Finding Cash in the Garage
The Estate Department at Webb’s Turns Unearthed Treasures Into Unexpected Windfalls
At first glance the contents of the box didn’t seem too exciting: a set of children’s architectural wooden blocks from around the 1960s. Webb’s Decorative Arts Administer Karen Dunsmore thought they might see some interest from a niche collector — maybe a parent or someone in the architecture field— but didn’t expect too much fanfare for a vintage learning tool. That was until she received an email:
“It was from the family who originally owned the blocks! They recognised the distinctive box instantly as a set that had inadvertently been sent to an op-shop during a clear- out a few years earlier. They couldn’t believe it. The blocks held deep sentimental value for the family and they were willing to bid a healthy amount to get them back — which they did.”
The serendipitous blocks are just one example of the many surprise treasures that find their way to The Estate: Webb’s menagerie of design, vintage, and all things generally interesting. The fortnightly online sales have developed a cult following for their offering of quality mid-century furniture, antiques, glass, ceramics and art, however, as the above story illustrates, it’s often the most unexpected and unassuming items that garner the most joy — and the most money.
As Karen explains:
“The items that come to us don’t always come from ardent collectors. Frequently they are pieces that were inherited, picked up randomly at the Sallies, or that had been boxed up in the attic of the family home for decades. Vendors of these items often have little idea of their worth and end up being pleasantly surprised by the auction result.”
A very recent example of this was a medal that appeared in The Estate last month.
More specifically, A Most Eminent Order Of The Indian Empire, K.C.I.E., Knight Commander, awarded by Queen Victoria sometime in the late 19th century.
The Estate specialist team knew the history of the medal, and that there was fair market demand for such examples, thus they set the estimate at a healthy $2,000–$3,000. To the delight of both Webb’s and the vendor, the medal blew this estimate out of the water to realise a final price of $7,170.
With The Estate having built up a roster of eager and regular clients, the team always welcomes fresh pieces to ignite buyers’ curiosity and love of the hunt.
Karen encourages potential vendors to take a second look at those old chairs at the bach, the box of vintage books in the garage, or the glassware that hasn’t been taken out of the cupboard since the ‘80s — you just never know if you’re sitting on something special.
View all articles & videos here