Legendary 'Mad Picker' Wayne Learie Retires with Landmark Auction of 60-Year Collection
TL;DR
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.
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After more than six decades of professional picking, Wayne Learie has announced his retirement and will auction his extensive personal and store collection through DirectAuctions.Com. This auction marks the culmination of a career that established Learie, known as The Mad Picker, as a trusted authority among collectors and antique enthusiasts across Canada and internationally. His reputation was built on discovering hidden gems in basements, backyard sheds, and estates, with specialties ranging from rare gas pumps and vintage signs to celebrity memorabilia including Led Zeppelin's robe.
The upcoming auction features more than 2,000 rare and collectible pieces, with standout items including a 1938 historically significant local carving depicting Chief August Jack Khatsahlano of the Squamish Nation. This carving represents an important piece of West Coast history, featuring a leader instrumental in preserving Squamish Nation oral history and collaborating with Vancouver's early settlers. Chief Khatsahlano is documented in the book Conversations with Khahtsahlano 1932-1952 by early Vancouver City Archivist J.S Matthews, adding scholarly significance to this cultural artifact.
Other notable pieces in the collection include highly collectible early Canadian Addison radios from the 1950s, an original mint-condition "Girl on the Beach" Coca-Cola sign, a fully restored Austin children's pedal car, and a signed Tiffany table lamp and candle holder. The diversity continues with Hardy fishing reels and rods from the 1920s and '30s, rare Canadiana furniture, carved Chinese jade, fine jewelry, sterling silver, Indigenous art, military swords and badges, and restored Seeburg and Wurlitzer jukeboxes. This breadth demonstrates Learie's eclectic taste and expertise across multiple collecting categories.
Jeff Schwarz, owner of DirectAuctions.Com and known as "The Liquidator" from television, expressed excitement about the collaboration. Schwarz stated that working with Learie has been an honor and privilege, noting the significance of presenting such a unique collection that rarely comes up for auction. The acquisition of The Mad Picker business allows DirectAuctions.Com to expand further into the estate and collectibles market, positioning the company for future growth in this specialized sector.
The two-day live online auction will be hosted by both Learie and Schwarz and streamed worldwide, enabling international participation in what is anticipated to be the most significant auction event in the Fraser Valley in 25 years. This global accessibility through the online platform at DirectAuctions.Com represents a modern approach to traditional collecting, allowing worldwide bidders to participate in this landmark event. The auction's timing in late October 2025 and the availability of worldwide shipping for successful bidders ensures maximum accessibility for the international collecting community.
Curated from 24-7 Press Release
