The greatest Great Plate sale so far - that's how the Northland Craft Trust is describing the annual fundraiser which this year raised more than $18,000.
But it wasn't a plate that raised the highest amount in the online auction - a "doodle" from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern titled The Political Cycle sold for $2000.
''Unbelievable,'' chairwoman Kate Smedley said when the online auction of 90 decorated plates ended this week.
The auction had generated more than $10,000 by early Saturday, with nearly three days still to run. By the auction's end $18,015 had been raised, for Whangārei's Quarry Arts Trust, well over last year's record of $7300.
"I'm not sure if there's any one thing that has boosted interest in the auction to this degree but we have had an amazing response from artists around the country - the standard of plates was exceptionally high,'' Smedley said.
''We've also had keen buyers from throughout the country, which has been amazing.''
The top selling plate, Diving Man, by Del Pryor, sold for $1000. The people's choice plate was Huia by Trish Clarke, which sold for $705.
"Having the Prime Minister contribute a piece has also generated interest, not just among those who want that piece but also among the media,'' Smedley said.
"This has been a big team effort but principal organiser Karen Irwin has done an amazing job."
Irwin said she was humbled by the number and talent of the contributing artists from all over New Zealand who created unique, mixed-media, highly collectable works.
''They have been variously sculpted, thrown, carved, painted, assembled, broken and reassembled, sometimes creating a finished product that has very little resemblance to a plate at all.''
Altogether 94 plates and donated artworks went under the electronic hammer in this seventh annual Great Plate event.
The funds raised will be used to develop the community ceramics precinct at the Quarry Arts Centre, improving the electric kiln facilities and possibly buying a gas kiln.
The plates will remain on display at the Yvonne Rust Gallery at the quarry until July 30.