Eccentric, witty city antiques expert dies
It was said antiques expert and writer Deric Blackler would rather spend time around interesting objects than boring people.
He had always been different and he made a living searching for the extraordinary.
The father of two, described by family as eccentric and witty, died from a suspected suicide on Sunday, aged 63.
His daughter, Laura, said her father was a very sociable person, who had a wicked and witty sense of humour.
‘‘He would enter a room and his sense of humour would have people on the floor with laughter.’’
She said he was an extremely hard worker, who loved antiques and the potential stories they held.
‘‘He was materialistic but in the sense that things had a story, they had a presence. It wasn’t just s... it was stuff with its own personality and character.’’
From a young age Blackler was obsessed with collecting and selling antiques. He grew up in Invercargill with his mother, Claire, and four younger sisters. His father died when he was 16.
As a child and teenager, Blackler could frequently be found at op-shops and garage sales rummaging for rare finds.
His extreme bargain-hunting was epitomised in a story from his childhood where a 7-year-old Blackler would take a roll of luncheon to school and sell off slices to make a quick buck.
After travelling around the world he eventually went on to start up antique store Portobello Antiques in Christchurch, which first opening in Cashel St. After moving to several different locations the shop settled on Tuam St. He also lived above the store.
The store was one of many severely damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquake. Blackler did not have insurance and he lost about 99 per cent of everything he owned. After a few years working out of a house he was able to reopen the store at The Tannery development in Woolston.
Blackler also wrote a popular antiques column – All About Antiques – for The Press newspaper, and was a keen fisherman.
A private service for close family and friends will be held this weekend to celebrate his life.
He is survived by wife Trish, children James and Laura, and sisters Judy, Fay, Wendy and Barbara.