"1885" BAR IN BRITOMART FINALIST IN BEST AWARDS!

 Portobello Antiques were proud to supply the leather sofas and chairs
for the amazingly cool new bar in
Britomart, Auckland which opened recently.
They have been selected as finalists in the BEST AWARDS
We enjoyed working with them and wish them every success

JAPANESE CLOISONNE CHAIRE OR TEACADDY WITH DRAGON

 SILVER WIRE AND AN UNUSUAL DECORATED BASE'
3 1/2 INCHES TALL, PERFECT CONDITION
INCREDIBLE WORK

WHALERS SCRIMSHAW WHALEBONE WALKING STICK CA 1840

 SCRIMSHAW STICK OF PAN BONE
WITH A TOOTH FROM A SPERM WHALE
CARVED AS A TURKS HEAD AS A KNOP
THIS IS THE BEST SCRIMED STICK I HAVE HAD
PERFECT CRISP CONDITION 32 INCHES LONG
sold thanks Lincoln

LARGE ART NOUVEAU BRETBY VASE

 A MASSIVE 21 INCHES TALL RUSKIN TYPE CABACHONS ADRRONING THE NECK

TANGO GLASS

LARGE TANGO GLASS VASE 10 INCHES HIGH
CA 1930 LOETZ?

SOLD THANKS CHCH

THE SHOP IS GONE, THANKS

The shop and our home are now gone.

We only had 5 hours in total to salvage items from the shop.

Everything in our apartment was destroyed in the demolition.


I would like thank those people who made it all happen, and hope it never happens to you.

The person from civil defence who told be that my warehouse was destroyed when it was not even damaged.

The people from ERNI who never contacted me regarding salvage.

The policeman who accused me of being a looter while salvageing my posessions and who detained me under the civil defence regulations.

The USAR team and the policeman from NSW who took the Santa Claus from my shop and took each others photos with it posed beside wrecked cars.

The engineer from Wellington who insisted in being paid in $250 an hour in cash to facilitate access.

The civil defence employee who acted as safety officer and also insisted in being paid $100 an hour in cash.

The Army person who prevented me from salvaging items but told me I was welcome to pick through the rubble after demolition.

The person from CERA who removed the approval for salvage from my file.

The person from CERA who put the building on the urgent list and denied salvage during demolition.

All the people who never kept me informed of what was happening regards demolition and and salvage and all those people who promised to get back to me who never did.

You all made the most unpleasant episode in our lives just that little bit more unpleasant.

Our thoughts will always be with you.

If you are a resident or a business owner in the Red Zone who is having problems with access or has had problems similar to mine please email me as I may be able to help.

HANDS UP WELLINGTON, WE ARE GOING TO WELLINGTON

Portobello Antiques have been invited to attend
HANDSUP WELLINGTON  
July 2 -3 at the TSB Arena. We will be bringing up items we managed to salvage from the shop.

If there is anything on my blog that you want me to bring up let me know.
Can not wait to get away from Christchurch for the weekend.

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE VALUATIONS

I am now available for valuations of damaged items for EQC and insurance. You can email me photos to portobello@woosh.co.nz or bring items to 10 Grassmere Street in Papanui between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday.
Since September I have valued thousands of earthquake damaged  items free of charge.
As my shop has been destroyed I will now have to charge a small fee for valuations which can be claimed back from EQC or your insurance company, All valuations will be done while you wait.
Thanks to everyone for their support over this very trying time
Deric Blackler
tel 3771 772

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

The last month has been the most trying in my whole life. The earthquake was the easiest to contend with. The shop held together and the contents survived relatively intact. I live above the shop with my family and apart from some missing sections of walls, we got off lightly compared with other buildings in our area.

When a roll call of friends and family, shop owners and associates in the area confirmed everyone was safe, we left the area for safer pastures.

Several days later when the enormity of the situation in Christchurch had truly sunk in and the fact that we had nowhere to live, no clothes, no bank cards or ID we were informed that our building was on the list of buildings to be demolished that day!

