Paul Rosenberg

Posted on 29/11/202329/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Fresh Stock, including Australiana, Antiquities, and Sterling Silver

This last week of November is the perfect time to start thinking about Presents….. and we have a few ideas.

We have a series of ideas for presents – there’s a page here on our website –
or have a browse through the Fresh Stock uploads below for inspiration.

Fresh @ Moorabool

Victorian ‘float bowl’, basketweave + life-like waterlillies, atr. Moore Bros c. 1885

$860.00 AUD
6 French faience plates, green chinoiserie pattern 20th c

Sold
Victorian silverplate meat skewer – letter opener – c. 1890

$85.00 AUD
Wooden carved ‘The Scotsman’, brush holder C.1920

$145.00 AUD
Silverplate souvenir spoon, Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Phillip

$15.00 AUD
Brass tea caddy spoon – Coronation King George and Queen Elizabeth 1937

Sold
Small Victorian papier mache snuff box, gilt dec, c.1870

$35.00 AUD
Carved black stone dog 20th C

$85.00 AUD
Meerschaum style carved pipe bowl, hand holding acorn, c 1860

$145.00 AUD
French work table, inlaid marquetry landscape to top, c. 1875

$1,250.00 AUD
Mahogany card table, felt playing surface, c. 1835

$1,250.00 AUD
Very small French cut glass scent bottle with gold lid, c. 1780

$360.00 AUD
Wooden carved chess set and Draughts board, C .1920

$65.00 AUD
Victorian walnut Octagonal topped work table on tripod legs c.1875

$1,250.00 AUD
Bendigo pottery blue glaze pottery boat vase. C.1930

$95.00 AUD
Bendigo pottery boat vase, brown glaze C.1930

$85.00 AUD
Carved wood nativity ‘shepherd’, European, mid 20th century

$35.00 AUD
Dudson drybody jug with blue printed bands and a moudled snake handle

$395.00 AUD
Paris Porcelain covered cup & socket saucer, in the Sevres manner, c. 1860

$295.00 AUD
Paris porcelain jug, gilt with blue band, C. 1860

$120.00 AUD
Dudson jug, blue rouletted ‘mosaic’ pattern, c.1870

$160.00 AUD

See all the latest stock

Fresh Antiquities

Large Fossil Spinosaurus Dinosaur Tooth, Morocco, 99 million yrs

$65.00 AUD
Large Fossil Mosasaur Dinosaur Tooth, Morocco, 100 million yrs

$85.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, mounted, 2nd-4th c. AD

$65.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, mounted, 2nd-4th c. AD

$65.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, excellent condition, 2nd-4th c.

$85.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, animal head, 2nd-4th c.

$95.00 AUD
Ancient Roman bronze arrowhead, 2nd-1st century BC

$145.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, fantail body, 2nd-4th c. AD

$75.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, excellent condition, 1st – 2nd century AD

$85.00 AUD
Roman bronze bow fibula, incised lines + good condition, 2nd-4th c. AD

$85.00 AUD

See the Antiquities

Fresh Australiana

Hand coloured print ‘Disputing a Claim’, after W. Ralstan, 1872

$75.00 AUD
Hand coloured print ‘Great Bourke Street, Melbourne’, after W. Ralstan, 1872

$75.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured engraving ‘Mallee Scrub, River Murray’ aboriginal group, 1874

$165.00 AUD
A. E. Jobson, Beach Scene, Williamstown, pastel c. 1910

$365.00 AUD
Arthur Esam – The Hawker’s Wagon – watercolour signed & dated 1897

$580.00 AUD
Tom Garrett Watercolour – Tasmanian Landscape with Town, signed c. 1900

$1,650.00 AUD
Neville W Cayley ‘Sulphur-Crested Cockatoos’ watercolour, early 20th c.

$1,350.00 AUD
James Ferries ‘A Stiff Pull’ , watercolour of working horses, c. 1930

$980.00 AUD
Dellmont Hellier, ‘Jamieson Valley’ oil, latter-20th c.

$650.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured engraving ‘Goat Island’ C. 1874

$165.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured engraving ‘The Upper Goulburn, Victoria C. 1874

$165.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured engraving ‘The Gwalior Plains’ C. 1874

$165.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured engraving ‘Lake Albert’ C. 1874

$165.00 AUD
E. Goodwin Lewis Biblical Lands scene – merchants leaving a walled city- watercolour, c.1880

$765.00 AUD
1853 ‘The Gold Diggings’ hand coloured print, Illustrated London News

$95.00 AUD
Original Ned Kelly print, Illustrated London News 1880

$125.00 AUD
Australiana engraving ‘Collins St East on a Sunday Morning’, Melbourne history 1880’s

$45.00 AUD

See more Australiana

Sterling Silver

Irish Sterling Silver teaspoon, Griffin head crest, by John Smyth, Dublin 1857

$125.00 AUD
Sterling Silver tea spoon, Exeter maker John Stone, 1858

$85.00 AUD
Sterling Silver tea spoon, rare Chester maker Patrick Leonard, c.1845

$125.00 AUD
Sterling Silver tablespoon, J Hah & C Lias, London 1828

$145.00 AUD
Georgian Sterling Silver table spoon, by James Barratt, London 1806

$245.00 AUD
Sterling Silver table spoon, ‘Hedgehog’ Harris family crest, London 1836

$195.00 AUD
Irish Sterling Silver teaspoon, Griffin head crest, by John Smyth, Dublin 1857

