September 28, 2009 - Auction Central News

Chippendale desk tops $41K at Leland Little’s booming Sept. 19 sale

Top lot of the sale was this 18th-century Pennsylvania Chippendale tiger maple desk, which sold for $41,400. Image courtesy Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – A late 18th-century Pennsylvania Chippendale desk, probably Lancaster County and crafted from strikingly figured tiger maple, sold for $41,400 at an estates auction conducted Sept. 19 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. The desk was the top achiever of the more than 700 quality lots that changed hands at Little’s latest Historic Hillsborough Auction.

It was just the second major auction held at Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales’ new state-of-the-art gallery facility, located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough. Hundreds of lots of fine art, period furniture and decorative accessories were sold, with the centerpiece being the estate collection of the late W. Samuel Tarlton, the respected art dealer and co-owner of an antique shop in Raleigh.

“This was quite simply the best sale we’ve ever had,” said Leland Little. “I feel a renewed freshness and energy in the auction business I haven’t experienced in some time. The mid-range market items, especially, such as jewelry and decorative accessories, did extremely well, much better than in previous sales. This is all very encouraging to us and the industry.”

Little added, “Our decision last year to build a new facility, which gives us greater access and visibility near the interstate, was a timely and prudent one. The new location is equipped with specialized gallery lighting, greatly expanded exhibit space and green building components. This building is a major asset to our business.”

The auction, which grossed a little under $1 million, attracted a standing-room-only crowd of more than 300 people. In addition, 752 bidders were registered online and more than 700 prebids were posted via LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bidding was active, as 1,200 absentee and phone bids were lined up prior to sale. In all, close to 1,000 people registered to bid live.

All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

The Chippendale sale-topping desk came out of the Tarlton collection. Other furniture pieces from his estate included a set of six Knoll & Saarinen white tulip chairs, circa 1960, and pedestal dining table, $3,336; an18th-century American Queen Anne maple center table, possibly from the North Carolina Chowan River Basin, $4,830; and an 18th-century Massachusetts Chippendale oxbow slant-lid desk ($4,600, est. $2,000-$3,000).

Also from the Tarlton estate, a New Hampshire Federal bowfront chest of drawers, circa 1800-1810, 12-panel form, sold for $5,750 and an American miniature Hepplewhite inlaid chest, early 19th century, went for $2,530. Artwork featured a bronze by Anna Hyatt Huntington (American, 1876-1973) titled Yawning Tiger that achieved $12,075 (est. $3,000-$5,000); and a still life oil on board by Jacques Blanche (French, 1861-1942) that made $4,140.

Staying in the fine art category, the sale also included many pieces acquired in the 1960s and ’70s by the Mead Corp. of Richmond, Va. Top earners included an oil on canvas painting by Robert Harvey (b. 1924), titled Brother Home on Leave and signed and dated 1964, which brought $4,370 against a $1,000-$2,000 estimate, and an oil on canvas painting by Jim Herbert (Georgia, b. 1938) titled Oriental, which made $1,840.

Two clocks sparked interest. One was a French cloisonné mantel clock with two matching candlesticks, stamped to indicate the maker won a silver medal in 1855, which swept past a $400-$800 to sell for $5,520. The other, a late 18th-century English Chippendale tall case clock, mahogany, 89 inches tall, topped $3,220.

Intriguing offerings included a Turkoman asmalyk, circa 1890, wool and silk with allover decoration, woven edging and five-sided camel decoration for the wedding procession carrying the bride. Estimated at $300-$600, it sold for $7,762. A pair of vintage concrete foxes with bushy tails and attractive weathering went to $2,415; and an antique toleware tray, 19th century, with a painted harbor scene depicting a Spanish galleon came in at $1,265.

A 163-piece sterling silver flatware service in the Pointed Antique pattern by Dominick & Haff and Reed & Barton climbed to $4,370 (est. $1,500-$2,500), while a beautiful Southern coin silver ladle by Linebach of Salem, N.C., went for $3,680 (est. $600-$900). In estate jewelry, a 1.15-carat round brilliant cut diamond brought $2,070 (est. $1,000-$1,500), and a 1.09-carat emerald cut diamond garnered $2,070.

