Dear Friends,

We are pleased to present to you the catalogue of our auction 179.

A three session auction, covering an especially extended set of art pieces of particular quality, rarity and antiquity, the first session being entirely dedicated to the furniture of a Portuguese 18th C. house, located in Lisbon.

From this house comes the 17th C. still-life with parrot and fruit basket which illustrates the cover (lot 186): an oil on canvas, of undisputed quality, from one of the most important 17th C.  Portuguese painting workshops – the one of Baltazar Gomes Figueira and his daughter Josefa de Ayala, the renowned Josefa de Óbidos.

From the same house, we draw your attention to an oil on wood, Our Lady of Milk, credited to the circle of Frei Carlos and dated 1510/1520 (lot 176).

As to painting with other origins, special highlight to a wide set of works of author, including the symbolic oil by José Malhoa "Blacks of St. George" (lot 559), in addition to works by Jean Pillement, Domingos Sequeira, Miguel Ângelo Lupi, João Vaz, Eduardo Viana, etc.

Several Cabinets, Bureaus, ivory sculptures and a remarkable Indo-Portuguese coverlets (lot 481) illustrate in a particularly eloquent way the originality, aesthetics and cultural richness of Lusíada Art: art pieces which were commissioned in the time of the Portuguese Discoveries from Africa to the Far East – a crossover between Portuguese art and culture and the art and culture, beliefs, traditions, styles and craftsmanship of India, Ceylon, China or Japan to name just a few countries with which we closely related to since the 16th century.

Other highlights:

• Chinese porcelain: a pair of 18th C. covered vases (lot 185);
• Silverware: a pair of 18th C. candelabra, D. José I (King of Portugal), (lot 243) and an English silver flatware for 18 (lot 1144);
• Jewellery: a gold ring set with a Colombian emerald with the approximate weight of 11 ct. (lot 1020);
• A set of table and long case clocks, particularly a rare French, Empire, musical table clock with pipe organ (lot 165).

Plus Portuguese and foreign furniture, sacred art, carpets, chandeliers, European porcelain, glass and crystals, books and engravings.

Finally, a brief reference to the most recent publication, available now, of our partner SCRIBE, "PORTUGUESE SENSE OF TASTE IN ART” coordinated by Ana Duarte Rodrigues.

Hoping to have the pleasure of welcoming you soon with our best regards,

Pedro-Maria de Alvim                  Miguel Cabral de Moncada