After more than 60 years as a professional picker, Wayne Learie has announced his retirement and will auction his extensive personal and store collection through DirectAuctions.Com. The auction marks the end of an era for one of Canada's most respected figures in the antiques and collectibles industry, whose career spanned finding everything from Led Zeppelin's robe to rare gas pumps and vintage signs.
The significance of this event extends beyond a simple retirement sale. Learie's collection represents six decades of curated expertise in identifying rare and valuable items, making this auction a benchmark event for collectors and dealers. The timing coincides with Learie's business acquisition by DirectAuctions.Com, where he will continue collaborating with owner Jeff Schwarz, known as "The Liquidator" from television reality programming.
Among the most historically important pieces in the 2,000-item collection is a 1938 carving depicting Chief August Jack Khatsahlano of the Squamish Nation. This piece connects to Vancouver's early settlement history and the preservation of Indigenous oral traditions, documented in J.S Matthews' book Conversations with Khahtsahlano 1932-1952. The inclusion of such culturally significant items demonstrates how private collections can preserve important historical artifacts that might otherwise remain inaccessible to the public.
The auction's diversity showcases Learie's wide-ranging expertise across multiple collecting categories. Notable pieces include early Canadian Addison radios from the 1950s, an original "Girl on the Beach" Coca-Cola sign in mint condition, a restored Austin children's pedal car, and signed Tiffany lighting. Collectors will also find Hardy fishing equipment from the 1920s and '30s, rare Canadiana furniture, Chinese jade carvings, fine jewelry, sterling silver, and Indigenous art.
Additional highlights include vintage display cases, military memorabilia from worldwide estates, and restored Seeburg and Wurlitzer jukeboxes. Industry experts anticipate this will be the most significant auction event in the Fraser Valley in 25 years, creating opportunities for collectors to acquire pieces that rarely enter the market.
Jeff Schwarz expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration, noting that "acquiring The Mad Picker and collaborating with Wayne allows us to further expand into the estate and collectibles market." The auction will be conducted live online over two days, with both Learie and Schwarz hosting the event. Worldwide shipping will be available, allowing global participation in what many consider a once-in-a-lifetime collecting opportunity. Interested parties can view the auction and register at https://bid.directauctions.com/Wayne-Learie-s-Incredible-Antique-Store-Personal-Collection-Auction_a74880?m=all.
The retirement auction represents more than just the dispersal of a personal collection—it signifies the passing of knowledge and expertise from one generation to another in the antiques industry. Learie's reputation as a "cold door knocker" who discovered hidden treasures through direct engagement reflects a disappearing approach in an increasingly digital marketplace. His career demonstrates how individual expertise and persistence can build significant cultural and financial value over time.
For the collecting community, this event offers access to pieces vetted by one of Canada's most experienced professionals. For the industry, it highlights the ongoing transition from traditional picking to digital auction platforms while preserving the knowledge and relationships that built the field. The auction's historical pieces, particularly the Indigenous artifacts, also emphasize how private collectors can serve as temporary custodians of culturally important objects before they pass to new owners.
