Collector's Heaven
28/04/2010 2:55:00 p.m.
Simon Manchester has more than 12,000 pieces of art
IT’S not surprising Simon Manchester finds most people’s homes “utilitarian and boring”.
His central city apartment is full of art – more than 12,000 pieces, he says, from the 20th century, although a few religious artefacts are from the 19th.
He points out a 300 year old human skull, a large book collection, street art posters (by Misery and Simon Morse), Len Castle and Et Al pottery, a Marcus King painting and an Yvonne Todd image that took him a year to pay off.
“It’s full of stuff I like to look at and live with,” he says.
Manchester has been collecting for 25 years. He finds treasures at auctions, garage sales and second hand sales, and revels in the history that surrounds him.
Holding a Len Castle ceramic bowl he explains: “This was given by Len Castle to Barry Brickell in 1960 and a few years later he caught Brickell using it to mix slip in. Castle was so offended he took it back from Brickell and 35 years later gave it to me.”
Manchester also owns one of only two Castle pieces that the artist signed “Chateau” instead of his name.
For an obsessive collector who finds it hard to throw things away, Manchester is doing pretty well. He recently cleared a garage full of artefacts, and got rid of four van loads.
“I’m quite obsessive but not compulsive.”
There is an order to his apartment, and though full it is neat and doesn’t seem cluttered.
Primarily a ceramics collector, Manchester is one of three experts who will be assessing objects brought to the Museum of Wellington City and Sea for their second Curiosity Roadshow this week.
Like the English TV show Antique’s Roadshow, the Museum’s version allows the public to bring along their own curios and artefacts to be appraised.
The Museum sees the programme as an important link to Wellington’s past, and members of the public are encouraged to donate any items they feel may be of significance to Wellington’s history.
”Primarily it’s fun,” says Manchester. “It’s like a big show and tell. And in terms of the Museum, it’s a good way of connecting with people.”
“People are beguiled by worth and would love to be told their object is worth $100,000. But that is unlikely to happen. I have been to auctions where paintings have sold for up to a million dollars but that is not the arena I [usually] operate in. The sorts of thing I value are pieces that sell for up to $50,000.”
Curiosity Roadshow, Museum of Wellington City and Sea, May 1. 1pm-2pm: Expert appraisal of curios and collectables. 2.30pm: Big Yellow Caravan in concert. 12pm-4pm: Veteran and classic vehicle display.
