A sunny winter's afternoon ensured a large standing room only attendance at Philips’ June auction. Along with Glenferrie Road’s cafes and restaurants, the decorative and fine arts event was the place to be, and an opportunity to secure fine collectables from a remarkably wide range of offerings.

Featuring  the  second instalment of  the  Patrick  Street  collection,  fine  silver  ware  was  high  on  the agenda with many beautiful items changing hands through active contest from 280 bidders. Director, Tony Philips said he was delighted with the attendance which represented a 30% increase on previous auctions.

The forthcoming June Jewellery auction will feature a sensational mixture of Cartier style, and well-crafted and valuable items that will be of great interest to collectors.

A highlight of this offering will be an 18ct white gold and sapphire ring, crafted as a striking solitaire styled dress item, featuring an oval sapphire of deep vibrant blue, and two tapering baguette cut diamonds merging to a smooth band.

With a pedestal base, slightly rustic engraving, and a swing handle with a curious ring attached, this fascinating item from the Patrick Street Collection has been identified as an Italian Holy Water Font dating back to the restoration of the Papacy in 1814.

To be offered in the second auction instalment of the collection of former Deputy Chief Magistrate Patrick Street, this item employs the prevailing French standard for marking silver, a GP under a crown, the Provisional warranty mark used during the restoration period.

Taken to be the Gospel in paint, Russian Icon painting are considered as expressions of Orthodox Christianity. With some even believed to miraculously “appear” as gifts from above, they are constructed to relate scripture visually rather than through the use of words. The subject matter of these paintings is a subtle blend of deep faith and the affairs of the everyday. Predominately painted on wood, many Icons are unsigned and not attributed to a particular artist or artists.

Philips Auctions are delighted to present twelve fine representative examples of this seldom offered historic art form; imbued with grace, spirituality and beauty.

Zosima and Savvatiy have been recognised by the Russian Orthodox Church as saints since 1547. Depicted in tempera colours on a timber panel, with full length figures of the saints flanking the Solovetsy Monastery which they founded in the mid-15th century in the White Sea. ‘Mother of God of the Sign’ appears in clouds above; with descriptive Cyrillic script in the Church Slavonic language.

Rosemary Eleanor Hug was a refined and extremely well presented woman who had a keen eye for beautiful objects. The Hug collection features a diverse range of eminent collectables ranging from exquisite decorative arts to substantial items of grand furniture.

Created largely from an intriguing tale of loss and stoicism, the collection had its beginnings in the sad story of Rosemary’s loss of husband and son within the space of a year, leading to her desire to surround herself with the consoling precious possessions she filled her home with.