Art collectors and antique aficionados are in for a veritable feast on Sunday at Haywards Auctions in Wanganui.
Original paintings, Victoriana, china, porcelain and exquisite furniture are ready to go under the hammer.
This sumptuous collection has all been gleaned from Wanganui estates where the elderly owners have had to go into care.
Auction house owner Brian Hayward said he was called in by the families of the elderly relatives, who did not live in Wanganui.
"I think it's great they called in a local auction market, because it means some of the wonderful memorabilia will stay here."
Mr Hayward admitted that what was on offer was exciting for those buyers into antiques, artworks and odd things like stone hot water bottles, carved wooden
deed boxes and brass Victorian coal scuttles.
One of the estates lots had come from a house at Castlecliff, circa 1919. The family, in Wellington, had instructed Mr Hayward to go in and "empty it".
"It was just amazing, because the house was exactly as it had been for 80 years - nothing had changed," he said.
There were silk top hats, made by appointment, still in their original hat boxes, deed boxes and chests, china, original art works and glorious Victorian furniture.
He even found a rotting old wooden frame in the garage with three small original oil paintings of South Island lakes in it.
"Maybe there's a treat in store for whoever buys it - I haven't had time to take it apart and check it out."
A few pieces of jewellery worth hundreds of dollars was on offer including a triple strand of pearls with a large oval front fastener set with a garnet surrounded by white sapphires and worth at least $1000.
Several lots were worth well over the $1000 mark including a huge, intricate china Victoriana centrepiece and a European Amphora figurine of a shepherd in mint
condition.
The unusual and odd-ball included a carved Maori chess set, a second edition of the famous British Mrs Beaton's Cook Book and a bronze change tray used in London in
the 18th century.
Original art works being auctioned included a large untitled G.E. Pruden (19th century New Zealand painter) oil of a bush and river scene, a 1967 J.M. Paul graphite
work titled The Cellists and a Roy Sefton oil painting of Manawatu farmland.
There was also a small water colour of 18th century Wanganui looking over to Wanganui East, artist unknown. From intricately carved and moulded furniture to a delicate Noritake tea-set, there's a busy Sunday afternoon on offer at the auction.
Time capsule goes under hammer
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