The first day's auction of M. R. de Malherbe's magnificent tion took ace at the French Municipal Hall on nesday under the hammer of Mr. Geo. W. Noel. Owing to the fee of 81 being charged for the extalogue, fow but yond fede purchasers were present.
At the commencement bid was weak but Many objets d'art of Chinese brass work of the 17th and 18th centuries were disposed of. Amongst these wo'may mention Lot 60, @ large incense-burner which fetched 'Tls. 51. Lot 114, pair of cylindrical vases with relict decoration brought Tis, 99. Thre cense burners, namely Lots 118, 165, and 192 brought Tis, 120, Tls. 77, and Tls. 101, respectively. Nine' pieces composing a mantle-piece set and marked Lots 242-8 had a reserve price of Tls. 350 and were knocked down at that figure. The 249th article was a large potice-shaped vase, a very fine and rare specimen, and realised Tis, 210, namely Tls. 10 above the upset price.—Despite the inclemency of the weather lovers of things Chinese" mustered at the French Municipal Hall on Wednesday to bid for the coveted treasures in M. R. de Malherbe's unique and valuable collection, A goodly nunibor of Chinese art dealers' were also assembled and the attendance was nearly double that of the previous day. 306 lots were disposed of. The auctioneer, Mr. Geo. W. Nowl, began with the remainder of the bronzes and bidding was weak, The gilt bronzes of the 17th and 18th centuries were knocked down at ridiculously low prices, and the bronzes with gold speckles, and those with gilt decoration relief of the same periods, fared little better; whilst the bronzes of the Ming and anterior dynasties fetched very good prices. Following these came the bronzes of the Ming dynasty with inlaid silver and gold for which bidding was also poor. Of the Principal sales of the day stand Lot 45 quadrangular vase of the Sung dynasty which was sold for Tis, 66, or Tls. 26 more thamits reserve figure. Lot 460—a vase on which a reserve of Tls. 50. had been set, was sold for that sum. The large enamelled cloisonne quadrangular vase of the Ming dynasty (lot 486) with a r-serve of Tls. 500 also went at par. Of the blue and white porcelains, Lot 499—a larve beaker of the Kang Hi period, realised but Tls. 10, being less than a third of its value. A pair of ginger jars (Kang Hi) of the husthorn pattern fetched Tls. 60. Lot 504—a straight beaker (Kang Hi) slightly chipped, on which the upset price of Tls. 80 was put, brought Tls. 100; and another beaker of the same reign (lot 506) was sold at its reserve figure, namely 200, A large rice bowl (lot 514) with modern silver mounting was refused at Ts. 70. The following lots were also refused, namely, 519—4 plates (Kang Hi), nett paste; 521~a pair of potiches (Kang Hi) hawthorn pattern; 523, 524—beakers; and 526—n cylindrical vase (Kang Hi) at the reserve figures of Tle. 100, 1 and Tls. 125 respectively. A' cylindrical vase (Rang Hi) realised Tls. 115, being Tis,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.