Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Fritz Karch & His Office


Since 1992, Mr Fritz Karch has been the Editorial Director for Collecting with the Martha Stewart Empire. Here is an image of the man (with impeccable and unique style) and an image of his office, which is an inspiration in itself. In his job with Martha "He chooses topics that educate and delight. He then arranges objects related to the topics and captures their quirky and beautiful personalities in photos. Collecting is about "reusing and recycling," Fritz says. "There's so much wonderful stuff in the world." In addition to being a lifelong collector (or, as he says, "hunter and gatherer"), Fritz is a dealer specializing in twentieth-century dinnerware, among many other things. His preference, he jokes, goes toward four categories: broken, large, heavy, and useless." (Martha Stewart website). See other Martha Stewart staff member's offices here.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Willow Pattern Still Hot After 219 Years...







The tragic love story depicted in the Willow pattern first appeared in 1790, designed by Josiah Spode. It reflected the fashion for anything Chinese at the time. The blue and white china is still produced today and stocked in Briscoes all over the land. Recently I have seen it in two unlikely places which makes me wonder if it is cool again; NZ Fashion Week at Adrian Hailwood's A/W 10 show and in a Summer Accessories Must Have List in The Age. (Bag by Nancybird.) They look pretty cool to me.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Selling the Silver to Keep The Castle


The18th Earl of Devon, is selling some family antiques to pay for the upkeep of Powderham Castle. Upkeep is a major operation on such a property and many families become unstuck when the costs become too high. Some open their homes to the public, some have to find inventive ways to make some extra cash and some just have to sell them on. Read Times online article here. The sale takes place at Sotheby's in London tomorrow. Highlights include a family portrait by Joshua Reynolds and a George II Library Table. You can see the lots up for auction here.

More from the Detectorist's Hoard


Take a look at more images of the Anglo Saxon hoard here.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Artefact Collection Sells For $120,000

Update:
The Ryman collection of artefacts sold last night at Webb's for the high estimate of $120,000 after competition by two phone bidders. Canterbury Museum has confirmed the purchase. Previous story here.

A Detectorist Finds Treasure Trove



An unprecedented haul of "Kings Gold" from the Anglo Saxon era has been found in a field in England. Thought to date from the 7th Century and weighing in at 5kgs of gold and 2.5kgs of silver, it is thought to be worth around a million pounds. Read full article here.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

'Sleuth' - An Entertaining Read


Speaking of Rembrandts, I have just finished reading 'Sleuth' by Philip Mould (he recently gave the £1 million valuation on The Antiques Roadshow). I would recommend it for anyone interested in reading about his search for sleepers and get some insight into his knowledge and expertise. He recently found a Gainsborough landscape that could fetch him around £700,000 profit. Read story here. If you have a few spare thousands his website is here.

Record £25 million Expected For Rembrandt

This portrait of an unknown gentleman is predicted to exceed the world record price for a Rembrandt when it is auctioned in London in December, estimated by Christie's at up to £25m.



(Guardian Article here).

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Rediscovered Renaissance Artwork Up For Auction


A Renaissance artwork by Italian artist Mazzolino has been rediscovered after being left in a packing case for nearly 60 years.
The piece is set to go under the hammer on 1 October in Dorchester, almost 200 years since it was last sold for £20.

It is expected to fetch between £40,000 and £60,000.
(BBC article here).

"Santa is a valuable and treasured part of Auckland's history"




The Farmers 19 metre Santa will be back for his 49th year (the NZ Herald reports) after a survey found him good rather than evil. Some don't like his wink (or gammy eye) and beckoning finger, but nevertheless he will take up his place again on the Whitcoulls building on Queen Street, after a bit of restoration. I look forward to seeing him again. Looking at this old photograph I wonder what happened to his sleigh and reindeer?

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Actual Photograph of the Maritime Museum's Cannon



If you see this around somewhere contact the Maritime Museum!

Maori Artefact Collection Up For Auction









A collection of rare artefacts is to be sold by Webb's on Thursday. The Frances Ryman collection was formed from archaelogical work carried out in the 1960s at Matariki Point on the North side of Clarence River. Two pieces are of particular interest (illustrated); an extremely rare Rei Puta and an amulet of soapstone which may date to the 12th century. The collection is estimated at $80,000 to $120,000. Read the Dominion article here.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Friday, September 18, 2009

Maritime Museum's Cannon Stolen From Hobson Wharf

"The cannon that signals midday for Auckland’s Hobson Wharf has missed its first shot in a decade, following its theft from the NZ National Maritime Museum last night.The empty cannon mount was noticed first thing this morning by Maritime Museum security staff, and CEO Paul Evans is appealing to the would-be ‘pirates’ for its safe return." Press release 17th September. See website here. (Stolen cannon probably nothing like these American Civil War smoothbores)

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Hone Heke Flagpole Items Go Home

The controversial flagpole remnants up for auction by Dunbar Sloane earlier this year have been purchased by the Russell Museum. Read the insightful article by the museum on The Big Idea here. We look forward to seeing them on display soon.

Take Another Period Home Tour







This time in Staten Island, New York and of a late Victorian / Edwardian feel. Apartment Therapy Gallery here.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Toys Still Going Strong...

A German clockwork tinplate car valued at £400-600 made £38,000 at Tennants of Leyburn at their latest toy sale.

The toy was produced by Märklin from about 1909 until the First World War and several others are known in collections worldwide.

Specialist tin toy dealer David Pressland told ATG:“This is by far the best tin toy automobile to appear at auction in the UK since a Sotheby Belgravia sale in 1973.” Read full ATG article here.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Art Deco Home In Auckland

Here is a great authentic Art Deco house right here in Auckland. Read and browse the images from the NZ House & Garden article here.

