A very private art collection destined to break New Zealand auction records

By John Perry in Auckland, on 15-Jun-2016

An important collection of around two hundred 20th and 21st century New Zealand artworks and numerous ceramic items are to go under the hammer in Auckland over two days in early September

The very private collection of Tim and Sherrah Francis lovingly assembled over the last six decades is set to break a number of art auction records when it goes up for auction on the 7th and 8th of September through the rooms of Art and Object.

Tim and Sherrah Francis in front of the ambassador’s residence in Washington DC during their diplomatic posting, 1988 – 1992. An important collection of around two hundred 20th and 21st century New Zealand artworks and numerous ceramic items are to go under the hammer in Auckland in early September. The very private collection of Tim and Shearer Francis lovingly assembled over the last six decades is set to break a number of records when it is sold on 7th and 8th of September through Art and Object.

This collection is significant in a myriad of ways, least of all that it has been carefully built up by a team of two of New Zealand's greatest ever cultural ambassadors.

As a former New Zealand representative to the United Nations from 1978 to 1982 and New Zealand Ambassador to the United States of America from 1988 to 1992, the husband and wife team of Tim and Sherrah Francis (who shared the same year of birth and death of 1928 - 2016), and did much to introduce contemporary New Zealand art and culture to as wider international audience as possible.

Like so many others, their art collecting had very humble beginnings with the purchase of a small landscape painting by Dennis K. Turner in the mid 1950's. Their collection continued to grow and grow from then on, with their primary focus being on ''fresh art''. Their last purchase was a soft felt sculptural work by Peter Robinson They have collected what many are saying is a very unique assemblage of Contemporary New Zealand art works and an important ceramic collection focusing on amongst other things, the humble beginnings of the studio and art pottery movement in New Zealand.

The collection has many stand out features that will equal if not excel the now legendary and record breaking Les and Milly Paris Collection that Art and Object brought to market in 2012

The fine art component of the collection includes an almost complete A to Z of New Zealand painting with everybody from (Rita) Angus to (Adele) Younghusband represented by major works with the pre-sale estimates for Day 1 of the sale set between $3.5 million and $5.0 million.

Day 2 features a comprehensive catalogue of the keystone potters and potteries that contributed to the founding of our own unique ceramic culture.and heritage along with a fine collection of Oriental ceramics established while on a diplomatic post in Singapore

This impressive two day sale of New Zealand's finest art and cultural diplomacy is sure to see many auction records tumble and a host of new benchmarks established.

The team at Art and Object have pulled out all the stops and are producing a comprehensive and handsome catalogue to accompany the sale in early September that will without doubt become an important collectors item and a wonder filled resource for those yet to come. This will indeed be a major landmark auction event in this neck of the woods for a long, long time.

About The Author

John Perry is known locally as a collector / consultant / curator/ educator and artist and is a former director of the Rotorua Museum of Art and History. For the last 20 years has worked as an antique dealer specializing in ''man made and natural curiosities'' from an old art deco cinema on the outskirts of Auckland. Over the last 16 years he has developed a multi million dollar collection of 19th and 20th century artworks for the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust. He recently donated 120 artworks from his collection in various media to the East Southland Art Gallery in Gore. A committed ''art o holic'' he continues to develop collections of New Zealand and International fine art / folk art / ceramics and photography for future usage in a private/public ARTMUSEEUM of NEWSEELAND, not to be confused with Te Papa Museum of New Zealand.

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