$125.00 AUD
Pair of Old Sheffield Plate telescopic candlesticks, circa 1820

$380.00 AUD
Sterling Silver table spoon, ‘JB’, London 1800

$65.00 AUD
Sterling Silver teaspoon, Peacock Family crest, William Eaton 1844

$85.00 AUD
Australian Sterling Silver salt shaker, c.1930

$45.00 AUD
Sterling silver salt shaker, blue glass liner, Chester 1909

$75.00 AUD
Pair of Old Sheffield Plate shakers, Dixon & Co, Birmingham c.1790

$235.00 AUD
Sterling silver salt shaker blue glass liner

$65.00 AUD

See more Sterling Silver

Asian Antiques

Chinese Gauche – Warriors in a citadel, 20th century

$395.00 AUD
Chinese Canton Enamel vase, Mille-fleur flowers on black ground, earlier 20th century

$645.00 AUD
Art Deco tin belt buckle painted with phoenix, Chinoiserie style, 1920’s

$45.00 AUD
Chinese Silver beaker, plain form, c. 1920

$60.00 AUD
Chinese silver and horn salt server and spoon, C 1910

$95.00 AUD
Art Deco set of servers, horn & silver-plate, c. 1920

$75.00 AUD
Chinese Silver-handled carving fork, bamboo pattern, c. 1910

$45.00 AUD

Click Me!

Posted on 29/11/202330/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Christmas Gift Ideas 2023

We all have a ‘Problem Present Person’ – someone who has ‘everything’, so the problem is what on earth to buy them for Christmas?

Moorabool offers some fabulous ideas for the situation.
Have a browse through the galleries below, there’s sure to be something unique for your unique needs!

Click on a ‘theme’ below to see some suggestions.

A rare fake ‘TP Dexter’ Sterling Jug: Silver Fraud!

These three jugs look very similar, and yet only one is genuine.
Below is a Genuine engraved jug of 1798, a Victorian version of 1888, and another Victorian…. but with marks claiming it is Sheffield 1797.
Can you pick the fake?

Slide down the bar on below image to reveal the dates

Late 19th century Sterling Silver milk jug, of helmet shape, with elegant curved handle, the body with engraved lines to rim, a central reserve with initials ‘JJC’ to one side , the other blank.
Hallmarked for Birmingham 1795, also ‘TL’ for an unknown maker –a mark used in documented ‘fraudulent’ pieces of Sterling Silver discovered in the premises of Reuben Lyon in the late 19th century.

The FAKE sterling silver hallmarks, claiming to be Birmingham 1797

The fraudulent nature of this piece of Sterling Silver is an interesting study.
The hallmarks are clear, and ye have something different about their wear; particularly notable is the background, which shows up lumps & bumps not usually seen in hallmarks. This is because normal hallmarks verified at the assay office have been struck into the piece using a die, with a flat end incised with the initials; the background is therefore flat. The ‘bumps’ indicate this piece is cast at the time of making, ie. there is some texture from the casting medium that cannot be buffed out from the recessed marks……… something that is only done by a forger.
This maker’s mark ‘TD’ appears to be copying T.P. Dexter’s mark, which was only registered in 1805. As the registry of marks was not published or accessible in the 19th century like it is now, it would not have been possible for a forger to look up the active dates of a silversmith. In this case, it is a decade out, making identification easier.
In 1899, the London Goldsmith’s Company published a booklet to expose a group of fakes they had detected and destroyed recently. At the premises of 70-year old Reuben Lyon of Holborn, more than 200 fraudulently hallmarked ‘Antique’ pieces were found by officers of the Goldsmith’s Guild, and the hallmarks of ‘around 50’ makers on the pieces recorded and published. The ‘TD’ mark is one of them.

These pieces were destroyed by the guild. This is still their practice, and they constantly assess the trade in Anbtqiuue silver to ensure that fraudulent pieces are not circulating as genuine. A silver collector witnessed this in action in London recently: visiting one of the seller son silver, a man entered with a portable anvil, the fake was brought out, and completely mashed into a formless lump with a hammer!

Interestingly, an article written about forged silver at the time refers to the technique of casting marks, ‘…adopted by a forger a year or so ago, who recieved his due punishment…’ This suggests the evidence of casting in a piece puts it into an 1890’s context, 100 years after the marks they were depicting.

The fakes were detected, and their source investigated by the Guild. Reuben claimed innocence, stating he had purchased the goods ‘from a man named ‘Clarke’ …. who had subsequently disappeared’. He was fined £3,000, an immense amount for the time. It was the end of him and his business…..

This was a time of intense interest in English Silver from the Georgian period, especially by the Americans – and the occasional Australian. I wonder if ‘Clarke’ tried selling to this lucrative market of wealth Australians, far away from the eyes of the Goldsmith’s Guild?
This jug came from a local source, and may well have been imported into Australia as an ‘Antique’ around turn of the century, despite it being pretty recently made!

The irony is, this is now a rarity; in the UK, the Guild has ‘taken care’ of any examples, and only in a place like Australia are there examples to be seen…. at least knowingly!

The London Assay Office report >

Posted on 25/11/202329/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Introducing…. artist A. E. Jobson 1868-1955

An interesting recent discovery by Moorabool was this small pastel scene of an Australian beach.
Signed ‘A. E. Jobson’, it is an interesting chalk sketch, done on a coarse textured grey toned paper.

Looking for the artist proved to be pointless; they are not recorded anywhere, and seem to belong to the class of ‘talented amateur’. We believe we have a likely candidate, a local Melbourne author who used the name ‘A.E.Jobson’.

