Captain’s $1/2M art to be auctioned

Press, 24 September 1983, Page 30

Captain’s $1/2M art to be auctioned

PA Auckland Drawings and paintings by Commander Richard Aidworth Oliver while he captained H.M.S. Fly on the New Zealand coast 132 years ago will be auctioned. The collection has adorned the walk of London’s New Zealand House for 2& years and has been marked by the Alexander Turnbull Library for inclusion in the nation’s sesquicentennial (150th anniversary) celebrations in 1990. The Chief Librarian, Mr Jim Traue, said from Wellington yesterday that the library had contracted to buy the entire Oliver collection of 116 drawings and water-coiours.

But the collection, the last major set of works still intact and privately owned, has been broken up and Mr Traue will join the bidding when an Auckland auctioneer, Mr Brian Groshinski, puts 21 under the hammer later this month.

“They are an important record of New Zealand in a Sjriod of transition,” Mr roshinski said.

Commander Oliver sailed in New Zealand waters from 1848 to 1851, constantly painting Maoris and landscapes. Of the 116 works, about 50 are paintings and the rest line drawings and sketches. They were exhibited in New Zealand in the early 1950 s and, after restoration by the Turnbull Library, Spaced in New Zealand ouse.

Mr Traue said the New Zealand Government paid insurance premiums on the collection for 25 years. It was revalued six months ago at close to 5500,000, but the Government refused to pay the higher premiums. “The Turnbull Library then stepped in and drew up a legal agreement with the owner, Mr Charles Oliver, giving the library rights to buy the paintings if we paid the insurance,” Mr Traue said.

“We wanted the collection for New Zealand’s sesquicentenary in 1990. “Unfortunately, Mr Oliver died and the works passed to his daughter, who wanted 1 to sell immediately.” The Turnbull Library’s offer of $lOO,OOO was refused and the owner, Commander Oliver’s great-great-grand-

daughter, Mrs Madeline McClintock, of Sheffield, decided to auction 21 paintings. “I do not need the money,” Mrs McClintock said, “although they are of great worth.

“The works have not been seen by the public for some time. They have been in hiding and that is a shame. “I was torn between keeping the collection together and letting it go so that more people could enjoy it,” she said.'

“I am giving the public an opportunity to purchase them.”