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The Brans Collection — Leonard Joel Pty. Ltd.

Auction House:Leonard Joel Pty. Ltd.Number of lots recorded:189
Sale Title:The Brans CollectionLots with images:189
Auction Location:SydneyPrices available:153
Date:21-Nov-2021
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A Chinese Hongmu open display cabinet, late 19th century, having six graduated open shelves with faux bamboo carved uprights, supports and edges, above a pair of panelled doors carved in relief with bamboo and flowering vines, on short cabriole legs with a pierced and carved apron, height 141 cm, width 80 cm, depth 32 cm
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A Chinese bronze censer in the form of a mythological beast, Ming period, the fiersome squat beast standing on four legs, height 20 cm. Provenance: Captain W.E.Frank Jones (British advisor to the Chinese government in early 20th century), gallery Desmet, Brussels, acquired from the above March 2012. Exhibited: Exhibited in 1939 in an exhibition raising funds for a 'Scientific approach to peace'.
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A Thai bronze Buddha, mid 19th century, seated in padmasana with one hand touching the ground and the other on its lap, with elongated earlobes and downcast enamel eyes in a robe trimmed with green glass sequins, height 39 cm
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A Chinese marble head of guanyin, wearing elaborate diadem and curled top knot with downcast eyes and serene expression on a white marble plinth, height 29 cm, height including plinth 48.5 cm
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A Chinese bamboo brush pot, Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), carved with a lady in a landscape with a pavilion, an egret and a pine tree, height 15.5 cm
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A Chinese cast iron head of guanyin, Ming period, on carved hardwood base, overall height 38.5 cm. Provenance: Moron Pere et fils Antiquites, Marseille, acquired from the above 25 February 2017
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A Chinese ancestral portrait, second half 19th century, ink and watercolour on paper, depicting three men and three women from the same family, the women in red robes with rank badges and elaborate headdresses, the men in fur lined winter coats, inscription above and below, 180 x 90 cm (215 cm x 120 cm framed)
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A Chinese burl wood inset huanghali side table, Qing Dynasty, the burl wood panel set within the thick rectangular frame above a narrow waist, the scrolled aprons fitted against square sectioned legs terminating in hoof feet, height 79 cm, width 56 cm, depth 46.5 cm
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A pair of Chinese famille Noire porcelain vases, 20th century, in the Kangxi style, each with a tapering square sectioned body and a flared neck decorated with lotus flowers and foliage on a black ground, six character mark to base, height 50 cm
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An Indian buff sandstone carving of a lion and an elephant, probably Mughal, 17th century or earlier, the stylised lion subduing the smaller pachyderm on integral rectangular plinth, traces of polychrome, height 49 cm, length 54 cm, width 15 cm. Provenance: Property from an upper west side home, Peachtree and Bennett, Atlanta, fine Antiques & mid century modern, 12 April 2014, lot 269, gallery Desmet, Brussels, acquired from the above
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A Southern Indian finely carved sandalwood glove box, mid 19th century, rectangular with chafered corners, decorated all over with a design of foliage with birds and animals, height 6 cm, length 28 cm, depth 10 cm
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A pair of Chinese embroidered silk rank badges, Qing Dynasty, each with a crane standing on a rockwork surrounded by flowers with a sky of stylised clouds and bats, each 29 x 29 cm (59 x 58 cm framed)
