By Richard Brewster, on 17-Mar-2020

The cabinets by American designer Jonathan Adler (lots 383 and 384) belong to a famous Australian singer and celebrity, who had the interior of her Hawthorn home designed by TV personality Shaynna Blaze from the much-loved show The Block.

Now 54, Adler was born in New Jersey, New York and turned his childhood passion for pottery into a full-blown professional career, launching his first ceramic collection in 1993.

Two cabinets and three other decorative items by American designer Jonathan Adler (born 1966) are some of the more fascinating auction attractions at Philips forthcoming decorative arts sale on March 22 at their 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern rooms. Adler launched his career as a potter 1993 in New York, and diversified into design and home furnishings, running 17 furnishing boutiques as well as his design business. The cabinet above (lot 384) is estimated at $500-1,000.

Two cabinets and three other decorative items by American designer Jonathan Adler (born 1966) are some of the more fascinating auction attractions at Philips forthcoming decorative arts sale on March 22 at their 47 Glenferrie Road, Malvern rooms. Adler launched his career as a potter 1993 in New York, and diversified into design and home furnishings, running 17 furnishing boutiques as well as his design business. The cabinet above (lot 384) is estimated at $500-1,000.

Five years later, he expanded into home furnishings and opened a boutique in Manhattan.

The designer, potter and author now has 17 stores and runs an eponymous design business.

The auction contains a large number of sterling silver snuff boxes including belonging to collector John Borthwick who founded the predecessor to Sotheby’s in Australia before it took on the iconic English auction house name.

The collection ranges from lots 180 to 260 with lot 182, a rare novelty William IV sterling silver cow snuffbox, and lot 258, an 1833 Scottish William IV table top version, of particular note. The collection was later bequeathed to the South Australian Gallery.

Other items of great interest to auction goers include French period furniture including commodes, sideboards and dining pieces, and porcelain and glassware. 

Jewellery will be auctioned the following night from 6pm and includes a solitaire brilliant cut diamond ring, a quality single row diamond bangle and an aquamarine and diamond dress ring.

 

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About The Author

Richard Brewster has been writing about the antiques and art auction industry for almost 20 years, first in a regular weekly column for Fairfax's The Age newspaper and also in more recent times for his own website Australian Auction Review. With 45 years experience as a journalist and public relations consultant, in 1990 Richard established his own business Brewster & Associates in Melbourne, handling a wide range of clients in the building, financial, antiques and art auction industries.