AE Jobson Signature — AE Jobson’s Signature

As with many artistic people, it seems that Jobson could draw as well as write. It was writing which came to dominate, as they found success when they began publishing their short stories.

A report in the ‘Queensland Times’ sheds some light:

they have obtained the ‘sole rights’ to a ‘remarkable clever series of stories’ which they promise are just like Sherlock Holmes….

The first story to be published is interesting. Titled ‘The Hercules Cameo’, it is a story about a carved cameo of Hercules – purchased at Christies for 3000 Guineas – stolen by a German prince, and recovered by a private eye named Russel Howard. Hobson clearly had an active interest in the art world.

Over the next few years, we traced 12 newspaper stories published by A.E. Jobson:

1: The Hercules Cameo
2: The Seventh Burglary
3: The Removal of the Millionaire
4: The Case of Lord Ponderry
5: The Scheming Lady
6: The Two Wax Candles
7: The Lady with the Pince-Nez
8: The Modern Highwayman
9: The Prince’s Letter
10: The Man Who Stole the Child
11: The Fire Insurance Matter
12: The Open Shaft

But who was A. E. Jobson?

These ‘AE Jobson’ stories, and at least one published book, never give the name of the author beyond the initials. There is a distinct possibility that this was intentional, to hide the author’s true identity. The ‘Queensland Times’ article of 1909 does refer to ‘him’, but they were not necessarily aware of exactly who was writing the stories, being rather a long way away. This is something often seen in the world of literature. Clearly, some research is needed!

Searching the available records, two candidates appear with the right initials and in the right context, an Arthur Earnest Jobson, Banker in Sydney, and Adelaide Ellen Hobson, daughter-in-law to prominent Victorian businessman, John Jobson JP.
Nothing came of researching Arthur the banker, but Adelaide was a different matter.

John Jobson, Williamstown, c. 1895- father-in-law to Adelaide Ellen Jobson

Adelaide Ellen Jobson was born at Port Adelaide, 1868, the eldest in her family. Her father, Stedman, died in 1887. Three years later, she married Charles Jobson, son of John Jobson, JP, businessman, Williamstown Football Club president, & Mayor of Williamstown (Victoria) in 1885.

The pastel has a certain ‘family’ feel to it: there are 6 children represented, plus a few adults.

The scene could well be Port Phillip Bay, somewhere near Spotswood where a day’s outing with the family would be likely- with Williamstown’s ‘back beach’ being a prime candidate.

We propose Adelaide Ellen Jobson was a very creative lady, who raised a family of five, but longed to write and paint to express herself; when her oldest children were entering their teens, she would have had more time to dedicate to writing, and so her first few stories were submitted to the papers for publication. Over the next decade, she produced quite a number of fictional books. A quick read – as they are all rather short stories, suitable for a newspaper – certainly shows an active mind, and perhaps we can see a female perspective: one story, written in 1916, is an interesting study.

It begins “Samson Greene was an artist, and it happened on one day in September, or it may have been in early October, that he was in Bathurst. Anyway, when he rose in the morning the sun was shining briskly upon everything.”

The character Samson is something of an old-fashioned gentleman artist, but by the end of the story, he is helplessly in love with a girl he ‘accidentally’ met while out painting – except the whole thing is a set-up by the girl, who has set a trap for him which he falls for, hook line & sinker! It has a definite twinge of ‘Barbara Cartland’ to it, and attributing it to a female author makes perfect sense.

Adelaide Jobson, Beach at Williamstown, c. 1910

Her other artistic enterprise was pastel art. This small work documents a lazy day at the beach very well, with family members relaxing and children playing. She had five children between 1892-1909, so if this piece was dated to around 1910-15, the children shown could well be her own. The location is not distinct, but the general layout of the water/land conforms to the local area they grew up in; Williamstown has a beach with beautiful white sand like this, and the distant higher ground could be the far side of Port Phillip Bay, a scene still the same today.

Martha Walter oil painting, beach scene — American artist Martha Walter, beach scene from the same period in oils.

An interesting comparison can be made with American artist Martha Walter. She was active in the early 20th century, the same date as the work we are examining, and the similarity is unmistakable. Rather than a direct influence, it is probably just a result of the shared ‘beach culture’ seen in America and Australia – the gathering of families, the bathing suits – combined with an impressionist style which was the international vogue at the time.
The price is certainly different, with Walter’s work bringing many thousands for even minor paintings!

Adelaide Ellen Jobson could have been a notable artist, but her success as a published author, and no doubt also her dedication to her large family, restricted her opportunities. She’s a talented amateur, previously unrecorded.

We’d love to hear anything else you may have to add to this very brief répertoire!

See our AE Jobson Here

Posted on 18/11/202318/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Fresh Stock – Derby Figures, Staffordshire Poodles, Artworks + more

Welcome to our latest ‘Fresh Stock’ release.

It’s a terrific variety of fine pieces this week. There’s lots more to come in the next few weeks also…. just in time for Christmas!