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A Chinese bronze archaistic wine vessel, 19th century, the flattened baluster shape with two ring handles, bands of taotie masks, characters to base, height 34 cm
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A pair of Chinese blue and white porcelain jars, late Qing Dynasty, each of ovoid form decorated in underglaze blue with stylised designs of lappets, roundels and bats, height 22 cm
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A Chinese bronze plaque, cast in relief with three deities and inscribed with Chinese characters to the reverse, height 9.5 cm
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A Thai gilt bronze figure of the standing Buddha, 19th century, wearing an elaborate conical headdress and richly decorated loincloth and cape, standing on a multi-tiered base, height 57 cm. Provenance: Gray's Auctioneers, 6 February 1974, lot 108, Estate of D'Arcy Ryan, Shapiro, fine furniture, painting, decorative and Asian Art, 22 March 2015, lot 66, acquired from the above
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A matched pair of Chinese porcelain jars, late Ming/Transitional period, each of baluster form decorated in underglaze blue with a procession of courtly ladies admiring peonies, height 46 cm
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A Chinese silk and metallic thread carpet, late Qing Dynasty, the central lobate medalion with a five-clawed dragon chasing a flaming pearl on a fretwork and flowerhead field, the lobate spandrels with further five-clawed dragons within an inner pearl border and wider meandering flowerhead border, 189 x 283 cm. Provenance: collection of Joaquim Eulalio do Nascimento e Silva, Donelly's Auctioneers, Perth, 7 October 2018. Other Notes: Joaquim Eulalio do Nascimento e Silva was ambassador to Chongqing from 26…
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A pair of Indian red sandstone figures of celestial musicians, Rajasthan, 12th century, well carved in the round with gently rounded forms, one holding a drum and the other a stringed instrument, both adorned with a festooned belt and multiple necklaces, the faces bearded with large almond-shaped eyes beneath gracefully arched brows, the hair neatly arranged in two rows of spiralling locks, height of largest 48 cm. Provenance: Property from a private Roman collection, Christie's New York, Indian and…
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A Chinese export blue and white porcelain Meiping, 18th century, of typical baluster form with short neck, decorated with ladies in a pavilion and a garden, height 27 cm
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A Chinese boxwood carving of the reclining Buddha, 19th century, depicted laughing and holding a string of beads, on a separate carved wood base, overall length 27 cm
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A Chinese export blue and white porcelain ginger jar, 18th century, with underglaze decoration of scholars objects, with later pierced and carved wooden lid, height 25 cm
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A Kashmiri carved hardwood occasional table in the Chinese manner, Srinagar, early 20th century, the circular top with lobate border, richly carved in relief with four dragons and Chinese symbols around a plain octafoil panel, on a folding cruciform stand composed of dragons and Chinese symbols.. Other Notes: it was not uncommon for Indian craftsmen to use Chinese decoration to appeal to the local market for Tibetan antiques. For a similar example in the Victora & Albert Museum, London, see 'Furniture from…
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A Nepalese bronze mythological guardian beast, 19th century, holding a candlestick, with turquoise eyes, the oval pierced base with a foliate border, height 18.5 cm. Provenance: Captain W.E.Frank Jones (British advisor to the Chinese government in early 20th century), gallery Desmet, Brussels, acquired from the above March 2012. Exhibited: Exhibited in 1939 in an exhibition raising funds for a 'Scientific approach to peace'.
