THE National Gallery of Victoria hopes to raise up to $300,000 by selling unwanted items.

In a rare move, the NGV has won State Government permission to shed 111 pieces of historic furniture, including Spanish and English pieces from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Regional galleries and the National Trust of Tasmania will receive 25 pieces. Another 78 will go to public auction in Melbourne next week.


NGV director Dr Gerard Vaughan said the gallery had received the furniture as gifts and, though good, it was not of museum quality and had not been on display for many years.

“We have had to keep it in storage and it became a drain on the taxpayer,” Dr Vaughan said.

The protocol is rigorous: external experts have to inspect the pieces and agree with the decision. Then the donors’ families are traced and they are offered the gifts back.

Finally public institutions are offered the items and have a right to be given them for nothing.

Sotheby’s will auction 78 lots in its Armadale saleroom on Tuesday.