Ship figurehead to be sold in London

The figurehead of a ship driven ashore at Oamaru in 1868 is expected to sell for up to $34,000 at auction in London next month.

A storm beached and smashed up the 632-tonne Star of Tasmania, but its painted pine figurehead was salvaged, a Sotheby's spokeswoman said.

It had turned up in the 1950s blocking a hole in a local farm hedge.

The figurehead would be an attraction at a marine auction on June 18.

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine