Students' legacy up for auction

 Lyn McCarthy, of Hayward's Auction House, with sections of old University of Otago lecture...
Lyn McCarthy, of Hayward's Auction House, with sections of old University of Otago lecture theatre desktops. PHOTO: STEPHEN JAQUIERY
Names and dates carved into University of Otago lecture theatre desktops more than a century ago provide a tantalising glimpse into the life of former students.

And sections of the desk tops, ``all heavily etched with names and dates from the late 19th and early 20th century'', will go on sale at an antiques and collectables auction at Hayward's Auction House, Dunedin, tomorrow.

Auctioneer John More, who co-owns the auction house with his wife, Bridgette, said it was unclear what the carved panels would fetch.

``It's something that's completely new for us.''

``I just think its a nice little interesting bit of Dunedin social history.''

Some of the name inscriptions were dated in the 1880s, and another in 1902.

They were unusual items and the final price depended on whether two or more buyers took an interest, Mr More said.

The items, which had some dry rot, were from a deceased estate. A person had earlier `rescued'' them from a skip after they were thrown out, apparently during renovations at the university registry in 1994.

An auction advertisement describes the panels as ``unique and fascinating relics of early Otago University days''.

The carved panels are among 954 items for sale at the firm's first antique and collectable auction of the year.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz


 

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