Murray McKearney. Photo / Supplied
Antique dealers from throughout Australia and New Zealand are flooding into Hawkes Bay for a rare event.
Starting tomorrow and running for two days, Christopher McKearney will be auctioning more than 800 antiques from his father's estate.
Murray McKearney died in January, aged 80, after a long career
dealing in fine arts and antiques at his auction house and, later, retail store in Karamu Rd, Hastings.
This week's auction is Christopher's tribute to his father - a sharp auctioneer, passionate sports lover and Hawkes Bay identity.
Christopher, an antiques dealer who lives in Melbourne, said:
"In talking to some people from Wellington the other day, they said to get the quantity and quality we have here they would have to go to seven or eight auctions.
"That's a fair indication of what's there. People haven't seen an auction of this quality or magnitude for some time."
Murray McKearney made annual trips to Britain up to a couple of years ago in search of antiques, and the auction will feature the things he brought back.
Oak furniture, glassware, sport memorabilia, art, silver and porcelain will be auctioned - and everything must go, Christopher said.
He said there was furniture to suit almost every taste and there would be no reserves.
When it came to favourite pieces, Christopher said they were all much treasured by his father.
"Towards the end he was reluctant to sell anything; they were all his old friends. He was very fond of everything in the place, it was somewhere he felt good and comfortable in his latter years."
A coffer and a monk's chest, dating from 1580 and 1585 respectively, did stand out, though.
Despite bigger markets for antiques in Auckland or Wellington, there was no question of moving the auction - the Bay was the only place for it.
"The stories are flooding back in from people in their 30s and 40s who used to come in with their parents, and still have the piece they bought in the family.
"There's a lot of history for people in Hawkes Bay, and we needed to keep it here to give something back."
And it's not too far to travel for bargain hunting dealers.
"They can't help themselves," Christopher said.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
