Tourism has long played an important role in New Zealand history. In the late 19th Century wealthy travellers from Great Britain, Australia and the United States visited New Zealand to admire its natural beauty with the first local guidebook being published in 1882. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 aided with the ease of access when travelling from the old world, along with a visit to NZ by Prince Alfred a year later. The wonders of the country were promoted such as Fiordland and the geothermal activity in Rotorua as well as Māori peoples and culture. The earliest record of annual international tourist numbers to New Zealand was 5,233 in 1903, with Australians and Britons made up over 80% of arrivals (Te Ara, 2010). Many of these tourists wished to return home with a souvenir from their travels and greenstone jewellery became a popular choice, many pieces of which can still be found in the United Kingdom today.
The Colonial Tourist Jewellery auction is on the 11th May 2023.
ALL FEATURED
Our Epsom Taonga sale set a new NZ auction record
Gerda Leenards - Deep In The Cove - Realised $12,000 including premium
8 Bronze Sculptures by Mansfield for Auction in February
Photographic Prints, Postcards and Other Antique Apparatus
exceptional results, Lamp base sold for $18,000 and the pendant for $21,900
Estimate: $10,000 - $15,000
Great Auction Results Achieved
Tene Waitere Pou acheived up to $12,000 Hammer Price
PRICES REALISED IN ARTICLE
A Few Highlights from the Upcoming Auction
Take a walk past our window displays down Featherston St
PRICE REALISED $136,000 HAMMER
PRICE REALISED $20,000 HAMMER - HMNZS Endeavour in the Pack Ice, Antartica - Peter McIntyre (1910-1995)
PRICE REALISED $30,000 HAMMER