The talented owners have a business (Heritage Design Group) that specialises in assisting in restoration projects and providing advice to heritage home owners. They are involved in the Auckland Art Deco Society. Click here for details - and meet some like minded individuals.

Monday, September 14, 2009

T Rex the Star Lot of Bonham's Natural History Sale

It isn't what you see in your everyday auction, but a 66-million year old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton dubbed 'Samson' will be for sale on October 3rd. One of the largest known specimens discovered will be offered by international auctioneers Bonhams & Butterfields during the company’s first Natural History auction to be held at The Venetian® in Las Vegas.


"This rare example from the Cretaceous period was excavated near Buffalo, South Dakota over 15 years ago. Originally prepared by scientists and technicians at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, “Samson’s” skull is considered to be one of the most complete Tyrannosaurus skulls in existence. The entire specimen contains approximately 170 bones, more than 50% of the total bone count of an entire skeleton. In life, “Samson” was equal in weight to “Sue,” the Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton which sold for $8.3-million in 1997". (Bonham's Press Release)

Natural History Sale










You can see the full sale catalogue online here.

If you can't fit the skeleton in your sitting room, you can purchase a few T Rex teeth on a stand ($7,500- $10,000 US) or perhaps a woolly mammoth tusk for $25,000 - $30,000 US?
The new 'natural history' sale category reflects a current desire for this type of object by decorators and collectors. Auctions have to supply what the market wants to stay in the game.
I assume the collection is being deaccessioned by a museum or university collection, this is an unfortunate consequence of the tight times we live in and seems to be a lot more prevalent in the international market place.




Friday, September 11, 2009

The Auckland Textile Fair


Get along to The Auckland Textile Fair on Sunday 13th September in the Tasman Room, at Alexandra Park Raceway. The stalls will be selling antique and vintage textiles, hats, handbags, costume jewellery, buttons and buckles. "This fair will be of great interest to anyone with a love of vintage textiles including collectors, museums, historians, fashion students and designers, costumers and creatives" (nzlive.com). Entry $5. 10am to 5pm.

Quilts Are Cool - First Museum Exhibition Planned by V&A in 2010

"The V&A will present its first ever exhibition of British quilts, with examples dating from 1700 to the present day - a unique opportunity to view the V&A's unseen quilt collection as well as key national loans. Earliest examples include a sumptuous silk and velvet bedcover, with an oral narrative that links it to King Charles II's visit to an Exeter manor house in the late 17th century. Recent examples will include works by leading artists such as Grayson Perry and Tracey Emin and commissions for the exhibition by a number of contemporary artists including Sue Stockwell and Caren Garfen." (V&A Press Release) Image: The V&A Deal cot quilt (1690-1720)



Read article from Times Online UK here.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

New Disney Gallery To Open in San Francisco

The Walt Disney Family Museum opens on October 1st in San Francisco. With displays of rare items (including this earliest known Mickey drawing) together with high tech multimedia exhibits, the museum will show the impact of Disney's creativity on the world.
You can also have a peek into the Disney Archives in a New York Times slideshow here.

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Hitler Watercolours Sell For £37,000

Three watercolours signed by 'A. Hitler' have sold for 42,000 euros (£37,000) in Germany.
They date from 1910 to 1911 when Germany's World War II dictator lived in Vienna as a struggling artist.
On the quality of work the auctioneer, Mr Weidler, said he felt the watercolours' were that of "village school art teacher who has learned how to draw".
He will donate his commission to a Jewish Museum. Read BBC article here.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Photographs of the Great Battersea

Here is a great photographic tour of the famous Battersea Power Station from the Guardian.

Saleroom Report




Read Don Milne's Saleroom Roundup from the past month from the New Zealand Herald.
(Images are recent highlights from Cordy's Antique Sale referred to in article)

Friday, September 4, 2009

Auckland Heritage Festival 2009 Booklet Out Now


Auckland City Council's Auckland Heritage Festival runs from 19th September to 4 October and "is a celebration of our city's heritage". This year there are over 100 events to attend, many of which are free. These include tours, lectures and exhibitions. The booklets are out now. You can download one or request one to be sent to you here.

New Purchase For the National Library

I always like to keep an eye on what our institutions are collecting, so it is always nice when they tell us. (Check Te Papa's annual Report to see what they bought last year).

This from the recent National Library digital newsletter.

"A spectacular Reidrubber tyre poster was also bought at auction for the Ephemera Collection.

“It’s of interest partly because it was designed by the New Zealand Railways Studios, a very important studio in New Zealand poster design,” said Barbara Lyon, Curator Ephemera at the Turnbull Library.

“It complements another in our collection, that shows only one tyre. As one of the auctioneers commented, with the three tyres in this poster, we now have a full car!” she said.

The painting and poster purchases will be photographed and available online through the National Library website shortly. They can also be viewed by appointment. Please email: atl@natlib.govt.nz "

Photo: Barbara Lyon with the Reidrubber poster.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Auckland Zoo Hunts For Vintage Photos

Auckland Zoo's dragon has been around since 1959. It is currently undergoing a restoration and on October 3rd it will be unveiled. The zoo is looking for any vintage photographs of its 50 year history you may have and these will be displayed during the event. I am sure I have one similar to the above in that pinky 70s hue. If you have any - see details here.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Looks Like...


A 2nd century AD Roman marble high carved head from a sarcophagus. Sold by Bonham's was affectionately known by its previous owner as 'Elvis'. Sold in October last year for £24,000 incl. BP.






Looks Like...


This Egyptian Limestone statue housed in the Field Museum in Chicago has become a popular attraction since the death of Michael Jackson.