A demolition contractor managed to get me through the cordon so I could watch the shop being demolished and possibly save something. When I arrived there was a USAR team several police officers and an excavator outside my shop. I waited for an hour , nothing happened. I chatted with the police and the USAR team to pass the time then the head of the USAR team said “OK you have 10 minutes to grab what you can'. I was greatful of the opportunity. The time went quickly and I retrived a pile of small items on the footpath opposite the shop. The excavator driver arrived, started the engine and pulled the front off the shop next door then drove the excavator away! “OK you can have another 10 minutes”. The USAR team and police then left and I arranged for a truck and took the small amount of belongings to a safe place.

I was then “detained” by another policeman who called his sergent who proceeded to take me back to headquarters for processing. He was from out of town and was not quite sure how to get there.

I pointed him in the right direction, but on the way had a change of heart and returned me to the shop so I could remove my items.

That night I rallied support through facebook, and detailed my plight on my blog.

Support from all quarters was instant.

A few days later I had a ring from civil defence to inform me that my building was to be “deconstructed to allow a USAR team to do a sweep of the area.”

I said I doubted that was true as I had sat with a USAR team outside my shop two days before and

there was not mention of a sweep of the area. I also insisted that I needed more time to remove important historical items still in the shop. The caller said he would check with USAR and get back to me.

A week passed with no contact except for the odd wellwisher inside the cordon ringing to say that the shop was still there. Still hope.

On Monday another phone call, this time from USAR asking what it was I wanted from the shop and where exactly was it? The shop was coming down as it was dangerous. Again I explained that there were quite a few important items and locating them if to those were not familiar with them would be difficult. He said how long would it take me to get there? I was there in 10 minuites.

When I arrived there was a 44 gallon drum ouside the shop for my possessions and another excavator. The USAR man had a look in the shop then said that they wouldn't be able to get much in the drum. We waited for the driver to arrive. The USAR leader then said OK we may as well start. “What do you want”. I hesitated trying to decide what to choose. “I suppose you would like every thing?” I nodded. The USAR team then started to carry items from the shop. The pile quickly grew. This was beyond my wildest dreams.

The excavator driver returned, someone gave me a piece of paper to sign saying I was happy with 20 minutes to salvage items. I was not happy but I signed.

The excavator driver took instruction from the USAR leader they started to remove loose masonry from the front and the side of the shop. After 15 minutes he was finished. He was the most careful excavator opperator I have ever seen! He had removed the loose portions almost brick by brick.

I was amazed, the shop was still there!

The USAR team packed up wished me well and left me very happy on the side of the road with what seemed like a mountain of items I thought would have been turned to dust along with the rest of the CBD.

I had managed to salvage most of the important New Zealand historical items which can not be replaced. They even saved our goldfish wo was still alive after 3 weeks in his bowl half full of water surrounded with pieces of broken brick.

I have that USAR team to thank for their common sense in a difficult situation, the media who drew attention to the situation and the many people who raised there voices in support of Portobello Antiques.

I wish all the other business owners in the CBD as much luck I have had in salvaging their futures.

I urge them to keep trying because”it's not over till it's over”.

I will open shop again sometime in the future but in the meantime will devote my time to providing valuations and restoration advice to the good people of Christchurch who have lost treasured items in the recent devestating earthquakes. I will be operating from 10 Grassmere Street

in Papanui, tel 3771772, or email portobello@woosh.co.nz

SUCCESS

To everyone who lent their support a big thankyou, I am pleased to announce SUCCESS!
An Aussie USAR team removed 50% of the shop contents for me after civil defence provided a 44 gallon drum for retrieval of items. They saw the that 100's of items were going to be destroyed needlessly and acted without waiting for approval. They then removed parts of the building to make it safe before leaving. They said that once they left I was not allowed to enter the building to remove more items but if I did they would not be there to stop me and wished me luck. I think we got about another 35% before local police got us. So a good result, better than I hoped.