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A pair of Cantonese famille rose plates, 19th century, painted and gilt with courtiers, warriors and sages radiating from a central medallion within a border of flowers and sacred objects, diameter 22 cm
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A silk embroidered panel with Chinese figures, depicting a deity flying on the back of a crane with two other court figures and a deer in the foreground, on an ivory silk ground, 192 x 151 cm
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A Chinese marble seated torso of Buddha, Tang Dynasty (618-907), seated in padmasana with right hand raised and left hand resting on the left knee, on the lotus throne, together with custom made wooden plinth, height 64 cm, width 34 cm, depth 37 cm. Provenance: Private Collection, Italy, acquired from the above 3 March 2011. Other Notes: this sculpture in marble depicts Amitabha (the Buddha of Infinite light), a celestial Buddha who created through his merit, a pure realm for his devotees to inhabit upon…
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A Persian rug, having an oval pictorial medalion of a snake threatening birds in a nest, on a brown field with animals and further pictorial panels, within a flowerhead and pine tree border, 127 x 179 cm
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A south East Asian celadon jarlet with a carved wooden tribal stopper, height 18.5 cm
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A New Guinea carved and polychrome wood tribal mask, Sepik River, fringed with coconut husk decoration, on metal stand, overall height 48 cm
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A New Guinea carved wooden house hook, Sepik River, early 20th century, on metal stand, overall height 87 cm
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A taxidermy sand goanna (Varanus gouldii), length 85 cm
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An Indian casket, 18th century, the imitation leather cover with relief decoration of stylised leaves (distressed), the fitted interior painted with flower sprigs on an orange ground, height 11 cm, width 41 cm, depth 25 cm
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A Benin bronze commemorative head, 20th century, in a ribbed cap with projecting ornament and matching collar, height 31 cm
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An African carved wood tribal mask, early to mid 20th century, on metal stand, mask 27 cm x 23 cm
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A Ghanaian carved wood and lacquered Ashanti doll, of typical form on a metal base, height 36 cm
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A large natural Coco de Mer, together with stand, overall height 33 cm
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An African tribal carved wood figure of a woman, mid 20th century, height 43 cm
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A taxidermy freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni), length 88 cm
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A Roman style bronze hand mirror, the circular reflector decorated to one side in low relief with Minerva and a lion, length 22 cm
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An Apulian red-figure bell krater, 4th century B.C., painted to one side with a naked youth holding a dish and a basket looking towards a maenad holding a tynpanon above a Greek key border, the other side with two himation clad youths holding staffs, painted with palmettes beneath the handles, a band of laurel under the rim, details in added white, height 37.5 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's, Fine Decorative Arts, 25-27 May 1997, lot 747, acquired from the above. Literature: Details of this item have been…
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A green porphyry veneered table top, 20th century, in the neoclassical style inlaid with a Greek double meander in Sienna marble, on simple timber boxed base, height 141.5 cm, width 80 cm, depth 4.5 cm
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An octagonal rosewood centre table attributed to Carlo Di Carli (1910-1971), the top with a faceted frieze on a flared square sectioned base with chamfered angles, height 76 cm, width 129 cm, depth 129 cm
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An early 20th century Goyard wardrobe trunk, circa 1920, leatherbound with brass hardware and chevron Goyard canvas, tan leather interior with chromed hanging racks, painted owner's stencil: R.N. Jackson / T.S.S. Iberia / Fremantle, together with key, height 105 cm, width 54 cm, depth 38 cm. Other Notes: the SS Iberia was an ocean liner completed in 1954 at the Belfast shipyard of Harland and Wolff for the Peninsular and Oriental steam navigation Company (P&O), it originally provided service between London…
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A French kingwood envelope card table by Paul Sormani (1817-1877), of Louis XV design, the swivel top opening to reveal a baize lined plain surface above a shaped apron with quarter veneered panels and ormolu rocaille mounts and chutes to the slender cabriole legs terminating in scrolled sabots, the lock signed: P Sormani Paris 10, rue Charlot, height 73 cm, width 58 cm, depth 58 cm
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An Italian white marble figure of the birth of Venus attributed to Ferdinando Andreini (1843-1922), circa 1900, the naked goddess rising from a scallop shell and stylised waves, together with a carved serpentine plinth entwined by a dolphin, overall height 224 cm. Provenance: Sotheby's Billingshurst, Garden Statuary & Architectural Items, 13 October 1997, lot 358, acquired from the above. Other Notes: Born of the foam of the sea, the Roman goddess Venus emerges from the waves elegantly poised upon a shell…
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A pair of Russian ormolu candlesticks, early 19th century, in the manner of Andrei Schreiber, St Petersburg, each on an octagonal foot cast with a stiff leaf band and central star rising to half reeded shaft with band of oak leaves and faceted decoration, the conforming urn shaped nozzle with milled edge, height 25 cm
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A French bronze putto, mid 18th century, seated on a granite ormolu mounted column on a green marble base, overall height 36 cm, width 20 cm, depth 20 cm
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A Louis XV style inlaid and gilt bronze mounted etagere, last quarter 19th century, the shaped top and undertier quarter veneered in kingwood with rosewood and tulipwood crossbanding, on slender cabriole legs, height 76.5 cm, width 49 cm, depth 38 cm
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Francisque Joseph Duret (1804-1865), Vendangeur Improvisant sur un Sujet Comique 1839, bronze, signed on the barrel: Duret, titled on the base: Improvvisatore, height 54.5 cm. Other Notes: after the original in the Louvre, Duret won the Prix de Rome at the age of 19 and later received numerous official commissions including the Fontaine Saint-Michel in Paris and was a Professor at l'Ecole des Beaux-Arts.
