The chair and desk used by the late Cardinal Jaime Sin in his many years as the powerful Archbishop of Manila holding office at Villa San Miguel will be bid out by leading auction house León Gallery at its new-year Leonexchange online public sale on Jan. 18 and 19.
Coming a month before the 33rd anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution that was triggered by Sin’s celebrated Radio Veritas broadcast on Feb. 22, 1986, that called on Filipinos to mass at Edsa and protect the renegade forces of Juan Ponce Enrile and Fidel Ramos against then President Ferdinand Marcos, the auction of official furniture used by the influential prelate is a timely nod to history and heritage.
“So much took place on this set of furniture of one of the most colorful figures of our recent history,” said León owner Jaime Ponce de Leon.
Jun Alday
Also to be auctioned off are the Chinese antique and traditional paintings from the collection of noted Hong Kong-based Philippine interior designer Jun Alday.
Alday, himself a visual artist, started collecting in the 1970s Oriental works and antiques back when it was déclassé to own, much less to collect, them. He carved his distinct identity in interior designing by incorporating the Oriental artworks and antiques in his commissions, notably in the house of Adrian Zeccha, which was featured in the chief edition of Architectural Digest.
His work, which married Oriental opulence and his preferred modern aesthetics, became the toast of the design world. Alday was chosen to do the interiors of Zeccha’s Aman Hotels & Resorts. In addition, his work for A.D. Piu Bella Casa della Mondo was featured in the Italian edition of Architectural Digest.
Ponce de Leon said part of the proceeds from the auction would go to San Beda College, where Alday’s high school batch had just celebrated its golden jubilee.
Notable chinoiserie up for auction would include Quian Hu’an’s “Ladies Under the Peach Blossoms” dated 1881, and Lu Zhi’s “Sparrow on Plum Blossoms,” which was finished in 1571.
Similarly, Anton Roxas’ grand collection of furniture and objets d’art from his house designed by Mario Buatta in an exclusive enclave of Manila would be auctioned off, particularly exquisite sofas, chairs, ottomans, tea tables and even curtains.
More furniture, objets d’art
Other antique furniture and objets d’art from unassailable provenance will be auctioned off, such as Chinese coromandels, celadon planters, a European chest of drawers, a finely carved four-poster bed, an Empire-style double aparador, a Laguna comoda, a pair of Brentwood chairs and a marble-top table and a Hagabi bench.
“There is something for all art collectors and enthusiasts as well as for those who simply want to live with beautiful and stylish things,” said Ponce de Leon.
Auction preview is on Jan. 14 at León Gallery in Warehouse 14 La Fuerza Plaza, 2241 Chino Roces Ave. Makati City. Online auction is on Jan. 18 and 19. Visit www.leonexchange.com.