Onward and upward
 Deric

MAYBE TOO LATE TOO SAVE ANYTHING !!!!

At 3pm today the building was still standing as far as I know, but the CCC rang this afternoon with whe message that "the building is to undergo deconstruction to enable USAR to do a sweep".The  USAR sat out side my shop on Friday for over an hour doing nothing and allowed me to enter my shop several times to retrieve items, No mention of "a sweep " then.
I think this is just an excuse for wanton destruction.

I had a phone call from a demolition worker in my shop at lunchtime, saying how little damage there was and how easy salvage would be!

I CAN BE CONTACTED ON 03 3771772

I NEED A CHANCE TO SALVAGE IMPORTANT ITEMS BEFORE THE SHOP IS DEMOLISHED

I AM AFRAID THAT MY SHOP WILL BE DEMOLISHED WITHOUT ANY ATTEMPT BEING MADE TO SALVAGE ANY OF THE IMPORTANT ITEMS WHICH REMAIN INTACT INSIDE.

I WAS INSIDE WHEN THE QUAKE STRUCK AND THE INTERIOR OF THE SHOP IS INTACT WITH MINIMAL DAMAGE TO ITEMS INSIDE. THERE IS NO DAMAGE TO THE CEILINGS AND NO DAMAGE TO THE WALLS DOWNSTAIRS.
I HAVE BEEN BACK INSIDE SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE ARMY HAS PREVENTED ME FROM REMOVING ANYTHING.
 I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE A BULLDOZER HAD PUSHED IT OVER I COULD PICK THROUGH THE RUBBLE!!

THIS MUST NOT HAPPEN

IF YOU COULD EMAIL ME YOUR SUPPORT REGARDING SALVAGE I COULD USE THAT TO CONVINCE THE AUTHORITIES TO ALLOW ME TO SALAVAGE IMPORTANT ITEMS

I recieved this encouraging email from Jennifer Queree, History Curator, Canterbury Museum


Hi Deric

I caught a glimpse of your shop on the late TV One news tonight – I’m so very sorry. I just went on your blog site (http://portobelloantiques.blogspot.com/ ) and was much relieved to see that you and Tracy survived – it must have been an absolutely horrific experience!
I am copying this to Anthony Wright – I am not sure if he can assist or advise any solution to threats of demolition without a chance of salvage, but perhaps he can use his influence.
Not only will your shop hold artefacts of considerable local, national and international importance, but you have been such a support to people from all over Christchurch and Canterbury since 4 Sept by offering free valuations for damaged treasures – while others have taken advantage of the situation to charge exorbitant rates. I would hope that Christchurch could now return the favour if at all possible, by giving you the chance to salvage what is left.
 Over the years you have been a keen supporter of Canterbury Museum and other major museums in New Zealand, collecting and protecting many irreplaceable cultural objects, and alerting us to them. I was thrilled several years ago when Canterbury Museum acquired a number of important silver and other items of considerable importance for the cultural history of Christchurch and Canterbury, from the collection that you had built up over many years.
Deric – I do hope all works out for you – let me know how you get on, if/when you have a moment.


Kind regards
Jennifer Queree

IF ANYONE CAN HELP I WOULD APPRECIATE IT
DERIC BLACKLER

From Crispin Howarth
Curator Pacific Arts
The National Gallery of Australia
Canberra


