Silver tea service Melbourne auction the result of a lucky World War II escape

A lucky escape from Vienna during World War II for the late Henry Teltscher (1921-2003), has resulted in a magnificent circa 1918 five-piece sterling silver and ivory tea service (lot 81), crafted by famous Austrian architect and designer and co-founder of Wiener Werkstatte Josef Hoffman (1870-1956), ending up at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions as the centrepiece of its forthcoming two-day Decorative Arts & Collectables sale from 10am Saturday June 27 and Sunday June 28 at 727-729 High Street, Armadale.

Originally belonging to Henry’s parents, the tea set (with a catalogue estimate of $60,000-$80,000) was exhibited at the 1925 Arts Decoratifs Et Industriel Moderne in Paris and comprises a tray, teapot, milk jug, sugar bowl and tongs.

With the tea set safe in his keeping, Teltscher fled to England where, with more than 2500 other Jewish German and Austrian men, on July 10, 1940 he was then herded aboard the hired military transport Dunera as an enemy alien and sent to Australia.

After surviving an attack by a German U-boat, the Dunera arrived 57 days later in Australia with the men duly sent to internment camps at Tatura in Victoria and Hay in New South Wales.

The internees became known as the Dunera Boys, with their arrival regarded as one of greatest influxes of academic and artistic talent to have entered Australia on a single vessel.

As a result, army officers in charge of the Hay camp allowed the internees to set up a university, establish an internal system of democratic government, mint their own currency (called ‘Goodonya’ coins) and grow kosher food for orthodox Jews.

Of the 700 men who remained in Australia after the internees were released early in 1942, many went on to make a significant contribution to the emerging multicultural society.

Teltscher forged lifelong friendships with many of the internees and, after the war, was involved in pioneering work with the newly discovered drug penicillin – going on to become Professor of Applied Biology and Head of Department at RMIT University in Melbourne.

Among the 144 silver lots also on offer is an antique South African racing trophy known as the Spiro Cup (lot 70) made circa 1892 in Birmingham from English sterling silver, a circa 1900 sterling silver cutlery set housed in an oak canteen (lot 69) made for Melbourne’s Benjamin Jewellers and a finely decorated early to mid 20^th century Burmese silver bowl (lot 35).

Comprising lots 145-187, the Routt collection of Burmese treasures is a fascinating section of the auction.

Garland Chamberlain Routt (1911-1986) was a prominent American political scientist and diplomat best remembered for his foundation research into legislative procedure and long tenure with the United States government.

After serving in the US navy during World War II, in 1953 he joined the newly established United States Information Agency, working in several overseas post before becoming US ambassador to Burma. It was here that he and his wife Elizabeth began collecting local arts and crafts, concentrating particularly on Burmese silver.

A good example is a set of 12 mid-20^th century vintage Burmese silver goblets (lot 145) but a 19^th/20^th century carved ivory lidded jar (lot 150) also is worth a look along with an impressive dinner gong crafted from ivory tusks (lot 170) and 20^th century harp on a stand (lot 176).

In March 1962, a military coup d’etat meant the Routts had to leave Burma in a hurry in what was to be their final posting. Back in Washington, Garland died in 1986 and his wife eventually moved to Melbourne where in later years, suffering with dementia, she was taken care of by their son Bill, passing away in 2007.

The auction offers a world class collection of Moorcroft that features “Claremont” a 1914 stunning three-piece tea service with art nouveau sterling silver overlay made for San Francisco’s Shreve & Co (lot 524) with a catalogue estimate of $25,000-$35,000.  

Other auction attractions include an early 2000s Jaeger Lecoultre “Classique Phases De Lune” Atmos clock (lot 452) in rose gold plated case with month and moon phases and an Omega ‘Speedmaster Professional Moon Watch” (lot 422).