The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-05-17
THE SALE OF THE RELICS RETURN STOLEN MONEY [
ROYAL FURNITURE is KNOCKED
DOWN AT AUCTION
Plenty Of Buyers for Small odd Pieces
The Last of the Belongings of the
Monarchy.

The auction sale of royal furniture
and silverware and other relics of the
late monarchy was begun this morning
at the Drill Shed and is continuing this
afternoon. The sale began at 10 o'clock,
a large crowd being in the shed looking
for opportunities to get some of the ar
ticles offered. There were several classes
of buyers Some wanted the things on
account of their usefulness; some want
ed to get he'd of pieces of ftit8ture or
other articles because the things had
once been the property of kings and
queens, and had had places in palaces,
Other buyers wanted to sell again, eX-
pecting that the near future would
bring a considerable advance in the
price of relics such as those offered.
The lot offered now is probably the last
lot at which the general public will
have a chance, and the malihinis that
are to come may be willing to lay out
many good dollars for royal household
furniture or tableware.
Captain Berger and the lately royal
band ushered in the sale with a con-
cert in one of the sheds. The band was
gone from the scene before the auc-
tioneer began, but 1t gave a number of
selections. One was a funeral march,
as If Captain Berger thought that some
thing ought to be done to remind those
present that there was a pathetic as
| Very few natives were present, and
| there was an absence of native bidders.
| The furniture, with the exception of a
| few large pieces, was woefully delapi-
| dated. The purchasers will have to re-
cover and varnish most of the chairs,
sofas and other articles, but big prices
were paid for1the privilege of doing so.
! The general rule seemed to be large
prices, far in advance of the value of
! the things sold, for the cheaper and
| smaller articles and low bids for the
| really valuable bits of furniture. This
! showed the spirit of the curio-hunter
| in control. For a chair which a met
ropOlitan secondhand furniture dealer
would offer half a dollar, bids from ten
to fifteen dollars were made. When II
came to selling several large, fine-look-
ing and costly pieces the bidders would
not go up to the natural value. A fine
| cherry set, consisting of a sideboard
wardrobe and one or two other pieces
was bought by E. A. Mott-Smith. The
wardrobe went for a hundred dollars
| though in the opinion of most people
present, it could not be made for that
| It's value as relic didn't seem to helT
any, after the bids began to rise. Peo-
pie seemed willing to spend a few dol
lars for the sake of having monarchy
relie, but not many were anxious tc
pay out any considerable sums.
from the old blue room. 1t was a gooC
deal worn. In few minutes it was
knocked down for $3.50. Another one
of the same kind, with a broken leg
went for 80
A chair from the private chamber o
Kalakaua was the next offered. 1t was
a small one in quite good condition. II
was sold for $4. S. M. Damon bough
a blue room chair for 50. After this the
bidding became more lively. Mr.. Sewal
got one of the blue room chairs fol
80. Others went as high as ten anC
thirteen dollars.
A chair that had been the property
of Kamehameha the Fifth was bough
by E. A. Mott-Smith. C. M. Cooke
bought one from the bungalow, and
Garrett Wilder another one. A double
chair from the blue room, covered with
plush and in fair condition, went t.
e. A. Mott-Smith for 1913, and fol
a time Mr.. Mott-Smith did lot of bid
ding, getting the cherry bedroom Sc
before mentioned. 1t had been in {
queens chamber, and was moreover,
handsome set. A pair of portleres from
the chamber of Queen Kapiolani wen
for $10.