Exquisite craftsmanship, aesthetics, and the practicalities of life combine in tiny little boxes we call vinaigrettes. These boxes, some designed as novelties, all open to reveal a perforated grille which held a perfumed medium within.

Usually of sterling silver and gilded to the interiors, they served quite practical purposes.  Worn around the neck, put in a pocket or hung from a chatelaine, their size and portability allowed perfumes to be carried with ease when travelling. 

When we think of exquisite bronze figures of the 1920s and 1930s, the great names of Chiparus, Preiss, Lorenzl, come to mind.  But who was 'Gerdago'? 

'Gerdago' was the pseudonym of Viennese born Gerda Gottstein.  She received art training in both Berlin and Paris in the late 1920s and in the ensuing years designed costumes for theatre and revue performances where her work attracted the attention of Austrian film maker Willi Forst.

Petronella Ourtmann's intricately decorated doll's house in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam inspired the book and subsequent compelling television series, 'The Miniaturist'.

Costing as much as an actual house, a dollshouse, such as Petronella's, was a luxury only available to the extremely wealthy in 17th and 18th century Holland and Germany. It was not a childish plaything, it was the woman of the household's domain, a domestic curiosity cabinet over which she was mistress just as she was with her household. Tiny objects of exquisite manufacture reflecting her life, her wealth, aspirations and above all, status, inhabited such dollshouses.

What a wonderful year 2018 has been at Philips with so many exciting and successful auctions, plus several special and unique sales events including a triple auction in August and the magnificent offering in February of 160 lots of porcelain from a single estate.

The Philips December auction continued the trend and wrapped up the year in great style with fantastic results in all departments. Strong sales were achieved in furniture, silver and copper, and a wonderful range of decorative arts including figurines, tea services and vases.

As anticipated, a wonderful range of car mascots proved very popular with determined bidding driving sales well beyond estimate and delivering outstanding results. Two French examples performed particularly strongly due to their exotic design and the reputation of designers Rene Lalique and Henri Payen.

With Christmas just around the corner, the Philips December auction presents a great opportunity for quality gift shopping from a wide range of Decorative Arts and Jewellery. The final auction for 2018 is set for the festive season and includes a fantastic offering of exotic Anglo-Indian pieces, a range of delightful French furniture, woollen and silk rugs, a large number of fine artworks, and an impressive collection of high quality silverware.

From the estate of an Australian dentist who practiced in India during the early 1900’s comes a fascinating collection of interesting and unusual items. Several have been carved from rosewood including a striking floor elephant, an occasional table, a rectangular tray, a marquise shaped wall hanging, and a delightful elephant dinner gong. Of particular note, a vintage dentist’s cabinet comes equipped with many original tools and instruments for teeth cleaning, mould taking, and extractions.