Davenport etruscan shape jug, Rosehead pattern, C. 1815

$380.00 AUD
Derby drum-shape inkwell with Imari pattern, c. 1810

$145.00 AUD
Early Minton coffee can, rich Imari Pattern no. 614, circa 1805

Sold
Derby Imari pattern coffee can, circa 1810

$235.00 AUD
Spode Imari teacup + saucer, pattern 1220, circa 1815

Sold
Spode Imari ‘Dollar tree’ teacup + saucer ‘dollar tree’ pattern, c. 1810

Sold
Derby figure of a girl with a basket of flowers on a rococo base, C. 1780

$590.00 AUD
Derby figure of a boy, standing holding a basket of flowers C. 1785

$490.00 AUD
Derby figure of a boy with flower basket, C. 1765

$460.00 AUD
Bow figure of a boy with flowers, low plain base, c. 1760

$580.00 AUD
Derby figure of a boy, standing holding a basket of flowers C 1785

$390.00 AUD
Derby figure of a boy with flower basket, C. 1775

$390.00 AUD
Victorian burr walnut writing box, C 1870

$460.00 AUD
Victorian mahogany writing box C.1870

$540.00 AUD
Rare miniature Staffordshire Porcelain poodle, 28mm high, c. 1830

$565.00 AUD
Staffordshire Porcelain poodle on pink cushion, c. 1830

$365.00 AUD
Staffordshire Porcelain spill group with poodle + tree trunks, attr. Alcock, c. 1835

$295.00 AUD
Sterling Silver fork, Stag crest, Hayne & Cater , London 1860

$85.00 AUD
Sterling Silver fork, Stag crest, Hayne & Cater , London 1860

$140.00 AUD
Jean-Léon Gérôme, gilt bronze nude, ‘La Joueuse de Boules’ c.1905

$3,600.00 AUD
Large French terracotta figural group, ‘stone’ finish, Early 20th C

$1,450.00 AUD
French glass desk set, box form with applied flowers, C. 1800

$980.00 AUD
George III mahogany washstand, open top, C. 1785

$750.00 AUD
Glass box with sterling silver lid, London, 1905

$95.00 AUD
Victorian octagonal silver christening mug, Birmingham 1865.

$380.00 AUD
Close Plated tea caddy, probably French, C. 1800

$340.00 AUD

See all the Latest Uploads

How much is that doggy in the window….? The two rare mini-dogs are in today’s Fresh Stock, the others already in stock. Quite a pack of poodles!

New ‘Artists in Stock‘ Page

NEW! Introducing our New Page, ‘Artists in Stock’. Here you can browse through an alphabetical listing of Artists, grouped by Period & Country, to find any of interest. Clicking their name will bring up all works by that artist.

<- click the image to go to the page

Christmas is Coming…..

The year is nearly over, and that means it’s time to think about Christmas.
At Moorabool, we have a vast selection of potential Christmas Presents for you to browse……

Why not get in early and let us post them to you?

Our cut-off dates for Australian Post items is:
WA -15th Dec
NT 14th Dec
VIC, NSW & QLD 18th Dec

International – last week of November – 1st week December.

Posted on 11/11/202311/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Fresh Stock featuring Quality Asian, Fine Furniture, Artworks etc.

Welcome to the latest Fresh Stock release.

A remarkable piece in today’s release is an example of ‘pokerwork’. It was a simple process, where a tip of iron was heated in the flame of a kerosene lamp, and the red hot metal used to make charred impressions into raw wood. Woodstain colours could then be used to enhance the design. This late Victorian craze continued into the early 20th century in Australia, usually involving gum leaves and wattle with e occasional koala or kangaroo. This example is very different, with remarkable Celtic designs, a pair of dragons, and four heraldic shields entwined within the leaves of the two knot work ‘trees’ that rise up the centre. The leaves on the trees are shamrocks, and the shields represent the four realms of Ireland, Munster, Ulster, Leinster, and Connacht… this is clearly an Irish creation. A little internet sleuthing, and a fascinating little-known Arts & Crafts workshop that specialised in pokerwork, the Belfast School of Pokerwork. Examples are rarely seen, but the Irish nature of their products are unmistakable.

*Munster, Ulster, Leinster,* and *Connacht*

*An example from the Belfast School of Pokerwork.*

The Belfast School of Pokerwork was run by Mina Robinson, who along with Eta Lowry founded the Irish Decorative Arts Association of Belfast around 1894. The ‘School of Pokerwork’ was a part of this association, and at one stage there were 12 women working on the products they sold.

A mirror with this same Celtic knot work incorporating beasts was sold by Roseberys, London, in 2020 (3/11/20, lot 26) , bearing the label of William Rodman & Co. They were framers & mounters of pictures, their premises described as an ‘Artist’s Materials Warehouse’ and ‘Dealers in Works of Art’.

That work is very close to documented examples of Eva McKee’s work, as is this piece. However, it seems Mina Robinson and Eta Lowry were also poker-workers, and their styles may be indistinguishable.

Many larger examples of Celtic pokerwork frames were made at the Belfast School of Pokerwork, which featured female artisans. It is recorded that in 1904 almost all of (famous Irish artist) Percy French’s paintings were exhibited with pokerwork frames decorated by the Association, at its annual summer show in Portrush, Co. Antrim.

See the Irish Pokerwork here

An exquisite ‘Zogan’ box is another superb item Fresh to Stock.
The main body is iron, the black a patinated layer made using tea amongst other things. The fine inlay work is 2-tones of gold and some silver.
It’s marked inside with a double-peaked ‘Mt Fuji’, standing for Fujii Yoshitoyo’s workshop in Kyoto – the double peaks relating to his name having double ‘i’s.

Here’s the rest of our ‘Fresh Stock’ for this week.

