Jackie Howe shears join National Museum collection
THE National Museum of Australia might be down $38,000 but they did snare themselves the shears used by none other than the legendary Jackie Howe.
The auction took place at Sotheby's in Melbourne earlier this week.
The shears were estimated to bring between $15,000 and $25,000.
However with several parties keen to get their hands on them this expected valuation was drastically exceeded.
Sotheby's Australia chairman Geoffrey Smith said he was happy with who won the auction.
"Sotheby's Australia is delighted that the shears, which have captured the imagination of the nation during the past few weeks, have been acquired by the National Museum of Australia where all Australians can appreciate the remarkable legacy of Jackie Howe," Mr Smith said.
A National Museum spokesman said they were thrilled to be the successful bidder.
"The National Museum is thrilled to add these mechanical shears to the National Historical Collection," he said.
"They enable us to tell an important story in Australian history, that of the wool industry.
"They also allow the museum to personalise that story and bring it to life through their connection to the legendary Jack Howe."
The auction took place five years after Howe's medals sold at an auction in Melbourne for $360,000 to a Warwick man.