Returning to fine art, a signed oil on panel by Julian Onderdonck (Texas, 1882-1922) titled Rock Quarries fetched $29,900; and an oil on linen signed by French artist Adolphe Binet (1854-1897) and titled Les Alezans, breezed to $23,000. An acrylic on canvas by John McCracken (New York/Calif., b. 1934), titled Mandala IV, made $19,550.

A pair of works by Richard Anuskziewicz (New Jersey, b. 1930) got the attention of bidders. An acrylic on canvas titled Soft Cover Vermilion topped out at $25,300, while an untitled oil on pressed board realized $10,350. Also, two large 18th-century French School murals, oil on canvas, each measuring 120 inches by 96 inches and depicting tranquil landscape scenes, sold for a respectable $18,400 and $14,950 against estimates of $3,000-$5,000 each.

Cellarets wowed the crowd. A George III example with mahogany veneer in the rare diminutive form, soared to $4,830, while an English wine cellaret, circa 1830, casket form on carved paw feet, hit $4,370. Also, a 19th-century tortoiseshell tea caddy, octagonal form with pagoda lid, rose to $1,725; and an Eero Saarinen for Knoll grasshopper chair, circa 1950s, with laminated wood frame garnered $1,265.

Vintage car enthusiasts weren’t disappointed. A bright red 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole with just 49,013 miles sped off for $24,150. Also, a 1930s Jugtown Chinese blue Persian jar, rich red with a strong blue contrast, achieved $16,100 ($3,000-$6,000); a rare group of six Baccarat Czar crystal-stem blown and cut glasses coasted to $4,600; and a unique pair of 19th-century famille rose garden seats hit $2,990.

From the entertainment and movie memorabilia collection of Bill Morrison, former art critic of the Raleigh News & Observer, a 1935 lobby card for the Alfred Hitchcock thriller 39 Steps went for $2,530, while a 1977 Star Wars movie poster fetched $920. Also, a rare 18th-century cookbook and an inscribed first-edition book by author Ayn Rand each brought $1,265.

Leland Little’s next Historic Hillsborough Auction will be Dec. 5-6, also in the new gallery. For information phone 919-644-1243, or e-mail them, at info@LLAuctions.com. To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., log on to www.LLAuctions.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

One of two paintings in the auction by Richard Anuskziewicz, this one titled 'Soft Cover Vermilion' made $25,300. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. — One of two paintings in the auction by Richard Anuskziewicz, this one titled ‘Soft Cover Vermilion’ made $25,300. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

Tiffany Studios' counterbalance desk lamp with bronze base and green damascene shade made $8,050. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. — Tiffany Studios’ counterbalance desk lamp with bronze base and green damascene shade made $8,050. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

This signed oil on linen by French artist Adolphe Binet (1854-1897) rallied to $23,000. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

Julian Onderdonk (Texas, 1882-1922) titled his oil on panel painting 'Rock Quarries.' It sold for $29,900. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. — Julian Onderdonk (Texas, 1882-1922) titled his oil on panel painting ‘Rock Quarries.’ It sold for $29,900. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

This bright red 1985 Ferrari 308 GTS Quattrovalvole, with just 49,013 miles, sped off for $24,150. Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd.

Family values expected to lift estate auction for Opfer, Oct. 4

Dated 1840, this watercolor and ink silhouette by August Edouart depicts the Mathews family of Baltimore. The image measures 10 3/4 by 11 3/4 inches and has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate. Image courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc.

TIMONIUM, Md. – Old-time family values will be paramount when Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc. sells the estate of Anne Harrison Walker on Oct. 4. A pair of American school samplers dated 1825 by sisters Mary and Martha Perrens will remain together and has an estimate of $15,000-$25,000. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

In their original black lacquered and gilt frames, the samplers both measure 25 by 20 1/2 inches.

On the same theme, a watercolor and ink silhouette of Baltimore’s Mathews family, dated 1840, is by August Edouart. In a gilt frame, the image is 10 3/4 by 11 3/4 inches and has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.

A Chippendale walnut tall case clock by Jacob Hostetter of Hanover, Pa., carries an $8,000-$12,000 estimate. The clock stands 96 inches high and has its original feet and an old finish. Some repairs are noted and rosettes are missing.

An American Chippendale walnut secretary desk, circa 1780, hails from Maryland or Pennsylvania. Although the bookcase top may not be original, it is an imposing piece at 89 inches high. It has a $7,000-$8,000 estimate.