Irish ‘Celtic’ pokerwork 7-part picture frame, Arms of Irish Provences, Belfast Pokerwork School, c. 1900

Sold
Quality Victorian Mahogany hanging cabinet, twin doors, c. 1875

$395.00 AUD
Staffordshire porcelain man playing an instrument and dog, c. 1830

Sold
Derby musician playing a flute , c.1800

Sold
Derby figure, Idyllic musician No.311 , C. 1780

Sold
French Mahogany open armchair with scroll arms, rosettes, c. 1870

$540.00 AUD
Dresden octagonal plate, watteauesque design C.1860

Sold
Vienna style musician dwarf figure, c. 1900

$245.00 AUD
Victorian writing slope with Burr walnut pentray, c.1860

$495.00 AUD
Large framed pastel of poppies, G. Snow, late 20th c.

$380.00 AUD
Traditional Northern European spinning wheel, usable, 20th century

$345.00 AUD
English brown glazed stoneware apothecary jar, Royal Arms, c.1845

$950.00 AUD
English brown glazed stoneware apothecary jars, c.1845

$950.00 AUD
Large pair of Staffordshire figures ‘The Cobbler + His Wife’ C.1870

$780.00 AUD
Victorian bisque porcelain figure group, a harvest couple, C 1870

$285.00 AUD
Tournai style pottery plate, Oriental Garden, C. 1830

$285.00 AUD
George III Sterling Silver tea spoon, scarce Josiah & George Piercy maker, London 1811

$195.00 AUD
Stylish Sterling Silver sugar castor, earliest Victorian, 1837

$295.00 AUD
Georgian style Sterling Silver Sugar Sifter, Birmingham 1912

$295.00 AUD
Sterling Silver helmet-shape milk jug, Sheffield late 19th c. Fraud!

$280.00 AUD
Victorian Walnut chess table with unusual openwork fluted column, c. 1880

$950.00 AUD
Victorian fine quality Mahogany Hall Chair, circa 1840

$560.00 AUD
Small Mahogany Davenport desk, writing slope, inc. Australian timbers C. 1855

$780.00 AUD
Japanese ‘Zogan’ hexagonal multi faceted box, birds + flowers, Fujii workshop, c.1900

$2,600.00 AUD

ASIAN COLLECTION

Chinese silver teaspoon, Mandarin figure, c.1900

$95.00 AUD
Pair of Chinese silver teaspoons, Mandarin figure handle, c.1900

$180.00 AUD
Pair of Chinese silver teaspoons, Mandarin finials, c.1900

$180.00 AUD
Pair of Chinese silver teaspoons, Mandarin ends, c.1900

$180.00 AUD
Chinese underglaze blue Ginger Jar with white Prunus blossoms, 20th c.

$85.00 AUD
Pair of Chinese Export ‘pith paintings’, Mandarin couple , 3rd rank c.1840

$680.00 AUD
Chinese Export ‘pith painting’, 2 ladies domestic scene, c.1840

$645.00 AUD
Chinese Export ‘pith painting’, lady green robes, c.1840

$380.00 AUD
Japanese silk painting of 2 pheasants amongst flowers, 19th/ earlier 20th century

$345.00 AUD
Chinese porcelain vase, blue ground with white prunus blossom 19th c

$380.00 AUD
Large Japanese Kutani vase, domestic scenes inc. gomoku game, c. 1890

$560.00 AUD
Chinese ‘Peking Glass’ vase, prunus branches in fog, 20th c.

$580.00 AUD
Japanese fine porcelain vase of globular form, C.1890

$395.00 AUD
Framed Chinese silk Embroidery, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Framed Chinese silk Embroidery, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Framed Chinese silk Embroidery, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Framed Chinese silk Embroidery, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Framed Chinese silk Embroidery, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Pair of Chinese silver teaspoons, Mandarin handle, c.1900

$180.00 AUD
4 Chinese silver teaspoons, bamboo moulded, c. 1920

$245.00 AUD
Unusual Chinese Silver ‘Bamboo’ namecard stands / chopstick rests, c. 1920

$680.00 AUD
Japanese small comport with Lilly, 20th c.

$35.00 AUD
Blanc de chine figure of guanyin

$45.00 AUD

AUSTRALIANA

…..plus lots more !

See the rest of our latest additions:

Freshest Stock

FREE POSTAGE!

-=#FREE SHIPPING NOVEMBER!#=-

*Shipping is on us! Simply click ‘buy’ and go through payment without shipping cost. …some conditions apply, flip for details.

*Conditions:

Some items excluded, ie. all furniture, large artworks & objects.
INTERNATIONAL shipping not included – BUT ask & we will offer a discounted rate
Please ask if unsure.

Christmas is Coming…..

43 Days until Christmas!

The year is nearly over, and that means it’s time to think about Christmas.
At Moorabool, we have a vast selection of potential Christmas Presents for you to browse……

Why not get in early and let us post them to you?

Our cut-off dates for Australian Post items is:
WA -15th Dec
NT 14th Dec
VIC, NSW & QLD 18th Dec

International – last week of November – 1st week December.

Posted on 07/11/202313/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

A Phar Lap Australian Silver Charm

This rare piece of Australiana was produced in Melbourne by a local jeweller in solid Sterling Silver to commemorate the legendary ride of J.E. Pike on ‘Phar Lap’ where he won the Melbourne Cup in 1930 by 3 lengths.

J.E.Pike-Phar Lap Medallion 1930 Melbourne Cup Sterling Silver — J.E.Pike’s ‘Phar Lap’ Medallion, commemorating the 1930 Melbourne Cup win, Australian Sterling Silver

Sterling silver medallion with horse & jockey on front framed within a stirrup, engraved on reverse “‘“Phar Lap / Winner 1930 / Melb.Cup / J.E.Pike” , also marked with sculptor’s name ‘Hafner’, and hallmarked ‘925’ & printing press.

