Although Ainger’s don’t publish estimates in their catalogues, the table had been quoted to interested parties at a figure less than $10,000. The 5.5 metre (fully extended) table went to a Melbourne buyer, who now has the task of finding a set of 18 antique chairs.
About 150 room bidders (including a prominent Adelaide winemaker) locked swords with a large number of phone participants, many of whom had come to Melbourne for the weekend’s Australian Grand Prix festivities – driving prices for much of the furniture through the roof.
Continuing the brown furniture revival, a pair of George IV flame mahogany breakfront bookcases (Lot 518 ), sold for $38,000, and a 19th century bureau plat (Lot 759 ), admittedly a lighter shade of brown, sold for $8000.
Gilded mirrors were another major attraction with a 19th century fine French gilt pier example (usually found in hallways) (Lot 730 ) bringing $3200. A 19th century French Sevres gilt jewel casket signed by L. Bertren (lot 231) was another fine example of buyers determination to pay for quality when it went under the hammer for $8200, while a Chelsea red anchor bowl became the subject of intense rivalry amongst five bidders (two from London) – finally selling for $6900.
Other items to impress were a fine 19th century Cantonese bowl (lot 172) on a French ormolu stand (knocked down for $3800), a Royal Worcester vase and cover (lot 309) painted by C. Johnson ($5200), and a pair of Royal Bonn porcelain vases (lot 229) ($2100).
A 1792 English landscape by William Payne (lot 6), which had been owned since the early 19th century by a prominent Tasmanian family, sold for $6200.
All prices quoted are hammer. Buyers premium16.8%, 18.5% including GST.