Goldie oil painting on sale for first time in 86 years

A portrait of one of renowned artist Charles Goldie's favourite subjects is expected to sell at auction for up to $120,000 in Auckland next week.

Goldie's oil on canvas 'Weary with Years' is of an old Maori woman called Kapi Kapi, and had been in a private collection in England for 86 years. The painting had never been offered for sale, said Richard Thomson, from the International Art Centre.

Goldie painted the woman, also known as Ahinata te Rangitautini, in 1918, possibly the year she died aged 102.

She was the sister of Haerehuka, the Arawa chief responsible for warfare between the Arawa and Waikato tribes in the 1830s.

She also survived the eruption of Mt Tarawera in 1886 which destroyed the Pink and White Terraces, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.

Mr Thomson said the sale on Tuesday was one of the largest of historic art works in New Zealand, many of which had been returned by their owners overseas to be sold in New Zealand.

Another work attracting interest was an 1898 watercolour by Christopher Aubrey of a Maori meeting house at Parawai, Thames.

It was expected to sell for up to $12,000. It was discovered in a Washington junk shop in 1991 when it was bought for $15. Another watercolour by Aubrey of the Eketahuna Hotel in 1891 was expected to fetch up to $26,000.

Several Ralph Hotere works were also in the sale after they were brought back from a private collection in France.

- NZPA