Phar Lap wins 1930 Melbourne Cup by 3 lengths… the making of an Australian legend. The silver medallion was made to commemorate this feat.

The shape is reminiscent of religious pendants made to wear as ‘charms’ – however, the design of this piece has a major flaw that would not make it durable. All other charms have a suspension loop cast into the top: this plaque has a very thin wire loop soldered onto the back. This suggests it is just for short-term use – perhaps so you could pin it to a jacket lapel when you were attending the Melbourne Cup….?

It is certainly a rarity, with just one other example being traced on the market.

J.E.Pike-Phar Lap Medallion 1930 Melbourne Cup Sterling Silver Stirrup Commemorative

Emil Hafner mark on Sterling Silver Phar Lap Medallion

The sculptor’s name ‘Hafner’ gives us the context & date for the piece.
Emil Hafner (1917-2021) was a post-war immigrant artisan from Czechoslovakia. His speciality was die-casting, and he was responsible for a large number of medals, coins, and commemoratives produced in Melbourne in the second half of the 20th century.
Emil Hefner graduated in 1948 at the Art and Trade College in Czechoslovakia. Between 1948 and 1952 he worked as a gun-engraver and die-sinking in Germany and later England. After migrating, he continued his work in Australia with ‘K.G. Luke’ and later with the ‘House of Hawke’, as well as teaching part-time at RMIT (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) for nine years. He subsequently established his own company, Hafner Mint Manufacturing.
This silver medallion, commemorating the 1930 win of Phar Lap, would logically have been made in 1980 – celebrating 50 years since the event.

See Emil Hafner’s pieces in Museums Victoria Collection here >

J.E.Pike-Phar Lap Medallion 1930 Melbourne Cup Sterling Silver Printing Press Hallmark — Phar Lap Medallion with .925 designating ‘Sterling’ silver standard, and ‘Printing Press’ Hallmark for the silversmith. Note an apparent border for another hallmark protruding from the side of the printing press mark.

See this item in our stock page

Posted on 04/11/202304/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Fresh Stock @ Moorabool

Welcome to the latest ‘Fresh’ items to enter our stock at Moorabool Antiques.

This week, there’s a good selection of English Sterling Silver, some handy Furniture, a selection of local S.T.Gill prints, plus lots more!

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Mathew Boulton Sterling Silver Toastrack 1820

This amazing piece of Georgian Sterling is a rare toast rack, made by Mathew Boulton. He was one of the great minds of the Industrial Revolution, responsible for endless inventions, and the first mass produced steam engine, the Boulton & Watt. As a silversmith, he petitioned Parliament for an assay office to be opened up in Sheffield, which had become a major production centre for silversmiths by the latter 18th century. Previously, they had to travel all the way to London or Chester to have their Sterling goods assayed & marked – but in 1773, the Birmingham assay office opened, with Boulton as the main patron.
This remarkable simple toast rack is a classic design from Boulton – simple in construction, with no unnecessary decoration, it is almost modernistic in design – certainly a good example of ‘form follows function’. And still very usable!

Amongst the silver are a lovely series of jugs. Several are 18th century, several 19th century – but one is a ‘naughty’ piece. While it looks 18th century, it was made 100 years later – but hallmarked for 1797. It’s the product of an interesting group of ‘Silver Frauds’, created by a silversmith and exposed as fraudulently marked with ‘antique’ hallmarks in 1899. This particular jug is a good example of the mistake they made: the day letter for 1797 isn’t compatible with the maker’s mark, which only appears in the 1840’s!

Can you pick which one? (Slide down to see….)

Fresh Sterling Silver

Georgian Sterling Silver dessert spoon, dog crest, John Harris IV London 1825

$125.00 AUD
Georgian Sterling Silver tablespoon, Thomas Dicks, London 1807

Sold
George III Sterling Silver Table Spoon, Richard Palmer I, London 1820

$145.00 AUD
Victorian Sterling Silver Christening Mug, flower embossed, Birmingham 1868

$465.00 AUD
Georgian style sterling silver trophy, lions head handles, Birmingham 1922

$560.00 AUD
Pair of Sterling Silver pepper pots, Adams style, Sheffield 1907

$440.00 AUD
Handsome Georgian Sterling Silver milk jug, fine Adams engraving, London 1798

$495.00 AUD
Sterling Silver helmet shape milk jug, Barnard, London, 1888

$395.00 AUD
Sterling Silver helmet-shape milk jug, Sheffield late 19th c. Fraud!

$280.00 AUD
Late Victorian Sterling Silver creamer, flower embossed, Birmingham 1900

$145.00 AUD
Handsome Old Sheffield Plate jug, Helmut shape on square plinth base, c. 1790

$265.00 AUD
Tall Old Sheffield Plate jug, petal moulded, engraved ‘MW’ c. 1795

$245.00 AUD
Late Victorian Sterling Silver sugar bowl, Birmingham 1900

$235.00 AUD
Sterling Silver dessert spoon,Hayne & Cater, London 1841

$135.00 AUD
Georgian Sterling Silver helmet shape milk jug, London 1777

$480.00 AUD
Fine Victorian fluted & engraved jug, Barnard & Sons Ltd, London 1875

