The Tahitian Prince Joel Barlow Auction

I was lucky enough to have been sent a catalogue for the Fake Tahitian Prince's Auction which was held in Brisbane on 10 March 2013.

Barlow is famously known as the man who defrauded $16.6 million from Qld Health to fund a champagne lifestyle.  The Australian published an excellent article of the story last weekend - a great read!

Barlow famously had the biggest birthday bash ever seen at cloudland - Brisbane's opulent club (there is a whole blog post alone for that place!).  

His cake was amazing - its Louis Vuitton trunks!!

His collection was like no other I have ever seen.  For those of you that like designer luxury items - this was your auction. Here are a few of the items.

The Australian notes that there were, 

"98 business shirts, 58 pairs of size 10 shoes, 59 jackets, one $25,000 case of Hennessy XO Cognac in a limited edition crocodile clasp case, a collection of Louis Vuitton and Bally ladies dresses, three pairs of size 41 ladies shoes and a $95,000 Bang & Olufsen television ... a Louis Vuitton surfboard, Dolce & Gabbana snow boots, a Marie Antoinette candle bust, antique opera glasses, a tortoiseshell casket, a 19th-century American naval officer's hat in metal case, Hermes garden tools, a jet black cuckoo clock, a chrome set of deer antlers, a Chairman Mao statue. A fox fur skin with hollow eye holes rests on a black leather office chair. There are endless boxes of grooming products, man-scaping creams and Parisian soaps. There are half-used bottles of Palmolive shampoo; Nivea moisturising wipes; a tube of Bepanthen nappy rash cream. There are 22 sets of rosary beads and a crown. An 1880s Bible. There is a glass cabinet of watches and crucifix necklaces and bracelets and brooches ...  Fine liquor including a $4300'96 Krug Clos d'Ambonnay; a $9500'02 Louis Roederer Cristal. He could guide guests to his art collection: screen prints by Brett Whiteley, Louis Vuitton maps created in silk twill, and his two most impressive pieces: Jeffrey Smart's Study for The Terrace, Variations on a Theme and Tim Storrier's 3m by 1.5m epic landscape, Starlight and the Plain and a Brett Whitely."

I had so much fun picking up my items.  I got to see the lovely horse lamp being transported to its new Gold Coast home.  This item was a bargain - its over $20000 at Space Furniture and sold for just over $5000.  Oh to have the money and the place to put it!

Here's the aftermath at the auction house...look at all the luggage!

Here's a french antique champagne set

I was lucky enough to win two lots...including this laptop case 

and an amazing rainbow LV shawl!  Which I wore for the first time out last night ..  its a deep purple on one side and rainbow on the other

I  didn't get anywhere near to the final price for the horse lamp ... I'll have to settle for my desktop replica that dad so expertly painted gold for me

It was astounding to see what people paid and bought things for.  It appeared to me that across the board prices were well inflated.  The lady below paid over $5000 for this Hermes saddle!

...and never fear I have since had my items authenticated and they are real - others have not been so lucky see The Courier Mail

These claims have not been confirmed and the auction house denies the goods are counterfeit.  

Barlow was sentenced on Tuesday, March 19, courtroom 25, Brisbane District Court. Barlow stands and Judge O'Brien and tells him he is sentenced to 14 years in prison. Hohepa Hikairo Morehu-Barlow simply nods his head. His cousin reacts immediately, "Faaaaark," he says.Only his family attend, none of the "friends" and acquaintances he has wined and dined.  No staff from any of the luxury houses like Louis Vuitton ... a good reminder for us all of the importance of family!  

Have a great week and spare a thought for Guy and his Dad

XOX