From New York is a circa 1800 Federal serpentine sideboard, which probably has its original hardware. It is 40 inches high, 72 inches long and 29 1/2 inches deep. It has a $6,000-$9,000 estimate.

A large walnut step-back cupboard from Pennsylvania or the Mid-Atlantic region is estimated at $6,000-$9,000.

The estate auction will also include period mirrors, paintings and portraits, silver, Oriental rugs, lamps, early glass, export China, soft paste and transferware.

No less than 14 lots of Staffordshire spaniels will be sold, all but two of them being matched pairs.

For details on these and other lots phone 410-252-5035.

View the fully illustrated catalogs and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Richard Opfer Auctioneering, Inc’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Sisters Mary Perrens, age 10, and Martha Perrens, age 13, completed these schoolgirl samplers in 1825. Both measure 25 by 20 1/2 inches. They will be sold as a single lot, which has an estimate of $15,000-$25,000. Image courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc.

Jacob Hostetter of Hanover, Pa., crafted this Chippendale walnut tall case clock, which retains its original feet and likely its original finials. The estimate is $8,000-$12,000. Image courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc.

Some inlay and veneer loss is noted on this American Federal serpentine sideboard, which was crafted in New York state circa 1800. It measures 40 inches high, 72 inches long and 29 1/2 inches deep. Image courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc.

A modest estimate on this set of five hand-painted Chinese export plates prompted a flurry of preauction bidding on LiveAuctioneers. Image courtesy Richard Opfer Auctioneering Inc.

Presidential cane wins popular vote in Kimball Sterling’s Sept. 26 sale

George Washington hair cane, $10,950. Image courtesy Kimball M. Sterling Inc.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Kimball M. Sterling’s Saturday, Sept. 26 specialty auction provided conclusive evidence that the international cane market has snapped back and is in fine form. The company’s annual fall cane auction featured 170 fine-quality lots, with consignments including a New York nautical collection, a lifetime collection from the American Midwest, canes from the estate of San Francisco artist Melvin L. Cummings, and many other excellent examples from private collections from around the world

An extraordinary 1856 silver cane, probably by Lowell, purported to include a snippet of memorabilia straight from our first President’s head. The top of the cane was engraved with the following words: “Washington’s Hair 1793,” A concave inserted glass encased hair remnants believed to be those of the beloved Chief Executive. Engraved on the side of the handle next to a bronze depiction of the Liberty Bell wass written “Piece of the Independence Bell and Wood from the State House.” A tantalizing historical relic, the George Washington’s hair cane attracted 11 phone bidders and a swatch of Internet bidders participating from points as distant as Munich, Germany. Complete with cherry-wood case, it sold for $10,950 against an estimate of $3,000-$5,000.

Ivory erotic-theme canes were strong across the board. An 18th-century erotic German cane fared best at $10,950.00.

The auction’s top folk art cane was a French example consigned from the Estate of Melvin Cummings. Profusely carved with more than 100 depictions of human beings, animals, seashells, portraits, cats, birds and symbols, it hammered $4,600.

A late-19th-century French defensive “spike” cane featured articulated spikes that spring out when the cane’s metal collar is slipped down. “Of all of the known defensive canes, this particular example is probably the most dangerous,” auctioneer Kimball Sterling noted. It sold above its estimate for $4,100.

Internet bidders participating through LiveAuctioneers.com prevailed on 25% of the auction lots and were potent underbidders on “most all lots in the auction,” Sterling said.

“The top lots of the auction were all featured lots on LiveAuctioneers’ digital newspaper, Auction Central News,” Sterling continued. “Auction Central News also brought many fresh crossover bidders to the cane auction, from Russia to Dubai.”

Kimball M. Sterling’s next cane auction is scheduled for spring 2010. Consignments are now being accepted for the sale. For additional information, call Kimball M. Sterling at 423-928-1471, email kimballsterling@earthlink.net or visit the company online at www.auctionauction.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Early 19th-century Melvin E. Cummings folk-art cane from the estate of the artist, $4,600.

French late-19th-century defensive cane with articulated spikes that spring out when cane's collar is slipped down, $4,100. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com Archive and Kimball M. Sterling Inc. — French late-19th-century defensive cane with articulated spikes that spring out when cane’s collar is slipped down, $4,100. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com Archive and Kimball M. Sterling Inc.

A remarkable 18th-century German erotic cane was bid to $10,950. Image courtesy Kimball M. Sterling Inc.