Sold
Rare Sterling Silver toast rack, Mathew Boulton 1820

$850.00 AUD

Fresh Stock

Set of four Christofle silver handled knives, 19th C

$185.00 AUD
Windsor+Newton’s Artist’s Boxset with original contents, c.1875

$580.00 AUD
Regency mahogany ‘coffee table’, hinging top, mock drawers, converted from commode, Maker’s Mark ‘ ‘ c.1830

$565.00 AUD
French Ebonized and amboyna venner work table with musical trophy and ormolu mounts, c. 1870

$850.00 AUD
Georgian Oak side table with single drawer C.1800

$950.00 AUD
Wächtersbach Majolica plate, fruiting vine green glaze, c. 1880

$45.00 AUD
Wächtersbach Majolica plate, fruiting vine green glaze, c. 1880

$45.00 AUD
Wächtersbach Majolica plate, fruiting vine green glaze, c. 1880

$95.00 AUD
French porcelain candlestick printed & painted with flowers, c. 1870

$65.00 AUD
George III mahogany washstand, open top, C. 1785

$850.00 AUD

Australiana Prints

Framed engraving ‘Port Darwin, Northern Territory

$145.00 AUD
Coloured print of Geelong, 19th C

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand-coloured engraving Marysville, Victoria

$145.00 AUD
Framed engraving “On the plenty, near Melbourne’ 19th century

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand-coloured print -The University of Melbourne

$145.00 AUD
Coloured print of Geelong, 19th C

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving, Market Square looking NE from Malop St Geelong 1857: printed 1890

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving, Yarra Street looking South to the Bay of Geelong 1857: printed 1890

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving,Railway terminus St Paul’s church etc Geelong 1857: printed 1890

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving,Moorabool St from Myers St Geelong 1857: printed 1890

$145.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving, Approach to Geelong, from the bay 1856: printed 1890

$65.00 AUD
Framed hand coloured S.T.Gill engraving, Steam Packet Wharf, Macks Hotel Geelong, 1856: printed 1890

$125.00 AUD
Framed print ‘Corio Bay’, maple frame, late 19th century

$145.00 AUD

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Posted on 27/10/202306/11/2023 by Paul Rosenberg — Leave a comment

Fresh Stock – English 19th c. porcelain + all things French!

Welcome to the latest Fresh Stock release on Moorabool.com.
This week along with some lovely 19th century porcelain including Coalport, Spode, Ridgway and others

We have our fabulous ‘Le Festival Français’ this weekend….. learn more >

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Fresh Ceramics – Coalport

Coalport serving dish moulded and handprinted with flowers, c.1840

$45.00 AUD
Miniature Coalport jug, flowers on blue ground, c. 1830

Sold
Coalport trio with large Imari flowers, C. 1820

$280.00 AUD
Coalport porcelain mug, flower panels on blue, c. 1835

$165.00 AUD
Coalport porcelain mug, superb flowers, circa 1835

$265.00 AUD
Coalport Bute shaped coffee can, Circa 1803-07

$160.00 AUD
Coalport cup, saucer + plate, hand painted flowers, c 1830

$195.00 AUD
Coalport fluted trio, rosebuds in wide gilt foliage bands, c.1815

$380.00 AUD
Coalport fluted trio, rosebuds in wide gilt foliage bands, c.1815

$380.00 AUD
Coalport coffee can, poppies and corn flowers, c 1800

$195.00 AUD
Coalport plate, wreath and scroll moulding, flower sprigs, 1835

$95.00 AUD
Coalport plate, wreath and scroll moulding, flower sprigs, 1835

$95.00 AUD
John Rose Coalport sucrier, blue print of a dragon, c.1810

$420.00 AUD
Coalport plate, London decorated with scene, yellow ground, classical busts, c.1805

$580.00 AUD

Spode

Batt-printed Sheep and Cow trio, possibly Spode, c.1815

$295.00 AUD
Spode ‘Imperial’ serving dish with Imari pattern, C. 1810

$340.00 AUD
Spode bute shape cup + saucer with bat print of flowers, c.1820

$140.00 AUD
Spode shell shaped desk set, c.1830

Sold
Spode dolphin moulded dish, C. 1810

$280.00 AUD
Spode porcelain jug, bat print Country Scenes, pat.557, c1810

$195.00 AUD
Spode porcelain bowl with bat-print, c. 1810

$225.00 AUD
Small Spode ‘lizard’ vase, embossed bird, pat. 1918, scattered flowers, circa 1830

$245.00 AUD
Spode coffee can, finely moulded, C. 1800

$195.00 AUD
Spode ‘Imperial’ Imari pattern plate, C. 1824

$240.00 AUD
Copeland Spode plate, rich flowers & gilt, Collamore NY, c. 1910

$650.00 AUD

Ridgway

Ridgway cup & saucer, Imari pattern, c. 1825

$240.00 AUD
Ridgway Ironstone soup plate, Imari pattern 4511, c.1830

$265.00 AUD
Ridgway desk set with superb flower painting, C. 1835

$740.00 AUD
Ridgway Imari cup & saucer, pat. 128 , c.1820

$180.00 AUD
Ridgway Imari cup +saucer, pat. 128 , c.1820

$240.00 AUD
Tea service for 12, Ridgway blue & gold, C. 1835

$650.00 AUD

Pair of mother of pearl cocktail forks, c 1900

$35.00 AUD
Mother of pearl pate knife. C 1900

$45.00 AUD
Mother of pearl pate knife

$45.00 AUD
Rockingham ‘Old English’ shape cup & saucer, periwinkle blue ground & gilt rims, c.1830

$580.00 AUD
Machin porcelain coffee can, landscape panel pat. 101, c. 1810

$265.00 AUD
Early Minton porcelain coffee can, pat. 876, circa 1815

$185.00 AUD
Early Minton Porcelain coffee can, red Oriental Garden print painted pat. 236, c.1815

Sold
London shaped New Hall creamer, c.1815

$280.00 AUD
Newhall teapot stand, pattern 1341 – flowers on blue, c. 1810

$165.00 AUD
Samuel Alcock cup + saucer, lavender sprigged ‘Rural Occupations’ c.1825

$225.00 AUD

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Tres Français!

