Online bidding at the Bob Hawke memorabilia auction is going gangbusters for a silver-plated bowl given to the late prime minister by Dick Cheney at the end of the Gulf War.
The surprise standout, the former US vice-president's gift was fetching more than double the estimate at $1600, with five days to go. But the hottest item - an engraved cigar humidor - has hit $2800, nearly five times the original estimate.
Both items are among a treasure trove of family furniture to be auctioned on Tuesday as Hawke's wife Blanche d'Alpuget downsizes from the waterfront mansion they shared on Sydney's North Shore to an apartment following his death in May.
Other special clearance items from the sport-loving PM's closets include a couple of well-worn cricket balls, a signed photograph of Donald Bradman, several sets of golf clubs and Hawke's Lager esky.
For classical music connoisseurs, there are the two batons he used to conduct the Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah for his 80th Birthday at the Opera House.
For the history buffs, there's an Afghan wall hanging given to Hawke by then-Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto's husband Asif Ali Zardari - before he was accused of conspiracy to murder and fraud.
Other big ticket items include a selection of top-shelf alcohol and artworks by Harry Bilson, Hugh Sawrey and Euan Macleod.
The sale will be held at Paddington RSL on August 27.
Australian Associated Press
