Spirited bidding bumped up the modest $400-$600 catalogue estimate of a Chinese carved ivory and engraved gourd cricket cage (lot 880) to a massive $10,000 sale price at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions November 16 and 17 decorative arts and collectables auction.

There are 1340 lots on offer over the two days containing items bound to interest all auction goers – with categories including silver, jewellery, watches, clocks, porcelain and ceramics, glass, lamps and lighting, furniture, paintings, Chinese and Asian art, tribal artefacts, books, posters, photographs, music, radios and gramophones, military and aviation memorabilia, medals and medallions, and models and toys.

One of the more intriguing paintings is a portrait of a boy by an unknown artist from the Newlyn School (lot 680), featured on the auction catalogue front cover.

Situated in the county of Penzance, Cornwall, between the late 19th and early 20th centuries the school was home to a new colony of artists who sought to paint outdoors in the ‘plein air’ style using natures natural light and everyday subjects.

Dublin-born artist Stanhope Forbes (1857-1947) moved to Newlyn in 1884 and was often referred to as ‘the father of the school’.