Eskimo seal mask realizes $88,125 in Cowan’s Sept. 11 sale

Eskimo seal mask, $88,125. Image courtesy Cowan's Auctions.

CINCINNATI – An important 19th-century Eskimo seal mask from the St. Michael’s area was the top-selling lot in Cowan’s American Indian and Western Art Auction on September 11, 2009, more than doubling its $30,000-$40,000 estimate with a winning bid of $88,125. Constructed of two planks in red and black paint pinned together, with panels pierced for attachments and feathers, the mask is a fine example of the form. The auction grossed $950,000, with nearly 560 bidders competing for 456 lots.

“I am very pleased with the results of the auction,” said Danica Farnand, Cowan’s director of American Indian Art. “One of the stars came early in the sale, lot 10, a beautifully carved and very tactile Eskimo seal mask. Additionally, the California baskets were a hot spot. The overall atmosphere of the sale was positive, which was reflected in the prices overall.”

Two 19th- to early 20th-century American Indian garments were among the highest-grossing lots in the auction. A late 19th-century Fort Berthhold war shirt with bright quilled strips of blue, yellow, white, and red sold for $22,325, above its $15/20,000 estimate. A complete Chippewa man’s dance ensemble, including two bandolier bags with traditional floral motifs, velveteen leggings and sleeves with beaded decoration, a breech clout, a loom-beaded belt, and two pairs of beaded hide moccasins, brought $18,800, doubling its $8/10,000 estimate.

A surprise winner in the auction was a Navajo Third Phase chief’s blanket, which realized $16,450, well surpassing its $1,000/1,500 estimate. “The blanket’s final price was a surprise in part because the condition of the piece is very rough. However, the blanket is an early piece, dating to around 1870, with amazingly bright colors of hand-spun indigo and bayetta. It is beautiful with a very classic design, which made it desirable,” said Farnand.

Western art from several important collections, including the Estate of Dr. Edward Woliver of Cincinnati, Ohio, made up a quarter of the lots in the auction. Featured works by the genre’s best-known artists, including Henry Farny, Charles Russell, and John Hauser, among others, were top sellers.

“The Western Art portion of the auction was a success overall. We offered solid examples that had great purchase histories, and we estimated them conservatively. I think we’ve proven that by staying conservative for great works such as these, the consignor is better off in the long run,” commented Graydon Sikes, director of Paintings and Works on Paper.

The highlight of Dr. Woliver’s collection, an oil on canvas by Joseph Henry Sharp titled Hunting Son, Taos, brought $81,075 against an estimate of $40/60,000. The painting depicts Elk Foot Jerry, Sharp’s often-used American Indian model, and is representative of Sharp’s Southwestern oeuvre.

Indian Portrait by fellow Cincinnatian Henry Farny, a small watercolor and gouache on paper, is likely derived from a sketch made during one of Farny’s many trips west and is a fine example of his realist Dusseldorf style. It garnered $18,800, above its $10/15,000 estimate.

“I was thrilled with the participation of Cincinnati collectors in the auction, as they bid aggressively for works by artists with Cincinnati roots such as Farny and Sharp,” noted Sikes.

Eanger Irving Couse’s Turkey Hunter realized $47,587.50, within its $30/50,000 estimate. Couse, a member of the Taos Society of Artists, often painted Indian hunter scenes, and this was a sterling example. A watercolor on paper by Charles Marion Russell titled The Brave brought $38,187.50, within its $35/55,000 estimate. Though not known for works such as this, Russell painted several bust-length portraits of Indians, some of which are dated from 1899-1902. This watercolor was likely executed during that time.

View the fully illustrated catalog for this, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Fort Berthold quilled war shirt, $22,325. Image courtesy Cowan's Auctions. — Fort Berthold quilled war shirt, $22,325. Image courtesy Cowan’s Auctions.

Chippewa man's dance ensemble, $18,800. Image courtesy Cowan's Auctions. — Chippewa man’s dance ensemble, $18,800. Image courtesy Cowan’s Auctions.

