Decorative Arts
The Decorative
Arts Department
Webb’s Decorative Arts Department offers excellent knowledge and curation of a range of fascinating objects. Our online and live auctions present decorative arts covering a wide array of periods and styles from rare and designer furniture and home accents, applied arts, indigenous art and material culture, select single owner collections, and more.
Upcoming Online Auction
Design Online
Online Auction | 4 – 10 February
Our Design Online auctions see exceptional sales of iconic New Zealand and international furniture, lighting and design objects from the mid-20th century through to today.
We are currently accepting consignments for the next iteration of this stylish sale, taking place next year.
Highly sought after are items that display a mastery of form, expressed through beautiful materials and meticulous craftsmanship by local and international designers These auctions are keenly followed by fans of interior design, professional decorators and designers, architects and stylists, as well as anyone with an interest in homes, commercial interiors, and the objects that populate them.
We are currently accepting consignments of furniture, lighting, rugs, wall art, design objects, and applied arts. If you have an item you would live to bring to market, please contact our team of experts for an obligation-free appraisal.
Florence S. Fournier
Specialist, Decorative Arts
Recent Live Auction
Material Culture
Live Auction | Sunday 17 November, 2:30pm
The catalogue for our latest Material Culture live sale is now accepting post auction offers.
Encompassing a wide range of indigenous art, carvings, textiles, personal adornments, tools, and ceramics, as well as ecofacts from the natural world, the catalogue is one rich in cultural heritage and anthropological significance.
After the sale of the world-record-breaking huia feather, which achieved 15 times over its estimated price in our last Material Culture auction, this sale presents several further opportunities to acquire these remarkable feathers (which a Guardian article posited as being more valuable than gold). The sale also presents two beautiful examples of kiwi feather muka kete and many other forms of taonga.
From further abroad we present an outstanding selection of artforms that show the mastery and resourcefulness of indigenous artists, including those from Fiji, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Ethiopia.
Leah Morris
Head of Decorative Arts
Upcoming Online Auction
Artifacts: From the Collection of John Perry
Online Auction | 15 – 21 January
Webb’s is set to kick off the 2025 auction calendar in delightfully eclectic style, with the second instalment of Artifacts: From the Collection of John Perry being presented online in January.
John Perry was legendary in the New Zealand art and auction scene—well known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of local and international art, as well as his charming personality. He was also an enduring friend of Webb’s, attending countless auctions over decades, from our earliest days in 1970s right through to 2021, shortly before he passed away. As well as holding important roles as Curator of the Rotorua City Art Gallery, and then Director of the Rotorua Museum, John is most remembered for being an avid collector.
With the support of John’s family our Decorative Arts team have been meticulously working through the 700-square metre cinema-turned-storeroom in Helensville that became home to his vast array of treasures — the space (equivalent to four tennis courts) packed wall to wall with art, antiques, and curios from Aotearoa, Asia Pacific and other parts of the world.
Bringing the collection of John Perry to market, and working with his family and those who knew him best, has been a privilege. We are thrilled to once again be giving you a glimpse into the unique mind and realm of a true industry icon.
Florence S. Fournier
Specialist, Decorative Arts
Upcoming Live Auction
Material Culture
Live Auction | March
Entries are invited for our upcoming Material Culture auctions. A celebration of indigenous art, we are seeking quality examples of carvings, textiles, personal adornments, tools, ceramics, metal work and others of similar rich cultural heritage.
These sales bring together outstanding selections of artforms that show the mastery and resourcefulness of artists that imbue multi-generational knowledge.
After the sale of the world record breaking huia feather which achieved 15 times over its estimated price, we look forward to presenting another exceptional offering to a market eager to acquire at all levels.
For more information about buying and selling at our upcoming Material Culture auctions, get touch with our specialist team.
Leah Morris
Head of Decorative Arts
The Decorative Arts Department
Webb’s Decorative Arts Department offers excellent knowledge and curation of a range of fascinating objects.
Our online and live auctions present decorative arts covering a wide array of periods and styles from rare and designer furniture and home accents, applied arts, indigenous art and material culture, select single owner collections, and more. We have consistently seen high returns as more and more people look to the secondary market for unique and hard-to-find pieces.
We are continuing to see a strong demand for quality decorative arts, in particular mid-century modern furniture and postmodern design, showing the enduring value of considered craftsmanship within the secondary market. Our quarterly premium Design sales have proved immensely popular with both emerging and seasoned collectors alike, bringing together the best of the best from local and international designers. We are delighted to regularly handle design heavyweights such as Michel Ducaroy, Eames, Garth Chester, and Charlotte Perriand.
With a dedicated client base following our Material Culture auctions closely, we are reliably seeing incredible returns. One of our most notable recent sale results was the world record-breaking sale of a single huia feather, selling for $46,521 and breaking the previous world record by 450%. It is a privilege to be entrusted as temporary kaitiakitanga of these pieces and to showcase such a high calibre of taonga and indigenous art from around the world. It has been exciting to bring these important catalogues to life and achieve such phenomenal results.
These outstanding outcomes are testament to the unparalleled passion and commitment of our specialist team.
Head of Decorative Arts
Leah Morris
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Leah studied at the University of Auckland earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Ancient History in 2015. In 2017 she graduated with an Honours in Museum Studies and Cultural Heritage and is currently completing her Master’s degree.
Before coming to Webb’s Leah’s most recent tenure was working as a Collection Technician at the Auckland Museum – Tamaki Paenga Hira for Human History in which she researched and catalogued the Social History, Applied Arts and Design, and World collections.
Leah has a particular interest in West African art, Taonga, and New Zealand studio pottery and glass.
Florence S. Fournier
Specialist, Decorative Arts
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Florence S. Fournier is a specialist in our Decorative Arts department. With a background in mid-century modern furniture and boutique brands, Florence has a developed a deep appreciation for enduring design principles.
In her role at Webb's, Florence's expertise shines in exhibition installations and photoshoot styling, earning her recognition as a rising star in the New Zealand auction scene. Florence is particularly interested in discovering rare designs with exceptional provenance.
Having a background in marketing combined with deep knowledge and years of experience in decorative arts, Florence consistently creates compelling narratives that resonate with discerning collectors.
Florence's enthusiasm for beautiful objects and keen eye for design make her an invaluable asset to the team at Webb's.
