth at Lawsons, James has served with Bonhams and Goodman and several other auctioneers. And joining the fledgling operation as paintings specialist is another family member, Sally Badgery, who will oversee the group’s first Sydney art sale scheduled for November 28.