Navajo Third Phase chief's blanket, $16,450. Image courtesy Cowan's — Navajo Third Phase chief’s blanket, $16,450. Image courtesy Cowan’s

Portrait of Elk Foot Jerry, Taos, by Joseph Henry Sharp, $81,075. Image

Turkey Hunter by Eanger Irving Couse, $47,587.50. Image courtesy Cowan's — Turkey Hunter by Eanger Irving Couse, $47,587.50. Image courtesy Cowan’s

Antiques Auction Gallery’s Oct. 9 debut features Arts & Crafts, estate art

Millersburg (Ohio) carnival glass punch set, multi-fruit pattern, includes six cups. Made circa 1910-1912, the brief period during which Millersburg produced carnival glass. Estimate $2,000-$2,200. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

SUNBURY, Ohio – The Antiques Auction Gallery – a newly minted company formed by auctioneer Cynthia Schillig and business partner Jo Valentine, co-founder of the multi-dealer Valentine Antique Gallery – is ready to lift the lid on central Ohio’s abundance of antiques and art. Their debut auction scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9 at the 12,000-square-foot Valentine Antique Gallery in Sunbury will feature 350 lots of hand-picked fine and decorative art and antiques from the region’s estates and private collections. Internet live bidding will be provided exclusively by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The Antiques Auction Gallery was created after the two principals, in comparing notes, realized there was no full-service antiques auction house available to the area’s citizens, attorneys, and estate and trust officers. “Collections are already promised to us for future sales,” said Valentine, “but for our first auction we wanted to present a sampler of categories and tastes that show the diversity of antiques to be found in local residences.”

A quintessential reflection of Ohio’s rich art-glass tradition, a Millersburg carnival glass punch bowl with pedestal base and six cups is one of the sale’s highlights. Executed in marigold glass, it features a multi-fruit pattern on its surface. Millersburg carnival glass is especially appealing to collectors because so little of it was made. Its production run lasted about two years, from 1910 to 1912, Valentine said. The set to be auctioned carries a presale estimate of $2,000-$2,200.

Two dozen other pieces of Millersburg carnival glass will be offered, including examples in the Big Fish and Trout patterns. Additional carnival glass by Northwood and Imperial will be included in the sale, as well.

The Midwest is a mecca for American art pottery, and more than two dozen lots have been cataloged in the sale’s pottery section. One of the highlights is a Roseville console bowl in the Pink Moss pattern. Other Roseville patterns represented include Apple Blossom, Magnolia, Freesia and Florentine.

Weller motifs include Cloudburst, Wild Rose, Florala and Rosa. Additionally, collectors may choose from a number of desirable forms by Zanesville, Hull, Van Briggle and McCoy, including a few early designs by Nelson McCoy.

The Chicago firm Pickard China, whose history includes producing dinnerware for Air Force One, is highly collectible, particularly those designs from the company’s early days. “We will have 7 or 8 pieces of artist-signed, hand-painted Pickard from the 1910 to 1920s period,” said Valentine. “Collectors won’t want to miss this opportunity.”

A late-19th-century Etruscan (Phoenixville, Pa.) majolica syrup pitcher with pewter lid, marked and with a foliate motif, could finish in the $300-$400 range, while a late-19th-century Karl Diesinger (German) tankard, 21 inches tall with pewter lid and DRGM mark, boasts many attractive features. The “measle” effect is an attractive accent to the tankard’s artwork, which depicts cherubs and a bar scene.

Three circa-1880s Stephen Parrish (1846-1938) artworks are slated to be sold, including November, On the Thames, and Low Tide Bay of Fundy, a signed, 22-inch by 16-inch painting on silk estimated at $600-$700. Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) prints, a calendar and thermometer also will be offered.

A late-19th-century watercolor by E.J. Fenn, 33½ inches by 21 inches, carries an estimate of $350-$400. An accomplished artist in her own right, Fenn was married to Harry Fenn, an illustrator for Harper’s during the Civil War period.

Many outstanding examples of Arts & Crafts design will cross the auction block. An oak library table with single middle drawer is expected to earn $600-$700, while a Carl Sorensen hammered-copper pedestal ashtray could possibly realize $600-$650. The turn of the 20th-century piece has a base with supports designed as cats with arched backs. Other Sorensen designs in the sale include a bowl, lidded compote and vase.

Another distinguished figure from the Arts & Crafts period, Karl Kipp, left the Roycroft shop for a brief period between 1912 and 1915 to establish the Tookay Shop. A pewter tray by Kipp, emblazoned with the Tookay Shop mark, has a presale estimate of $300-$350. A pair of Roycroft Poppy bookends with a mark from the mid- to late 1920s, could reach the $650-$750 price range.

