Don Milne: From a flying Tiger Moth to a piece of Hone Heke's flagpole

Twelve McCahons, two early Goldies, a piece of Hone Heke's flagpole and a couple of aircraft - auction-goers are faced with incredible variety over the next fortnight.

Webb's kicks off the offering with a sale of just over 100 "important works of art" on Monday night, including five each by Colin McCahon, Ralph Hotere and Nigel Brown.

International Art Centre comes next, on Tuesday, with 140 lots labelled "important, early and rare", while Art+Object comes in on Thursday with just under 50 lots of "important paintings and sculpture". As well as five McCahons, the last sale includes four works each by Bill Hammond and Paul Dibble.

In the following week, Dunbar Sloane has three nights of sales, including New Zealand historical lots, Maori and Pacific artefacts and affordable art.

Hard to know where to look, with so much on offer. For instance, no fewer than three of McCahon's iconic waterfall paintings will be presented at Webb's (estimate $40,000-$60,000), Art+Object ($250,000-$350,000) and Dunbar Sloane ($50,000-$70,000).

Kicking off the Art+Object sale are two works by New Zealand's representatives at this year's Venice Biennale, Francis Upritchard and Judy Millar. Proceeds will go to support the artists' projects in Venice.

At International Art, a strong work by under-rated Edward Bullmore takes the eye, while two early Goldie portraits could attract strong interest, even though not depicting Maori subjects.

Outside the art, there are some interesting objects on offer. Dunbar Sloane, for instance, has two aircraft: a very rare 1929 Simmonds Spartan three-seater ($250,000-$350,000) and a 1944 Tiger Moth (($160,000-$180,000), both in flying order.

Good contacts in England have allowed Dunbar senior to repatriate 22 lots collected by the 5th Earl of Ranfurly (he of the Ranfurly Shield) during his term as Governor-General from 1897 to 1904. Most notable is a piece of one of the wooden flagstaffs cut down at Russell by Hone Heke in 1845 ($20,000-$30,000).

Fascinating to most of us, but even more to the auction house. Dunbar senior's great-great grandmother was Mary Robinson, born in Mechanics Bay in 1835 and believed to be the second or third white child born in this country. In 1853 she married one Dunbar Sloane, newly arrived from Scotland, to start the dynasty.

And what was the Robinson family business? Her parents ran the timber mill in Vulcan Lane, where the original flagpole for Russell (Kororareka in those days) was made. Now that's a family connection...

Coming up:

Monday night: Webb's, important art.
Tuesday: International Art Centre, important, early and rare art; Webb's, jewellery and watches.
Wednesday: Webb's, antiques and decorative arts.
Thursday: Art+Object, important paintings and sculpture.
April 6: Dunbar Sloane, aircraft, artefacts, NZ historical.
April 7: Dunbar Sloane, affordable art, collectibles.
April 8: Dunbar Sloane, jewellery, militaria.
April 19: Webb's, Vinka Lucas fashion archive collection.
April 21: Cordy's, antiques.
May 2-3: Art+Object, Jim Drummond collection.
May 4-5: Cordy's, art and pottery.