Online Auction Scheduled For Perani Collection
FLINT (WWJ/AP) - A collection of unusual items owned by the late businessman and hockey player Bob Perani -- including a three-headed elephant made from driftwood -- will be auctioned online next month, his son says.
Perani, who died last April, was an all-star goaltender for the now-defunct Flint Generals and founded the sports retail chain Perani's Hockey World. He collected sporting goods, memorabilia and other odds and ends throughout his life. More than 4,000 items will be sold online Feb. 19 and Feb. 26.
"It's bittersweet," his son, Robert Perani, told Mlive.com. "My dad really enjoyed collecting. ... It's such unique stuff that you never really see."
Many of the possessions for sale came from Thailand, where Bob Perani made many purchases in recent years. He had planned to open an import-export specialty shop, his son said. But when the elder Perani died, the property became too much to handle -- especially when business went downhill at his Dort Mall, where the items are stored.
"We could not even keep the lights on," Robert Perani said. "At that point, we had to make the sale just to shut everything down. It's almost like a liquidation sale."
He said proceeds from the auction will help cover costs of the goods from Thailand, including transportation. The sale is expected to raise as much as $500,000, said asset liquidator Chad Morse.
"It's unbelievable what's here," Morse said, pointing to images of the items on his laptop computer. "This door is 3,000 years old from India. ... Here's a three-headed elephant that's made out of driftwood."
Robert Perani said some of the items have caught the attention of musician Kid Rock.
"There's a few signs and lamp posts he wanted to use for decorations for a couple of his houses," he said, adding that the rock star also showed interest in a century-old drum from India made from elephant skin.
"He was beating on it and said he never had heard a reverberation like that before," Perani said.
The auction is commissioned through Orbitbid.com. The items' value ranges from $100 to $10,000.
A list of items for the Tuesday, Feb. 19, auction can be viewed here. A list of items for the Tuesday, Feb. 26, auction can be viewed here.
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