An auction of Fine Furniture and Decorative Arts together with important Australian Historical Objects, will be conducted on Tuesday 20 May at 6pm, in Sydney.
The sale, which includes a very important Vietnam War Victoria Cross medal group awarded to Major Peter Badcoe, will be conducted in the Double Bay rooms in Sydney.
The widow of the “Galloping Major” Peter Badcoe, VC has also consigned an extraordinary collection of archival material including 37 personal letters from her late husband containing an unprecedented insight into life at the front during the height of the Vietnam War. Most of the letters will be available at the viewing preceding the auction however the family has asked that a small group of sensitive letters be withheld from the public and only handed over to the eventual buyer.
An Australian Museum once contacted the family in an attempt to secure the archival material for the national collection.
Major Badcoe, VC was one of the most highly decorated soldiers in Australian history. The Badcoe Victoria Cross was only one of four awarded to Australians fighting in the Vietnam War and is the last one still held in private ownership as the others are now all in the possession of museums.
Notable auction highlights include:
Lot 24 – the Burke & Wills/King Medal in the form of a brass breastplate which was presented to members of the Yandruwandha People of Coopers Creek, 1861 for Courage and Humanitarianism. It is expected to fetch between $180,000 and 250,000.
Lot 76 – A fine 19th century gilt bronze and Baccarat crystal chandelier in the Rococo design. It is expected to fetch between $70,000 and $100,000.
Lot 79 – A fine pair of Louis XV style gilt bronze Rococ wall apliques in the manner of Jacques Caffieri, circa 1840 with estimates of $8,000 to $12,000.
Lot 103 – A fine 19th Century Italian micro mosaic rounded in a gilded wooden frame with estimates of $20,000 to $25,000.
Lot 104 – A bronze and ivory figure of Radha by Paul Philippe with estimates of $25,000 to $30,000
Auction info www.bonhamsandgoodman.com.au
