In the 18th century, high quality novelty clocks made in London proved very popular in the upper echelons of Chinese society, especially the Qing court. At the end of the century, Chinese workshops began to make their own versions of these elaborate clocks, although, initially, they still relied on the import of English clock movements. The sale features a magnificent ormolu and enamel musical automaton "jardinière" table clock whose case was probably made by Chinese workshops at Guangzhou and the movement was signed by the London clockmaker, Robert Philp, circa 1785 (est. £400,000-600,000/ €520,000-780,000 / $585,000-880,000).

Exceptional English, Italian, German and French Furniture
Highlights also include exceptional English, German, Italian and French furniture in the sale. The taste for lacquer was imported into Europe by the Portuguese in the late 16th century. It burgeoned following the Embassy of the King of Siam’s mission to the court of Louis XIV at Versailles in 1686. The sale will present a superb and unusual pair of gilt-bronze mounted ebony commodes incorporating precious takamakie Japanese lacquer panels, attributed to Etienne Levasseur, late 18th century (est. £250,000-400,000/ €325,000-520,000 / $366,000- 585,000, above).

Never seen on the market before, a George II Carved Mahogany Secrétaire Cabinet has remained in the family of Francis Seymour-Conway, 1st Marquess of Hertford (1718- 1794) ever since it was made for Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, circa 1755. Straddling the divide between the heavy architectural style of Palladianism and the lighter Rococo style, this bookcase cabinet is a wonderful example of Vile and Cobb furniture recognisable through its references to the popular styles of the time (est. £180,000-250,000/ €234,000-325,000 / $263,000-366,000).

Boasting exceptional provenance is a highly sculptural rococo silvered armchair, circa 1744-46 which was most likely commissioned by King Frederick the Great (1712-1786) as part of his ambitious project to revitalise Prussia’s architecture and interior decoration, which started in 1740 (est. £80,000- 120,