The sale will also feature a small collection of fine paperweights, including examples by Melville, Val St. Lambert, New England Glass Co., and Baccarat; as well as still banks, cast-iron doorstops and bookends, and many other quality estate antiques.

For information on any item in the sale, call 740-965-9519 or e-mail info@valentineantiquegallery.com. View the fully illustrated electronic catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Stephen Parrish (1846-1938), Low Tide Bay of Fundy, painting on silk, circa 1880, plate signed and titled, also signed in pencil, 22 inches by 16 inches. Estimate $600-$700. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

Karl Kipp pewter tray, 5¾ inches in diameter, Tookay Shop mark from period between 1912-1915, after Kipp left Roycroft. Estimate $300-$350. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

Carl Sorensen, hammered-copper ashtray, late 19th century. Cats with arched backs form base. Estimate $600-$650. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

E. J. Fenn (American), late-19th-century watercolor, 33½ inches by 21 inches (framed). Estimate $350-$400. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

Roycroft ‘Poppy’ Arts & Crafts bookends with mark from mid to late 1920s, 5¾ inches tall. Estimate $650-750. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

Majolica Etruscan syrup with pewter lid, circa 1880, 5½ inches tall, by Griffen, Smith & Hill of Phoenixville, Pa. Estimate $300-$400. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

Diesenger stein, late 19th century, 21 inches tall, good example of “measle” effect unique to certain Diesinger steins. Estimate $300-$400. Image courtesy The Antiques Auction Gallery.

$149,500 fire truck is no. 1 at Bertoia’s sale of Kaufman toys, part II

Circa-1912 Marklin steam fire truck, German, 18 inches long, sold for $149,500, top lot at Bertoia's Sept. 25-26 sale of the Donald Kaufman collection, part II. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.

VINELAND, N.J. – Exhibiting all the “bells and whistles” collectors yearn for, a circa-1912 Marklin live-steam fire pumper blazed to the top of prices realized in Bertoia Auctions’ Sept. 25-26 sale of the Donald Kaufman antique toy collection, part II, achieving $149,500 (inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium) against an estimate of $40,000-$50,000. An exciting event that drew scores of overseas buyers, the 1,129-lot auction concluded with a gross that brushed the $3 million mark.

The top lot, considered by many German toy experts to be the ultimate in Marklin craftsmanship, was a masterpiece in detail, from its bright, hand-painted open frame with exposed boiler to its intricate gear work. Fewer than five examples of the 18-inch-long prize are known to exist. The one offered at Bertoia’s will now reside in Europe.

Online bidding through LiveAuctioneers was busy throughout the two days of the sale, with 155 lots selling online. Among them was a circa-1930s cast-iron Hubley Flower Shoppe Indian motorcycle delivery van. Attributed as a private-commission example, it retained its custom “Flower Shoppe Inc.” paper label, seated driver in brown uniform, rubber tires and nickel spoke wheels. Formerly in the L.C. Hegarty collection, the 10½-inch-long rarity cruised to an online price of $38,560.

Estimated at $4,000-$6,000, a futuristic 1950s Yonezawa (Japan) Atom Jet Racer, 26½ inches long, with colorful original box, was claimed by a LiveAuctioneers bidder for $22,895.

Bertoia Auctions’ owner, Jeanne Bertoia, commented on the outstanding result: “Bridging the $3 million mark and topping the high catalog estimate, the Sept. 25-26 sale proved that great collections and great presentations trump any economic forecasting,” she said.

Part III of the ongoing series of auctions exclusively featuring the Donald Kaufman collection will take place on April 9-10, 2010. The series of semiannual sales is expected to span two years or more.

View the fully illustrated catalog for the Sept. 25-26 auction, with prices realized, online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

# # #

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Circa-1930s Hubley Indian cast-iron motorcycle delivery van, 10 1/2 inches long, sold through LiveAuctioneers for $38,560. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.

Boxed futuristic Atom Jet tin racer by Yonezawa, 1950s, 26 1/2 inches long, sold through LiveAuctioneers.com for $22,895 against an estimate of $4,000-$6,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.

Woodbury Auction to sell longtime California cache on Oct. 3

Bidding is anticipated to range from $3,000 to $5,000 for this fine George II carved mahogany armchair. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC.

