May 24, 2011

The Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) is offering select items from its historic collection of maritime art and artifacts for sale at a public auction on May 25 at 10 a.m.

The event will be hosted by Bonhams, one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques.

Items for auction will include maps, paintings, ship models, and other items of maritime antiquity. A preview of the auction can be viewed online at http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19192.

Proceeds from the auction "will benefit the continued development of SCI's service to mariners," according to a press release from the institute.

"For over 177 years, the Seamen's Church Institute has grown with the maritime industry, witnessing two world wars, the birth of containerization, and the advent of satellite communication," noted the press release. "SCI's collection of art and artifacts reflects the institute's history of service to seafarers as well as historic developments in the maritime industry.

The public auction will be hosted by Bonhams at 580 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Attendees can register in advance online at http://bonhams.com/eur/auction/19192, or at the door to bid in the saleroom during the live auction, the release said.

Spurred by changes in technology and the maritime industry, SCI announced in October 2010 that it would be selling its six-story Water Street building in Manhattan, New York, and relocating some of its programs into its newly renovated International Seafarers' Center in Port Newark, New Jersey.

SCI housed many of its artifacts in the Water Street building prior to its sale, Oliver Brewer, SCI's director of communications, told ENS.

"Many of these objects find a new home at the recently reopened Port Newark International Seafarers'‘ Center, but SCI carefully selected from the remaining objects those which we believed would attain a good home out in the world of maritime history enthusiasts," he said. "The funds raised from this auction go straight to the programs of the institute, funding our outreach to seafarers and inland river mariners. All of the auction items, gifts from SCI's 177 years of service, will live out the giver's intent to benefit mariners and help SCI fulfill its mission to them."

Episcopal News Service