EJ Ainger

A comprehensive quantity of jewellery and large rugs are bound to attract auction goers looking for suitable birthday gifts at E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday May 28 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

The jewellery ranges from affordable portrait miniatures to fob watches, chains, crosses, rings, bracelets and bangles to suit every taste and will no doubt prove extremely popular with buyers.

A comprehensive range of Australian and international art will greet auction goers to E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday May 14 at 433 Bridge Rod, Richmond.

Some of the more appealing paintings include Tony Irving’s The Old Wagon (lot 619) and a gilt framed oil of fishing boats (lot 660).

With its recent special sale completed and the joint venture with auctioneer Phil Caldwell over the contents and fittings of an historic Hawthorn mansion done and dusted the Sunday before Easter, E.J. Ainger is back to its regular fortnightly auctions from 9.30am Tuesday at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

There are a few knickknacks that could well interest auction goers including a very collectable ivory peacock and Chinese terracotta figure.

Among the porcelain and glassware on offer is a Moorcroft floral decorated lidded bowl and an unusual Lalique circular bowl.

Melbourne’s leading royalty, 82-year-old “Aussie Earl” Englishman Keith Rous – the sixth Earl of Stradbroke – and  his wife of 42 years, Rosie, never do anything by halves.

 They are about to carry out a multi-million dollar renovation to dramatically enlarge and modernise the massive Hawthorn mansion “Haven”, built in 1898 and with its twin towers one of the original landmark properties of St James Park Estate, that they bought almost three years ago – and are ditching many of the property fittings to do so.

An extremely rare Robert Prenzel wood carving of a koala (lot 437) signed by the artist and dated 1917 is a major highlight of E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming two-day special sale from 11am Saturday April 6 and at the same time the following day at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Woodcarver and cabinetmaker Prenzel (1866-1941) was born in Prussia and in 1888 arrived in Melbourne via a European “carving” sojourn.

Working first for a shipbuilder, he then began designing furniture for Nunan Bros before going into partnership with John Treede.

Those auction goers who knew Eaglemont identity the late Ivan Mason – until March 2013 for four decades the friendly face behind the IGA counter in Silverdale Road – will have the chance to obtain a reminder of his smiling visage when his furniture and effects are auctioned from 9.30am Tuesday March 19 by E.J. Ainger Pty Ltd at 433 Bridge Rod, Richmond.

Ivan, who lived just up the road from the store that as owner and manager became a large part of his life, died aged 77 in April 2017 – a little over four years after his retirement.

A certificate for 10,000 $1 shares in the replica of HMS Bounty’s visit to Australia’s 1988 Bicentenary is one of the more intriguing items at E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday March 5 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Dated April 16, 1986, the certificate (number 14) was issued to Rowbar Pty Ltd and refers to the bicentenary of the colonisation of New South Wales in 1788 during the reign of King George III.

Victoria’s St Vincent de Paul Society will be the beneficiary of auction proceeds from a large oil painting collection featuring artists Joyce McGrath, Nornie Gude and Donald Cameron when E.J. Ainger holds its second auction for the year from 9.30am Tuesday February 19 at 433 Bridge Road Richmond.

One of the paintings for auction is a female study but no doubt art lovers will find plenty of other works to whet their appetites and support this worthy cause.

A giant pair of marble lions is the striking feature of E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming “architectural and art deco almost single vendor” auction, according to managing director John Ainger.

“The lions were part of a Templestowe mansion belonging to a well-known Melbourne business identity that he tore down 10 years ago and have been stored ever since in a Bentleigh warehouse,” he said.

The lions (each of which weighs about two tonnes) are not the only massive architectural feature at the auction, which will be held from 11am Sunday December 2 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

An extensive model train collection including engines, rolling stock, and accessories is an unusual highlight for E.J. Ainger’s forthcoming auction from 9.30am Tuesday November 13 at 433 Bridge Road, Richmond.

Normally the auction house is busy selling furniture, collectables and art but this collection has come from a deceased estate and is bound to whet the appetite of many Australian model train collectors.

Items from a retired Richmond antique dealer’s warehouse are another drawcard along with the superb Georgian contents of a South Yarra estate.