To the Honorable Mr Finlayson,



Within the tragedies currently unravelling in Christchurch there is one looming tragedy you have the power to prevent happening.
Mr Deric Blackler the proprieter of Portobello Antiques at 221 Tuam St (ph 03 3771 772 or 03 930 1155 email  portobello@woosh.co.nz  in Christchurch experienced the events of last week whislt in his premises and luckily on this occasion neither he or his wife came to any harm. They evacuated from the area only to be informed that Mr Blackler will not be allowed to return to the property to retrieve items within.
Alledgedly the building, although standing with minimal damage to it, is to be bulldozed.
I can only point out in the clearest terms that to not attempt to retrieve key objects in Mr Blackler's possession at the property will mean objects of New Zealand's hertiage will be wilfully destroyed.
Mr Blackler is one of only a few people in New Zealand who holds objects of national significance to your country outside of an insitution.
To do nothing is a neglectful option.
I am writing to you in the hope that your department will contact and assist Mr Blackler at this dire time.
Public Museums and Galleries have systems and organisational back up. An individual does not - and for this reason I request you assist Mr Blackler in the action of retrieving objects upon his property of significance.
This destruction of important historical objects held with Mr Blackler is preventable with your aid.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
My thoughts are with the citizens of Christchurch.




Yours Sincerely
Crispin Howarth


Curator for Pacific Arts
The National Gallery of Australia
Canberra

HERE IS ANOTHER

Hi Amy


As a Lincoln resident I am emailing you as my MP in the hope that you will have time to read the following.
My good friend Deric Blackler owns Portobello Antiques at 221 Tuam Street, Christchurch and lives above the shop. The contents of the building are largely undamaged but Deric faces the threat of demolition without the chance of salvaging anything.

If this were just another antique shop I would not dream of bothering you at a time like this, but Deric’s collection is a unique assembly of cultural treasures bearing witness to the fact that he has the keenest intelligence and historical enthusiasm of any antique dealer I have ever known. Many senior figures in Christchurch’s art gallery and museum communities will vouch for this and have emailed their concern and support to him, as can be seen on his blog, http://portobelloantiques.blogspot.com/ .

I believe that if Deric were to lose the contents of his building it would be another nail in the coffin of Christchurch as a city worth rebuilding and living in. If there is anything you can do to allow Deric permission to salvage, you will be helping to save a collection of internationally significant cultural, artistic and heritage value.

With thanks and hope
Gavin East
Cataloguer
Lincoln University Library

THANKS ALSO TO FRAN DIBBLE AND SIAN van DYK
Hey Deric

Hope this helps! Please see Dibbles letter attached. If you want to post on your blog they say all good!
Thinking of you all, kia kaha xo

Chris Finlayson

Parliament
Wellington


March 3, 2011

Dear Chris Finlayson,

We write this letter to lend our support in helping Deric Blacker, director of Portobello Antiques, retrieve some of his artefacts from the cordoned area of central Christchurch.
Portobello is not simply a shop of antiques but has been the site of priceless historical and cultural relics, which certainly cannot be judged on just monetary value. The treasures he has managed to amass are often superior to much that is held at out art galleries and museums.
We ask that you could, as Minister of the Arts, do anything you can to help allow Deric to salvage some of the precious relics left, which must be all the more valuable after the tremendous loss from the earthquake.
Most sincerely,
Dr Paul Dibble and Fran Dibble





Hi Fran

just a quick email, I thought you guys might be interested, or might like to
help / post something. As you know Deric Blacker's shop is in a pretty dodgy
spot at the moment and apparently ahs been having trouble salvaging some things.
http://portobelloantiques.blogspot.com/2011/02/i-need-chance-to-salvage-important.html


Hope all is well otherwise and that any family/ friends you have down there
are safe.

cheers, Sian

ANDREW DRUMMOND
Hi Deric,



Can you add my name to the list regarding the historical significance
of your collection and that it must be saved.
Add to this my offer of the truck and Gerard to help any day you can

get clearance to enter the shop.

It seems there is a wholesale approach to demolition which is crazy.

Also if you need storage we can get a container into the yard at

Cumnor Tce where there is security.

Hope you are getting some forward movement on this.
Also you and Tracy are surviving etc.


Cheers Andrew Drummond

More messages of support
It would just be such an awful waste if the precious, beautiful things in Portobello were bulldozed.


Hasn't there been enough destruction of valuable history thanks to the quake itself?