WOODBURY, Conn. – A large collection of period furniture, porcelain and Asian textiles consigned by a West Coast collector make up the bulk of a major auction that Woodbury Auction will sell Oct 3. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. The 498-lot auction will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern

“It’s a very nice sale, broadly based and highlighted by English, Irish and American Classical furniture,” said Thomas G. Schwenke, director of operations at Woodbury Auction. “The seller is an astute collector, someone I’ve known for some time. He has selectively bought all over California for 35 years.”

Schwenke traveled to Los Angeles to view the collection this past summer and arranged to have it shipped to Connecticut, he said.

Supplementing the sale will be small collections of folk art and Asian art.

Topping the list of furniture is a fine George II carved mahogany armchair made in Ireland during the 18th century. It features a serpentine carved crest above a ribbon and tassel carved pierced splat, shaped arms and acanthus carved cabriole front legs ending in scrolled French feet. The stately chair has a $3,000-$5,000 estimate.

Another Irish or English piece is a George III carved mahogany fold-over game table with a shaped top and crotch veneer top surface and four arched cabriole legs. The front legs have acanthus carved knees and claw-and-ball feet. It also features a figured mahogany veneer apron with a drawer in the front. The estimate is $5,000-$7,000.

A Classical figured mahogany swivel-top card table attributed to Duncan Phyfe, circa 1820, stands to make $4,000-$6,000.

Two Civil War-era drums will be available. One made of maple and labeled “George Kilbourne Bass and Snare Drums … Albany, NY” has a $1,000-$1,500 estimate. It is 17 1/2 inches in diameter by 14 1/2 inches high.

Asian textiles will include an imperial dragon robe embroidered with silk and gold metallic thread. With some embroidery loss noted, the estimate is $2,000-$4,000.

A folk art carved Indian bust, 16 inches high by 27 inches wide, was used on the counter of a cigar store in the early 1900s. It has a $2,000-$3,000 estimate.

For details on these and other lots phone 203-266-0323.

View the fully illustrated catalogs and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet during the sale at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Click here to view Woodbury Auction LLC’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Embroidered with silk and gold metallic thread, this imperial dragon robe has a $3,000-$4,000 estimate. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC.

Four arched cabriole legs enhance this fine George III carved mahogany game table, which carries a $5,000-$7,000 estimate. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC.

‘George Kilbourne Base and Snare Drums, 119 Orange St., Albany N.Y.' is printed on a label of this Civil War-era drum. It could approach $1,000-$1,500 on Saturday at Woodbury Auction. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC. — ‘George Kilbourne Base and Snare Drums, 119 Orange St., Albany N.Y.’ is printed on a label of this Civil War-era drum. It could approach $1,000-$1,500 on Saturday at Woodbury Auction. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC.

Attributed to Duncan Phyfe, New York, circa 1820, this classical figured mahogany card table features carved and inlaid sabre legs ending in foliate brass casters. It has a $4,000-$6,000 estimate. Image courtesy Woodbury Auction LLC.

Titanic exhibit being prepared in Louisville

The RMS Titanic, photographed before departing on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England on April 5, 1912.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – The Titanic exhibit being set up at the Louisville Science Center may be the most significant attraction ever to be displayed at the West Main Street museum, said Joanna Haas, the center’s executive director.
Haas declined to say how much the center had to pay to get “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition,” scheduled to run Oct. 3 to Feb. 15. But, she said “it was a negotiation that required a lot of work” and took almost a year to wrap up. She wouldn’t speculate on whether the center would make a profit, but she predicted about 50,000 people will see it during its local run.

Every deal, Haas said, poses “risks and opportunities, and we’re hoping the exhibit elevates the prominence” of the Louisville center and “puts us on the radar screen of more folks. It is a big deal for us, and a great thing for the region. I can’t underscore that enough.”

Haas said Louisville is one of the first cities to land a scaled-down version of the Titanic exhibit that has been specifically developed for midsize markets.

Seven touring versions of the Titanic exhibit have been developed by Premier Exhibitions Inc. of Atlanta. They have been viewed by more than 22 million people worldwide since 1994. Besides the one being set up in Louisville, Titanic exhibits are currently being shown in Rochester, N.Y.; New York City; St. Paul, Minn.; Las Vegas; Montreal; and Lisbon, Portugal.

Becky Parker, a curator for the Titanic exhibit at the science center, said the 150 artifacts to go on display in Louisville were trucked in from Atlanta. Most of the items had been recently exhibited at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.

