Auctioneer had passion for art
Dunbar Sloane succumbs to cancer after long battle
Well-known auctioneer Dunbar Russell Sloane has died after a battle with cancer. His eldest son, Dunbar Michael Sloane, said his father died in Auckland Hospital at about 10pm on Wednesday, aged 75.
He leaves behind wife Susan Wallace, two sons and two daughters and eight grandchildren.
“He’d been battling cancer now for the last six or seven years,” Sloane jnr said.
“He was a larger-than-life character and he loved the business, loved auctioning. He’ll be missed.”
Sloane jnr continued the family business after his father retired and is now the fourth generation to run the famous Dunbar Sloane auction house.
“Obviously I’ve been born into the business and it’s sort of in my blood. I learned it off my father. It was just something you l earn t hrough osmosis,” he said.
In the face of online auction sites like Trade Me and eBay, his father had always remained dedicated to the traditional form of auctioneering.
“We’re still the old-fashioned business and I think sticking to our knitting has served us well and it’s one of those industries that hasn’t succumbed to the digital world.”
Dunbar Sloane, which remains one of New Zealand’s premier auction houses, was founded on Wellington’s Lambton Quay in 1919 by Andrew Dunbar Sloane. An Auckland branch opened in 2000 specialising in the sale of military memorabilia, Maori and Pacific artefacts and New Zealand historical items.
According to its website, Dunbar Sloane has achieved many New Zea- land and international record prices for fine art, antiques and artefacts.
“Our sales often exceed 1000 lots and attract buyers and sellers from around the country and overseas bidders. Our loyal staff are very highly regarded in their fields of expertise.”
The business also offers chattel valuations for insurance, market, matrimonial and probate purposes.
The colourful father and son duo once featured in the TVNZ series Auction House.