H&J auction a massive exercise in repurposing
Looking for an entire mannequin family? Or maybe one mannequin? Or just a striking pair of legs?
How about a Lancôme cosmetics counter, or a selection from a giddying array of tables, chairs, display counters and stands?
Maybe a painted fairytale scene, cosmetic hot towel warmers or double-sided pantihose gondolas, assuming you know what those are?
An auction tomorrow of fixtures and fittings from the H&J Smith department store in Invercargill, which closed when the owners called time on the 123-year-old business in November, will be of a scale rarely, if ever, seen in the south.
H&J commercial general manager Morris Gilbertson said whatever the items initially cost was not relevant for the auction.
The auction of 2000 items in 150 lots was about repurposing them, as part of the company’s approach of zero tolerance for landfill.
William Todd Auctions co-director Lynzy Francis said there had been huge interest, and the auction would be a chance for people to think outside the square.
“Buying it for what you can make out of it, not for what it used to do.”
For instance, one of the lighted display stands had already caught the eye of a model car collector, he said. Some of the countertops could be used for kitchen remodelling rather than commercial use.
And this was far from the first time the auction house had sold mannequins. They still had practical retail and artistic uses, but in other cases the intent was more lighthearted, and the new owners ”ended up having a lot of fun’’ with how they chose to clothe, pose and place them.