Seuffert casket NZ bound for $56,800

Christies sold the Seuffert casket to a NZ buyer.Photo / Supplied

New Zealand does not often attract attention in the big auction houses overseas, but this month Christies in London offered a real New Zealand treasure. Works by the celebrated Auckland master cabinet-maker Anton Seuffert come up fairly regularly at local auctions, but it is rare for them to be offered overseas.

So a large presentation marquetry casket by Seuffert, richly decorated in native New Zealand wood, was bound to attract attention. Made in 1885 for presentation to one Alfred Bell in recognition of his gift of 18 painted windows to Christ Church, Ellerslie, it sold in London for a whopping 25,000 ($56,800) - to a New Zealand buyer.

For those upset at missing out in London, Dunbar Sloane has two excellent Seuffert card tables at its New Zealand historical offering on Monday. Expect to pay from $25,000 up.

A curiosity among the collection is the blood-stained jersey worn by All Black captain Ron Elvidge, from Otago, when he scored the winning (and only try) in the third test against the 1950 Lions.

No blood bins or injury substitutions in those days - if your team was not to suffer from being a man short, you struggled back to the field. And Elvidge did, with broken ribs and collar-bone. For this prize piece of sporting history, the estimate is $5000 to $8000.

Neil Campbell, managing director of Webb's, continues his love affair with motorbikes this month with a further offering of 43 classic specimens. The sale will be at the Wellesley St bar/restaurant Deus ex Machina.

The International Art Centre and Art+Object have sales on the same night at the end of the month, with the Newton house offering nearly 140 contemporary and historical works, including excellent paintings by Michael Illingworth and Pat Hanly.

International Art's collection of some 200 lots includes five by Fatu Feu'u, the proceeds from which will assist his family's relief efforts in tsunami-stricken Samoa.

A highlight of Webb's last art auction for the year the following week is expected to be a Frances Hodgkins, The Farmer's Daughter. It is estimated to sell at from $300,000 to $400,000.

Art+Object's sale of some 60 works by Ralph Hotere, from a private Wellington collection, is still in legal limbo. The auction house suspended the sale after being served with an injunction, on the morning of the sale, in which the artist claimed ownership. Art+Object understands they were given to the vendor, a friend and colleague of Hotere, in 1968. A court hearing is set down for February 2.

Coming up

November 16-17-18: Dunbar Sloane: NZ historical, Peter Herbert collection, European furniture and rugs; modernist collection, silver, jewellery; Maori and Pacific artefacts.

November 25: Webb's (at Deus ex Machina): vintage and collectable motorcycles.

November 26: International Art Centre: contemporary, foreign and collectable art; Art+Object: important paintings and contemporary art.

November 29: Dunbar Sloane: militaria.

December 1-2-3: Webb's: important art; jewellery and watches; antiques and decorative arts.

December 6: Bethune's at Webb's: rare books.

December 10: Art+Object: objects of desire.