Record Price for "Convict Era Relics" |
RARE CONVICT SHIRT SELLS TO NATIONAL MUSEUMOne of the best preserved shirts from the convict era will stay in Australia following its purchase in Melbourne last night by the Canberra-based National Museum of Australia.Details of the collection can be viewed on-line at Lot 46. |
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The shirt, which is believed to date from the 1830s, was the centerpiece of a six item collection which was found in Granton, Tasmania in the early 1960s. The collection was sold by Charles Leski Auctions for $262,000 including commission. Other items in the collection included a convict punishment shoe made of stitched leather with multiple iron studs in the sole. The sides had been deliberately cut away so that the leg irons would cut into the ankle of the convict. Freda Hanley, the Museum’s General Manager of Collections, said the NMA was thrilled that the collection would remain in Australia. “The convict shirt is an iconic object, and our curators know of very few in existence,” Ms Hanley said. “Having an object as rare as this and so well preserved is an important link to the formative years of European settlement in Australia.” Charles Leski Auctions is one of Australia’s largest auctioneers of collectables and Australiana. Michael Krape December 16, 2005 |