Please, Christchurch 'powers that be'; don't let this h...appen!

Josie Glasson



This is what is getting my goat up. the lack of room for the individual in this plan. let the man take his stuff out. it's what makes his life important so help him with it.

Rob Mayes



Caroline Billing

Yeah haven't we have our hearts ripped out enough without this kind of thing happening to those who helped give the city it's heart in the first place!!? It's a travesty

We need our city to return to normal as soon as possible, keeping

Businesses going and preserving our heritage is part of this. Please

enable businesses to get their stock when it is possible and safe to

do so ,other businesses were demolished without removing valuable items

in the last Quake, don't let this happen again.....

Jacqui Taylor

Christchurch


i hope Im not too late with my email. To demolish the shop without the chance to rescue any valuable irreplaceable items is ridiculous .Even though the shop is damaged there must surely be contents that are salveable without risk of life . perhaps there are some items where it would be too dangerous to rescue but i cant believe it can be necessary to totally destroy the lot. You cant snap your fingers and bring back antique items from rubble we are losing our history and for future generations. .




I have already heard about the loss of a beautiful georgian antque bureau handed down through the family just because a bulldozer came in and demolsihed part of the hosue where it was and it was deemed too dangerous to move.. a bit more time if possible maybe an hour or two and a thought process might have been put in place to try and move that bureau out of the way and a precious piano also lost but i giess where abulldozer is concerned and if something is in the path then thats it .

Well . thats just one family and there are many situations out there similar but this shop and many others need consideration. please stop this reckless bulldozing.



Judith Phillips

Nelson

Patricia Te Arapo Wallace


Sirs,


I write this message in support of allowing Mr Deric Blackler, the proprieter of Portobello Antiques at 221 Tuam St, of Christchurch, an opportunity to retrieve some of the precious artefacts from his establishment in the cordoned area of central Christchurch.
Mr Blacker is not asking for officials or others to help him. I understand he has previously been allowed back in the premises; he is simply asking for a chance to rescue any possible items by not being forced to come out empty-handed.
The city has lost enough treasures; I urge that in this case, this one man be given a chance to save whatever he can, rather than be obliged to merely salvage whatever the wreckers might leave.

Yours sincerely,
Patricia Te Arapo Wallace
Patricia Te Arapo Wallace Ph.D.
Research Associate
Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies,
University of Canterbury,

Juliet Gray


Hi Deric

I am glad to hear that you are Ok but I have just seen photos of your shop and read your pleas to help with salvage.

A few weeks ago I was in your shop and I was amazed by your campaign furniture and felt that it was such a privelige when you showed me the campaign desk, its working and explained the history behind it.

I do hope that you managed to safely salvage the precious treasures in your shop and are able to continue your wonderful business

Good luck

Juliet Gray

PHOTOS OF AREA AROUND PORTOBELLO ANTIQUES

This is the best selsction of photos of our area taken minutes after the quake

CLICK FOR PHOTOS

LATEST PHOTOS OF FEB QUAKE

The shop is still standing and I hope to be able to salvage something but at the moment I am concerned it will be pushed over with everything inside.

I have been inside and ceilings and walls are still in place, I would estimate only 20% of the stock is damaged. If anyone has any ideas on salavage or access I would appreciate to hear from them. All people spoken to so far have been negative saying it will all be bulldozed after which we will be allowed to pick through the rubble. Over my dead body!!!!, In an hour we could salvage most items.



EARTHQUAKE HAS FINALLY GOT US

I AM AFRAID THAT WE HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMED BY THE LATEST QUAKE,  ALL SAFE, NO INJURIES BUT THE SHOP AND STOCK HAS TAKEN A MASSIVE HIT.  I AM UNSURE OF THE FUTURE

EARLY AUSTRALIAN SAMPLER, HOBART TOWN

Mary Ann Nowlan aged 9
Convent School
Hobart Town
1843
sold thanks Australia