Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 16, 2025
Legendary Mad Picker's Final Auction: 60 Years of Rare Treasures
TLDR
- Collectors can acquire rare investment-grade pieces like a 1938 Chief August Jack carving and Tiffany lamps in this once-in-a-lifetime auction from Wayne Learie's collection.
- DirectAuctions.Com will host a two-day online auction featuring over 2,000 items from Wayne Learie's personal and store collection, with worldwide shipping available.
- This auction preserves cultural heritage by offering historically significant Indigenous art and rare Canadiana, bringing unique artifacts to new generations of caretakers.
- Discover extraordinary finds from Led Zeppelin's robe to vintage jukeboxes in The Mad Picker's legendary collection spanning six decades of treasure hunting.
Impact - Why it Matters
This auction represents a pivotal moment in the collectibles market, offering unprecedented access to six decades of curated treasures from one of Canada's most respected pickers. For collectors and investors, it provides rare opportunities to acquire historically significant pieces that rarely appear on the market, including Indigenous artifacts and vintage memorabilia with proven appreciation potential. The event also signals industry consolidation as established auction houses expand into specialized collectible markets, potentially setting new valuation benchmarks for rare items. For cultural preservationists, the sale of historically important pieces like the Chief Khatsahlano carving highlights the ongoing importance of proper documentation and conservation of culturally significant artifacts.
Summary
After more than six decades in the antique business, Wayne Learie, known professionally as The Mad Picker, is auctioning his extraordinary personal and store collection through DirectAuctions.Com as he enters retirement. This landmark event represents the culmination of a remarkable career that saw Learie build his reputation as one of Canada's most trusted pickers, specializing in rare and unusual finds ranging from Led Zeppelin memorabilia to vintage gas pumps and everything in between. The auction marks a significant transition for both Learie and the industry, with Jeff Schwarz of DirectAuctions.Com acquiring The Mad Picker business while continuing to collaborate with the legendary collector.
The upcoming two-day online auction features over 2,000 exceptional pieces that reflect Learie's sharp eye for quality and historical significance. Among the standout items is a historically significant 1938 carving depicting Chief August Jack Khatsahlano of the Squamish Nation, a revered leader instrumental in preserving Indigenous oral history and collaborating with Vancouver's early settlers. The collection also includes highly collectible early Canadian Addison radios from the 1950s, an original "Girl on the Beach" Coca-Cola sign in mint condition, fully restored Austin children's pedal cars, signed Tiffany lighting pieces, Hardy fishing equipment from the 1920s-30s, rare Canadiana furniture, carved Chinese jade, fine jewelry, sterling silver, Indigenous art, military collectibles, and beautifully restored Seeburg and Wurlitzer jukeboxes.
Both Learie and Schwarz will host the live auction, which will be streamed worldwide on October 28-29, 2025, allowing collectors globally to participate in what's being described as the most significant auction event in the Fraser Valley in 25 years. The event represents not just a sale but a celebration of Learie's legacy as a certified appraiser and auctioneer who built his reputation through decades of "cold door knocking" and discovering hidden treasures. For those interested in viewing the auction and registering, the event details are available through DirectAuctions.Com, with worldwide shipping making these rare collectibles accessible to enthusiasts everywhere.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by 24-7 Press Release. Read the original source here, Legendary Mad Picker's Final Auction: 60 Years of Rare Treasures
