Journal
Articles & Interviews
Here at Webb’s we are fortunate to come into contact with a myriad of objects that carry with them a rich legacy of narratives, histories, traditions, and bursts of genius (or pure luck!).
In the following articles and interviews, we talk with our specialists to discuss their expert knowledge, we also explore insights from artists, academics, and trend-setters to discover what cultural alchemy is behind the objects that come through our doors.
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Photo Essay: Jane Ussher
The formidable photographer Jane Ussher, MNZM went on assignment for Webb's Works of Art catalogue and captured these images at the Ōhinetahi House & Garden.
Colin McCahon—Essay by Peter Simpson
This significant McCahon work has drawn plenty of attention in the March 2026 Works of Art catalogue
Designer Feature: Tom Dixon
From punk rocker to global design star. We explore this seminal creative’s ideas and products ahead of his arrival in New Zealand as headline keynote speaker at Auckland Design Week 2026.
Catalogue Foreword—Important Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories
It is an absolute honour to present our March Important Jewels, Watches & Luxury Accessories auction, the first for 2026.
A Life in Wine: The Peter Taylor Cellar
Webb’s is honoured to present our latest Fine Wines & Whiskies Live Auction catalogue, including the personal collection of the late Peter Taylor
TOITŪ Visual Sovereignty – Fundraising Art Auction
Webb’s supports Māori art and artists on the worldwide stage
Introducing the Art Department's New Manager
Webb's is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Megan Shaw as the new manager of the art department.
Five Questions With: Lily McCowan
We speak to Webb’s recently appointed Specialist, Art Online.
Webb’s Celebrates 50 Years as New Zealand’s Leading Auction House
In 2026, Webb’s will celebrate its 50th anniversary as New Zealand’s premier auction house. To mark this milestone, we are curating a landmark exhibition that will reunite 50 of the most significant pieces ever sold through Webb’s — including artworks, jewellery, wine, cars, and decorative arts.
A limited edition opportunity- The Colin McCahon Legacy Project
In support of the Colin McCahon Legacy Project.
The Case for Craftsmanship in a Flatpack Age
In an era of fast-furniture and rising waste, choosing antique, vintage, mid-century classics and designer pieces is both a practical and principled act.
Alfa Romeo: Track-Bred, Road-Ready
It’s hard not to love Alfa Romeo, a marque commonly heralded—even in the 21st century —as a marque for drivers. That may seem an obvious objective of any car manufacturer, but technology has advanced rapidly in the past five decades, and with it the disconnect between pilot and machine.
Don Binney: Two Aspects of Tokatoka
Discover Don Binney’s Two Aspects of Tokatoka (1980), a striking diptych celebrating Northland’s Tokatoka Peak and Binney’s evolving landscape vision.
Catalogue Foreword—Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia
Welcome to our final Collectors’ Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia of the year.
Michael Smither—Essay by Alison Bartley
Michael Smither is an artist who responds to his environment. The places he lived and the people close to him are often the subject matter for his hard-edge paintings and prints.
Interview: Karl Maughan & Toni Mackinnon
Toni MacKinnon, Director of The Suter Art Gallery Te Aratoi o Whakatū, speaks to artist Karl Maughan about his influences, his evolving approach to garden painting, and the interplay between constructed landscapes and artistic imagination.
Works of Art - Spring 2025 - Foreword
It is a great pleasure to present our spring Works of Art auction catalogue. It has been a busy and vibrant few months in the cultural sector, and this spring catalogue reflects these trends, offering a stellar lineup from the movers and shakers both past and present, who are influencing the artworld.
Webb’s is proud to present its last Material Culture auction for 2025 — a compelling exploration of global artistic and ancestral heritage.
Material Culture gives form to human experience. These objects are the physical traces of belief systems, social structures, spiritual life, and artistic vision. They carry the stories of makers and communities, of cultural continuity and change.
Guitar Prices Hit High Notes at Auction
Bids soar to $450,000 for sought-after vintage and rare guitars in a single, online auction.
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