For all our local customers…. there’s an event this weekend, at the National Trust property in Geelong, ‘The Heights’.
There’s a lot going on, a busy schedule of entertainment for the two days of this coming weekend.
Paul gives a talk on French Culture Saturday afternoon, and we have the privilege of setting up a series of French Displays within the house, part of taking a ‘house tour’ while there.

As well, we have taken on the ‘Dovecot’, a gorgeous Victorian outbuilding that has a flower garden flourishing in its forecourt; imagine this with antiques strewn through…. starting at $5!

French Feature

Moorabool is privileged to be asked to infuse some ‘French Culture’ into Geelong’s National Trust house ‘The Heights’. This is part of their special event, ‘Le Festival Français’ – an annual weekend of celebrating everything French.

On the last weekend of October, 2023, this historic house will have a ‘trés Français’ look.

Thomire Painting — Pierre Augustin Thomire (Paris 1724 – Béraut 1808)
Lady with child & dog, signed & dated 1783

We have selected a quantity of French items both in stock at Moorabool, and in the ‘Lorraine Rosenberg Reference Library’, also at Moorabool.
The late Lorraine Rosenberg was a self-confessed Francophile, and French items such as some superb Sévres were collected as study pieces.

French Royalty, Sèvres Porcelain including portrait of Louis XV, 18th century. Moorabool Stock & Reference Collection.

A very French item is the Faience plate with propaganda. These must have been like a ‘political poster’ stating your views – think Australia’s recent YES/NO exercise. If you supported the Revolutionaries, you would display your plate with Revolutionary motifs; if you were w Royalist, you would make sure your Royalist plate disappeared from view as soon as the Revolutionaries started guillotining everyone with Royal sympathies!

We have defined three main periods to focus on.

ROYALTY

~REVOLUTION~

-#NAPOLEON#-

Paul Rosenberg is giving a talk on these important aspects of French Culture, using these pieces as illustrations.

For all who are unable to see the actual display, we have compiled the pieces on this page for you to enjoy.

The following pieces were included in the ‘Festival Français’ display, ‘The Heights’ Geelong October 28-29, 2023.

Royalty

French creamware plate, Mademoiselle D’Artois print, c. 1825

$235.00 AUD
Louis XVI giltwood ‘fauteuil a la Reine’ with chinoiserie silk upholstry, c.1780

$4,950.00 AUD
French ormolu candlestick, faun playing pipes, c. 1765

$1,950.00 AUD
Sevres small cup & saucer, roses en camaieu, 1758-9

$950.00 AUD
French Faience chocolate pot, Sceaux, c.1770

$2,450.00 AUD
French faience watch stand, patriotic tricolour, fleur-de-lis, and cannon, c. 1820

$880.00 AUD
Pierre Augustin Thomire (Paris 1724 – Béraut 1808): Lady with child & dog, signed & dated 1783

$0.00 AUD
French Faience cup & saucer, Verve Perin, C. 1760

$1,250.00 AUD
Mennecy unglazed porcelain classical covered urn, c.1765

$3,600.00 AUD

Revolution!

French Revolutionary close-plated tankard, dated 1793

$980.00 AUD
French pressed horn & composition snuff box, Bastille 1789, 19th century

$950.00 AUD
French Revolutionary faience plate, la Nation, Nevers, c.1795

$1,250.00 AUD
Head of Georges Danton, French Revolutionary faience jug, c. 1795

$3,450.00 AUD

Napoleon

French Empire porcelain part teaset, cornflower & gilt butterflies, c. 1810

$295.00 AUD
After C.L. Eastlake, ‘The Last Portrait of Napoleon’ Art Union, printed 1848

Sold
Ebony framed profile portrait of Napoleon, copper on silver backing, early 19th c.

$1,250.00 AUD
Pair of French bronze classical figures, Mars & Athena, one signed Blanpain, c. 1780

$4,900.00 AUD
Paris porcelain plate, painted in the Neoclassical taste, Nast C 1805

$980.00 AUD
Paris porcelain plate, painted in the Neoclassical taste, Nast C 1805

$980.00 AUD
Paris porcelain plate, painted in the Neoclassical taste, Nast C 1805

$980.00 AUD
Paris porcelain plate, painted in the Neoclassical taste, Nast C 1805

$980.00 AUD
French ‘Verre Églomisé’ snuff box, gold cherubs, c. 1800

$780.00 AUD
French faience plate, Gallic rooster with giant jug, Nevers c. 1780

$580.00 AUD
Paris Porcelain Empire teapot, circa 1800

$580.00 AUD
Continental Porcelain coffee can with classical dec, serpent handle, c. 1830

$195.00 AUD
Les Islettes (France) faience plate, Napoleonic eagle, c.1810

$980.00 AUD

Aubusson Display

These fabulous tapestries are an unused suite fro the late 19th century, never attached to furniture, or installed on the walls. There’s even an unused floor ‘rug’ – the colours still fresh, having been packed away in a chest since being brought to Australia over 100 years ago!