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An early Louis XV carved and giltwood mirror, the rectangular bevelled plate in a moulded frame centred with a carved rocaille cresting above a shell and flower swag, the corners with shell clasps, and a carved pierced border, height 62 cm, width 77 cm
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A pair of Venetian rococo giltwood armchairs, mid 18th century, each with a cartouche shaped moulded padded back with rocaille cresting, flanked by scrolled arms above a shaped padded seat with shell and rocaile apron on conforming cabriole legs, upholstered en chassis in distressed pink silk, height 110 cm
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A Regence/Early Louis XV oak commode, of small proportions, the arc en arbalete top above two bombe drawers flanked by rocaille carved uprights and above a carved apron on slender cabriole legs terminating in hoof feet, height 79 cm, width 95 cm, depth 52 cm
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A pair of Napoleon III five light bronze and ormolu candelabra, each on an ormolu and rouge marble column pedestal, with a draped putto supporting the candle brackets in the form of three hunting horns and two oak branches, one putto with a stag's head and the other with a boar's head at his feet, height 77 cm
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A French bronze bust of a Greek God, 19th century, wearing a plumed helmet with draped shoulders on a square golden bronze socle, height 37 cm
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A George II style painted mahogany breakfront serving table, of bowed outline, with ribbon and leaf carved edge above a plain frieze with central tablet and Vitruvian scroll edge, having a central concealed drawer, the apron carved to the centre with a shell and flower swag motif, on cabriole legs with scrolled toes and moulded block feet, later decorated in pale grey, height 96.5 cm, width 230 cm, depth 75.5 cm
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An Italian walnut cassettone, Bologna, circa 1650, the rectangular moulded top above a carved dentil frieze and three long drawers with relief carved moulded fronts, on a moulded base, the bracket feet with moulded and fleurs-de-lis carved motif, the cast bronze handles of scroll foliate design centred with a putto mask, height 98 cm, width 149 cm, depth 60 cm
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An Italian marble figure of a putto with a dolphin, possibly Florence, late 16th century, the standing curly haired putto looking slightly to dexter on an integral square base, height 67 cm. Provenance: Manfredonia, Naples, acquired from the above February 2017
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A massive Tuscan Renaissance walnut centre table, circa 1580, the solid double plank top above three frieze drawers with panel fronts and bronze knobs, on turned baluster legs with panelled headers and bases, all joined by solid stretchers, height 82 cm, width 262 cm, depth 103 cm. Provenance: Property of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (Rogers Fund, 1913), Christie's, New York, Living with Art, 15 December 2015, lot 159, acquired from the above
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A bronze relief plaque with a scene from the life of Saint Zeno of Verona, 19th century, after the original on the doors of the Basilica of San Zeno, Verona (11th-12th century), depicting the patron saint of anglers and fisherman, mounted on a wooden panel, 43 x 41.5 cm
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An Italian bronze bust of a smiling faun, probably Naples, late 19th century, wearing a goatskin pelt over one shoulder on a grey Africano marble socle, possibly a Chiurazzi cast, height 60 cm
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A pair of Italian aquatints, early 19th century, one depicting a group of antiquarians measuring an ancient Roman foot and the other of a scene in a country house courtyard, each 15 x 12.2 cm (34 x 27.5 cm)
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An Italian Ormolu-Mounted ebony and pietra dura inlaid cabinet, Florence, 17th century, of architectural form with a moulded breakfront cornice above an arrangement of eight drawers flanking a central architectural aedicule formed by a pair of stop fluted, fior di pesco marble columns with ormolu composite capitals supporting a pair of ormolu urns, with a cupboard door to the centre enclosing three drawers and five further secret compartments, with a concealed drawer above and below, the cupboard and…
