House of Huia is a new auction house nestled in the heart of Christchurch, New Zealand. In just five months since opening, they have nurtured a devoted following across the motu, offering specialised weekly auctions across a range of areas.

 

This week, they are thrilled to present their first Fine Art Auction covering 50 unique lots across mediums, epochs, and styles. The catalogue features New Zealand artists Ralph Hotere, Darren George, Euan Macleod, Paul Dibble, Ann Robinson, Rudolph Gopas and many more. View the full range of artworks here.

 

Perhaps the most quintessentially Christchurch work is a watercolour by Sir Miles Warren. His work with Warren and Mahoney has defined architecture across New Zealand’s skylines in the latter half of the 20th century. He was a noted watercolourist who never sold his works, instead preferring to gift them to friends, family and clients. House of Huia believes this is the first time one has been offered for public auction.

 

When asked about his highlights in the upcoming sale, House of Huia founder William Muir pointed to a Patti Mayor portrait and a geometric sculptural figure by Paul Dibble.

 

“Patti Mayor, really fascinates me. I did a deep dive on her when we consigned the work, reading different biographies and looking at various retrospectives on her practice. She has art in museums around the world but, in line with her wishes, her works were mostly distributed to museums in her native Lancashire. She was a suffragette in her day; she painted working class women in the north of England which was incredibly unusual at the time. She once marched down the street holding her painting of Annie Miller, a 12-year-old tenter at Horrockses Mill in Preston, emblazoned with the slogan, ‘Preston lasses mun hev the vote’—Preston women too must have the vote. Offered for sale in our upcoming auction is Girl with a scarf, a unique opportunity to acquire one of her technically accomplished portrait paintings.”

 

Although this is the first time that House of Huia has offered a Fine Art Auction, Muir enthuses that it’s the specialised auctions which always make him feel most galvanised. “I’ve always loved a really specialised auction. We had a military auction earlier in the year; we’ve had a specialist wine sale. When I get enough people consigning items of a niche sub-interest, we’re able to bring care and attention to the objects in a unique way that makes it more enjoyable for buyers. I don’t want to look through a catalogue to find the one thing I am interested in. I want a catalogue that aligns with my interests and reveals new pieces to me. As an example, coins often get put into general auctions, but collectors will avidly look out for and follow any numismatic auction as a means to find particularly rare items in their niche.”

 

When asked what fuelled his passion to launch an auction house and curate a Fine Art Auction Muir said, “I envisioned a space where people could not only buy and sell their cherished art and possessions, but where the integrity of the work would be upheld. We invest time and care into gathering context, perspective and vibrancy, ensuring that each piece resonates with the viewer. Our printed catalogues act as living historical documents. They present more than just 50 artworks to be sold. We put the works together to create a story, to mirror a gallery space and capture the essence of each piece.”

 

In a world where art often exists in the periphery, House of Huia seeks to celebrate art in all its forms. More than a transaction, each auction invites visitors to be part of the exploration, to find their own stories woven within each piece, and to celebrate the vibrant intersections of life and art.

 

“The Huia symbolises a great, rare treasure,” Muir says. “The waka huia is a great treasure box. At House of Huia, artworks and objects are respected and honoured. We see our role as guardians who help take care of our pieces until we find each one a new home.”