Salcedo Auctions gathers extraordinary pieces for the discerning

Insider Spotlight

• Salcedo Auctions’ September edition of The Well-Appointed Life gathers coveted Philippine art, antiques, jewelry and historical objects
• Five Fernando Amorsolo paintings anchor a selection spanning the National Artist’s celebrated Golden Period and early post-war years
• A first-edition Noli Me Tangere, rare 19th-century objects and an heirloom diamond tiara extend the sale beyond fine art
  
  
  
  

Some objects are collected for beauty. Others for provenance, rarity or history. At Salcedo Auctions’ September edition of The Well-Appointed Life, those qualities converge in a selection designed for collectors who seek pieces decidedly out of the ordinary.

Set for Sept. 12, the sale brings together Philippine fine art, antiques, ecclesiastical objects, furniture, jewellery, rare books and historical artifacts, creating a catalogue in which desirability comes as much from cultural significance as aesthetic distinction.

Why it matters

At its center are five works by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, including The Fruit Vendor, Under the Mango Tree and Sabungero from the 1930s, and Planting Rice and Tinikling Dance from the 1940s. Collectively, they span coveted periods in the artist’s career and offer collectors a concentrated encounter with his luminous vision of Philippine life.

The modernist selection is equally compelling. Works by National Artists César Legaspi, Hernando R. Ocampo, José Joya and BenCab appear alongside pieces by Oscar Zalameda, Solomon Saprid and Mauro Malang Santos. Contemporary names include Jose John Santos III, Elmer Borlongan, Ling Quisumbing and Leslie de Chavez.

Why it matters

At its center are five works by National Artist Fernando Amorsolo, including The Fruit Vendor, Under the Mango Tree and Sabungero from the 1930s, and Planting Rice and Tinikling Dance from the 1940s. Collectively, they span coveted periods in the artist’s career and offer collectors a concentrated encounter with his luminous vision of Philippine life.

The modernist selection is equally compelling. Works by National Artists César Legaspi, Hernando R. Ocampo, José Joya and BenCab appear alongside pieces by Oscar Zalameda, Solomon Saprid and Mauro Malang Santos. Contemporary names include Jose John Santos III, Elmer Borlongan, Ling Quisumbing and Leslie de Chavez.

Beyond the canvas

For collectors drawn to objects with extraordinary histories, the catalogue reaches deeper. A first edition of Dr. Jose Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere appears alongside two rare 1896 paintings by José Taviel de Andrade, Rizal’s Spanish military escort and friend, and a drawing by Félix Resurrección Hidalgo.

Centuries-old devotional pieces provide another expression of rarity, including a 19th-century Virgen del Carmen from Bohol and an 18th-century Corpus Christi from Parián, Manila, reflecting distinctive Sino-Philippine carving traditions.

Objects of desire

The proposition ultimately extends beyond art collecting. An exquisite 19th-century Baliuag-Hepplewhite altar table and an heirloom diamond tiara set in white gold underscore the catalogue’s appeal to those looking for pieces that combine craftsmanship, provenance and presence.

Presented in association with Asia Society Philippines, The Well-Appointed Life offers something increasingly coveted by discerning collectors: objects whose desirability lies not merely in possessing them, but in the exceptional stories they carry.

The Well-Appointed Life sale is on Saturday, Sept. 12,  2026 at NEX Tower, 6786 Ayala Ave, Makati City with the Morning Sale starting at 10 a.m., followed by the Afternoon Sale at 2 p.m. Preview starts on Sept. 3, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. daily except Monday, through Sept.12.  —Ramon C. Nocon | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma

For inquiries email info@salcedoauctions.com or call +63 917 894 6550. Follow @salcedoauctions on Instagram and Facebook for updates.