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An Italian bronze of the Cesarini Venus after Giambologna, 19th century, the nude goddess partially draped with one foot on a small plinth, mounted on a Rosso di Verona marble base, height including base 38.5 cm. Other Notes: the Cesarini Venus is one of Giambologna's most celebrated compositions. It is closely related to a near life-size marble figure that the artist carved for Giovanni Giorgio Cesarini - from whom the model now derives its name - in 1583. Forty years later, in 1623, the marble was given…
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A George I walnut tea table, circa 1720, the rectangular dished top with moulded edge above a plain frieze on cabriole legs with carved pad feet, height 70.5 cm, width 81 cm, depth 54 cm
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A carved oak reliquary in the form of a Bishop Saint, Italy, 17th century, wearing a mitre and with a later copper cover to the receptacle on a moulded base, height 45 cm
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An Italian painted and gilded coat of arms (Stemma), 17th century, painted on canvas in the form of an elaborate gilt cartouche having two cherubs holding a scroll with the motto 'Nodo ordito nel ciel stringasi in terra' (let the bond ordained by heaven be tied on earth), centred with two conjoined arms, height 188 cm, width 172 cm. Other Notes: the arms are those of the Cini-della Valle family (left) and the Vitelli family (right).
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A 17th century Italian walnut and inlaid armadio (wardrobe), circa 1680, of architectural form, the moulded and dentil cornice above a frieze inlaid with birds and flowerheads, above a pair of doors with carved and fielded panels flanked by moulded panel uprights with cherub head corbels, on a moulded base and standing on scroll feet, doors opening to reveal three adjustable shelves, old address label verso, height 229 cm, width 184 cm, depth 80 cm
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A George III tripod table, the rectangular tilt top on a fluted baluster pedestal with partially gadrooned knop on three acanthus carved swept supports terminating in claw and ball feet, height 71 cm, width 70 cm, depth 55 cm
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An Italian marble urn and cover, late 18th/early 19th century, in Egyptian alabaster of ovoid outline with domed cover on a square base, height 63 cm
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A Charles X gilt composition overmantel mirror, the rectangular plate in a moulded frame with applied scroll and cartouche ornament, 95 x 76 cm
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A pictorial tapestry, Brussels, mid 16th century, woven in wools with a scene of a high ranking woman and attendants on a terrace with a parkland scene and pavilion to the background within a border composed of biblical figures and cornucopias, linen backed, 327 x 386 cm
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An Italian white marble head of a young angel, probably Venice, late 15th century, with curled hair and an open smiling mouth, on an ebonised turned wood and porphyry socle, overall height 30 cm
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A carved and polychrome wooden figure of the Christ child, Italy, 18th century, dressed in a robe ornamented with brocade panels and sewn with glass bugle beads and a silver lace fringe, on later support and stand, overall height 39 cm
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A shell cameo attributed to Constantin Roesler Franz, probably Rome, mid 19th century, depicting Euterpe the Muse of lyric poetry, holding a lyre on a pedestal in original tooled leather box, 51 x 41 mm
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A Louis XV Chinoiserie overdoor painting, oil on canvas, depicting a fanciful Chinese family making music in an idyllic landscape within a rocaille and mask surround on a turquiose ground, 73.5 x 120 cm framed
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An Italian bronze of the Medici lion, circa 1820, the standing beast with his paw on a ball on a modern ebonised plinth, height including plinth 39 cm. Other Notes: after the marble version carved circa 1594 by Flaminio Vacca for the Villa Medici in Rome, itself a companion to the ancient Roman version in the Medici collection from the 1st or 2nd century AD.
