Single Owner Collections

Webb’s successfully leads the market in single-owner collections

Discover a curated selection of art and artefacts in our Single-Owner Collection auctions. Dive into the distinct world of a singular collector, where a discerning individual's treasures take center stage. Each auction telling a story of refined taste and unique narratives.

Single-Owner Collections

At Webb’s our Single Owner Collections cover a range of categories including Fine New Zealand Art, Asian Art, Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia, Decorative Arts, Fine Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories. Our experience, expertise and success in this field is unrivalled. 

Our most recent single-owner auction was the Peter Downey Collection. Peter Downey is one of New Zealand’s most respected authorities in decorative arts, antiques, and jewellery. With over half a century of experience, starting in antique shops as boy, he went on to help establish Webb’s auction house in the 1970s and afterwards worked with Michael Hill for nearly two decades, establishing their antique jewellery division. As you would expect, his personal collection is brimming with wonders, including ancient fossils, Cloisonné pottery, historic weapons, Victorian silverware, and Art Deco bronzes.

Webb’s auctioned the phenomenal art collection of Warwick & Kitty Brown over two evenings, 17 and 18 May 2017. With spirited bidding on both nights and an exceptional overall sell-through rate of 141% by value, total sales were in excess of $3 million. Many lots achieved 200% of their estimates, with buyers placing a value on provenance and wanting to own a piece of New Zealand art history. 

The auction of The Roy Savage Collection of Classic Cars held in Paraparaumu on 4 December 2016 achieved nearly NZ$1.5 million and resulted in 138% sold by value proving Webb’s specialty in the sale of single-owner collections. Other single-owner collections held in 2016 included The Sierd Bouma Collection, The Collection of Michael Woolf and A Private Collection of Fine Furniture & Decorative Arts. 

Caolán McAleer
Head of Collectors’ Cars and Single Owner Collections

Bank of New Zealand Art Collection

The Webb’s-led auctions of the ‘Bank of New Zealand Art Collection’ represented a seismic change in Aotearoa’s secondary art market. This three part sale accomplished more than $15.3 million, making it the highest value single vendor art collection ever sold at auction in New Zealand. It ushered the highest and second highest prices paid at auction for single artworks in New Zealand (for pieces by Colin McCahon and Tony Fomison respectively) while all-time price records were set for more than 14 artists. According to Chairman of BNZ, Doug McKay: “Given the significance of our collection, we required a partner that we could have absolute trust in, and as one of New Zealand’s most respected auction houses, Webb’s was a natural fit.”

Caolán McAleer
Head of Collectors’ Cars and Single Owner Collections

Caolán McAleer

Head of Single Owner Collections


  • Caolán McAleer has been with Webb’s for eight years. He cut his teeth at auction houses in the UK and Ireland, before bringing his strong European knowledge to Webb’s and New Zealand.

    Caolán has overseen many of Webb’s most successful Collectors’ Cars auctions, and his leadership has taken the department to new heights. His expertise in creative marketing and his dedication to client services ensure that vehicles consigned with Webb’s achieve the best possible results.