The more than 100 de-accessioned items include an outstanding and varied group of shipbuilder’s models, marine instruments, maritime artworks ship plaques, uniforms and fine furniture.
The auction forms part of an ongoing review of the National Trust’s collections to align them with its current collecting policy.
Sale proceeds will assist in improving access and interpretation of the Trust’s extensive collection of more than 35,000 cultural heritage objects held in 36 properties across Victoria.
Trust chief executive officer Martin Purslow said the auction was the final stage of an extensive formal process of collection assessments and de-accession informed by their status as a registered museum.
“This has seen many objects already returned to donors or donated to other not-for-profit organisations – like the Melbourne Museum to which we have gifted one of the oldest existing Cobb & Co stage coaches,” he said.
“All the objects now offered for sale have been collected over the past 50 years and are now no longer required under the Trust’s collecting policy.”
Proceeds also will help the National Trust’s soon to be opened maritime attraction Polly Woodside – Melbourne’s tall ship experience.
Amongst the more interesting ship models for auction is a large and elaborate static model of the brig-sloop HMS Oberon (1805), built by the James Shepherd Shipyard in Sutton (Lot 10 ), and a fine quality ship builder’s half model of the transport ship SS Gracchus – built during the 1930s by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd at Jarrow on Tyne (Lot 20 ).
Amongst the National Trust furniture is a substantial 19th century Australian cedar breakfront bookcase reputedly part of the original furnishings of an Angus & Robertson bookstore (Lot 105 ).
Other auction furniture includes an 1845 blackwood hall chair (Lot 110 ) descended from Tasmania’s Tabart family. The chair bears remarkable similarity to a set of four supplied at the time by renowned cabinetmaker William Hamilton to Thomas Chapman for his property Sunnyside at New Town in Hobart. Three of these were sold in May 2005 by Sotheby’s at its Melbourne auction.
A Grant Featherston Talking Chair (Lot 185 ) is another furniture highlight. Architect Robin Boyd commissioned 240 examples of the chair as seating for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ’67 in Montreal. Each housed sound equipment, which transmitted via earphones a prepared program in French and English on various aspects of Australian culture.
Fine silver also is up for grabs including a rare Victorian sterling silver mounted novelty claret jug in walrus form (Lot 320 ) by Alexander Crichton of London.
Part two of the auction, from 6.30pm Monday, features an outstanding selection of Asian decorative arts, British and European portrait miniatures, Royal Worcester and European and Australian furniture.
Items include a fine quality 19th century European carved ivory tankard (lot 580) and 19th century Henry Bone (leading artist to Royalty) portrait miniatures – including Nicholas Vansittart, Baron Bexley (1766-1851) (lot 555) – from the one Melbourne owner.