When: The Tim and Sherran Francis Collection will be on auction at the Art and Object, Auction House, Auckland, New Zealand on September 7- 8, 2016.

What: This major auction will feature many of New Zealand’s significant artists as Tim and Sherran Francis have been devoted to collecting the finest New Zealand art and pottery for over six decades. Multiple works will go under the hammer including many from a private collection which has not been publicly seen before. Highlights:

-          A Rita Angus oil on board, Tree Cutting, Hawke's Bay, dimensions  596 x 596mm. Exhibited at the ‘Exhibition of New Zealand Prints, Pottery and Paintings’, Singapore National Library, Singapore, February 23 - March 1,  1971. (Estimate: $150 000‑$200 000)

-          Gordon Walters PVA and acrylic on canvas dated 1968, dimensions being 1520 x 1145mm.Exhibited at ‘Gordon Walters: Paintings’, Peter McLeavey Gallery, Wellington, from May 6 – 24, 1969. Exhibited at the ‘Exhibition of New Zealand Prints, Pottery and Paintings’, Singapore National Library, Singapore, February 23 – March 1, 1971. ‘Gordon Walters’, Auckland City Art Gallery, Auckland, March 23 – April 24, 1983. (Estimate: $300 000‑$400 000)

-          Type C print of Alice Byke by Yvonne Todd. The title has been inscribed, signed, and dated 2002 a fairly recent work. Dimension being 1040 x 830mm. Exhibited at ‘Yvonne Todd: Sea of Tranquility – 5 photographs’, Peter McLeavey Gallery, Wellington, July 23 – August 17, 2002.

-          A rare and hand-decorated studio vase featuring dinosaurs amongst foliage (1926) by Elizabeth Lissaman. Height being 160mm. (Estimate: $2000 - $4000)

-          A Shane Cotton titled He Pukapuka Tautahi, oil on canvas. Titled, inscribed, signed, and dated 2000. Dimensions being 3000 x 2000mm. Exhibited at ‘Te Timatanga: From Eden to Ohaewai, Shane Cotton’, Dunedin Public Art Gallery, Dunedin, August 26 – October 23, 2000.  ‘Shane Cotton: Survey 1993 – 2003’, City Gallery, Wellington, July 17 – October 19, 2003, Auckland, May 29 – August 8, 2004. (Estimate: $180 000‑$280 000)

-          Another highlight of the auction is a Colin McCahon's eight-panel masterpiece The Canoe Tainui, possibly the most important painting to come onto the open market in New Zealand. Synthetic polymer paint on eight panels, 1969. 603 x 4824mm: installation size variable. Price on request.