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A Roman rococo giltwood console table, mid 18th century, the Sienna marble top of shaped outline with moulded edge standing on a giltwood base composed of rocaille, shells and scrolls, the four cabriole legs terminating in scroll feet united by an X-stretcher centred with rocaille, shell and flowers, height 90.5 cm, width 157 cm, depth 78.5 cm
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A small bronze bust of Pope Pius IX, mid 19th century, wearing the zuchetto, mozzetta and embroidered stole with the keys of Peter and papal tiara, titled on socle Pio IX, height 15 cm
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A copper bust of the young Augustus Caesar, late 19th century, after the original held in the Vatican, on an integral circular moulded socle, height 51 cm. Other Notes: Gaius Octavius was the adopted heir of his maternal great uncle Julius Ceasar and eventually became the first Roman emperor Ceasar Augustus reigning from 27 B.C. Until his death in 14 A.D.
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A bronze figure of mercury after Giambologna, 18th century, the naked god with his winged helmet and feet standing on the breath of Zephyr on an integral bronze moulded plinth, height 111 cm. Other Notes: Flemish sculptor Jean de Boulogne moved to Italy in 1550 to study the sculpture of classical antiquity. It was here that he became known as Giovanni da Bologna, or more commonly Giambologna. As the court sculptor to three successive Medici grand Dukes, Giambologna's influence on European sculpture was…
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A German bronze bust of Hermes, late 19th century, after the marble sculpture discovered at Olympia and attributed to Praxiteles, titled to socle on integral bronze plinth, height 35 cm
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A large Spanish walnut library table, 17th century, the double plank top above a pair of frieze drawers carved in relief with flowerheads and foliage and separated by carved and fluted corbels, the reverse with flowerheads and panel carved detail on moulded trestle-end supports joined by stretchers, height 82 cm, length 193 cm, depth 94 cm
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An Italian bronze of the Medici Venus, circa 1880, after the antique, the naked goddess flanked by cupid riding a dolphin, height 34 cm
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The Madonna and Child with Saint John in a landscape in the manner of Cosimo Rosselli, Florence, late 15th century, tempera on panel, seated on a rock in an idealistic wooded landscape with a bridge and town by a river beyond and distant Cliff and mountains, 67.5 x 66 cm (77.5 x 79 cm framed). Provenance: Wannenes Art Auctions, Genoa. Dipinti Antichi e del XIX Secolo, 28 March 2014, lot 1045, acquired from the above. Other Notes: The iconography of the Madonna and Child has been represented in a variety of…
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A carved marble Corpus figure, 19th century, the fragmentary figure of the crucified Christ on a wrought iron wall bracket, height 45 cm
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A bronze figure of Julius Caesar, mid 17th century, standing contrapposto wearing a decorated cuirass with his right arm raised, on later green and white marble pedestal, height including pedestal 40 cm
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An Italian bronze figure of flora, 17th century, the sparsely draped naked goddess standing on one foot holding a cornucopia and a sickle, on an 18th century variegated marble column and ormolu mounted pedestal, height 52 cm
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A Life-Size bronze of the drunken satyr, late 19th century, reclining on a lion pelt and wine skin on a naturalistically carved marble base, cast by Fonderia Chiurazzi Naples, overall approximately: height 155 cm, width 188 cm, depth 70 cm. Provenance: The Koplar brown family collection, lake Ozark, Missouri, Christie's New York, 19th century furniture, sculpture, works of Art and ceramics, 25 October 2007, lot 406, acquired from the above. Exhibited: the Italian pavilion at the Louisiana purchase…
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