The closing down of the Joshua McClelland Print Room and family-associated Rathdowne Galleries will certainly evoke pleasant memories for many of you.

But for all of you, especially those not living in Melbourne, the catalogue of their stock, will give you a taste of the type of dealers they were: eclectic, exotic, unusual, decorative, surprising, traditional and ultra-modern.

Between 1927, when The Little Gallery opened, and 2018, when Rathdowne Galleries closed, those words could have been used at different times and for different reasons. The art market is constantly changing and the contents of this auction reflect just that, especially as some of the items in our catalogue have not been seen for decades. We are delighted to have been asked to prepare and offer for sale the accompanying 475 lots.

Among our favourites are the Joseph Lycett views [Lots 27 – 31], the John Skinner Prouts [Lots 41-44 & 58 – 63], the George French Angas group [Lots 64 – 80], the Matthijs Maris interior [Lot 123], the Claude Marquet political cartoon [Lot 142], the Penleigh Boyd [Lot 155], the Dora Serle [Lot 168] and the superb Ethel Spowers [Lot 170] which features on our front cover.

Lovers of Asian artistry will be delighted by the Chinese famille vert vase [Lot 346] as well as the pair of Chinese bronze and enamel vases [Lot 347] which are part of a diverse range of ceramics, artworks, watercolours, bronzes and jewellery.

We hope that many of you will take the opportunity to come and have a look during the viewing or, if you can’t join us in Armadale, enjoy viewing the items on-line or in the printed catalogue.

Contents
001 – 268  Artworks – Australian & International
269 – 290  Reference Books, Catalogues & Periodicals
291 – 305  Historical Maps
306 – 343  International Decorative Arts & Furniture
344 – 471  Asian Decorative Arts and Artworks
472  – 472 “Bert” The Shop Counter

Featured Lots