A Premier subsidiary, RMS Titanic Inc., is the only entity permitted under a federal court ruling to recover objects from the wreck of the ill-fated ocean liner.

Parker said the company’s representatives have made seven expeditions to the wreck and recovered more than 5,500 artifacts. She said her company is the caretaker of the items, not the owner. The ownership of the wreck is uncertain and has never been settled by a court ruling.

The Titanic sank in April 1912 about 250 miles northeast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic. It broke in half when it sank after striking an iceberg and the two halves lie about a mile apart about 21/2 miles down on the ocean floor. Parker said the vessel will never be raised.

The last survivor of the sinking, Millvina Dean, died this year. She was nine months old when the ship sank.

The exhibit will be divided into seven galleries. The first shows how the ship was designed, including early photographs. Subsequent galleries focus on the launch, the passengers, the third-class accommodations and the iceberg. A sixth gallery explores how the wreckage was discovered in 1985 and the last is a memorial gallery that lists each passenger.

When they enter the exhibit, visitors will be given a boarding pass with the name of one of the 2,228 passengers on the maiden voyage of the ship that many considered to be unsinkable. In the last gallery visitors can check the passenger list to see if the passenger named on the boarding pass survived the sinking.

The exhibit features a large replica of an iceberg, developed with the help of refrigeration equipment that allows layers of ice to build up on metal sheets.

Among the 150 items on display will be a wrench, a porthole, British and American coins, floor tiles, furniture, china, fuses, a toothpaste container, a sauce pan, bathtub fixtures, perfume vials, cooking pots, dishes and personal items.
Six items in the exhibit were recently conserved and have never been on display before, Parker said. They are a gold braided chain, two postcards, a marriage certificate, a metal hairpin and a small gold-plated cosmetic canister.

Throughout its run at the science center, the basic adult admission, usually $12, will be $18. Tours of the exhibit will be self-guided, but audio tours are available for an additional $5.
___

Information from: The Courier-Journal,
http://www.courier-journal.com

AP-CS-09-25-09 1411EDT

Kovels – Antiques & Collecting: Week of Sept. 28, 2009

This huge example of recycling, a chair made with old, used wooden thread spools, sold for $490 at Thomaston Auction in Thomaston, Me. It is 53 1/2 inches high by 23 inches wide.

Recycling isn’t a new idea. Our ancestors reused bits of cloth for quilts, made clothing out of flour bags, and used old cigar boxes to make chip-carved picture frames and boxes. Their rule was “waste not, want not,” so it’s not surprising that the bare wooden spools left after thread was used seemed too practical to ignore. Sewing machines were introduced to the general public in the 1840s, and a machine needed commercial thread on a spool. A lathe developed about 1815 made turnings that were probably cut apart to use as wooden spools for thread. Until about 1900, uncut turnings were used to make spool furniture. But another type of spool furniture was made from the empty thread spools that were saved by sewers. A chair or table was constructed of straight pieces of wood, then decorated with dozens of applied spools either left round or cut in half lengthwise. The finished furniture looked like traditional Victorian pieces with elaborate jigsaw decoration. Today “sewing spool” furniture is considered folk art. A very large high-back spool chair made about 1900-10 recently sold for $490.

Q: I hope you can settle an argument for us. Was Coors pottery made by the same company that makes Coors beer?

A: Coors pottery was made by Coors Porcelain Co., not the brewery, but there is a connection between the two companies. John Herold, a German immigrant, founded the Herold China and Pottery Co. in Golden, Colo., in 1910. Herold made oven-safe porcelain dishes at his factory, which was leased from Adolph Coors, founder of the brewery. Coors was a Herold China and Pottery Co. stockholder and board member. John Herold left the company in 1914. In 1920 the name of the pottery was changed to Coors Porcelain Co. Ovenware and tableware was made until 1980, and custom orders were made after that. The company now makes industrial porcelain under the name CoorsTek.

Q: I have had a 16-inch Morton Salt advertising thermometer for a long time and would like to know what it’s worth. It’s blue and yellow with a white image of the Morton “Umbrella Girl” and the words “Morton Free Running Salt, When It Rains It Pours.” It also says “Never Cakes or Hardens” at the top and “Morton Salt Co., Chicago” at the bottom. The thermometer measures degrees from 40 below 0 to 120 degrees above.

A: Advertising thermometers were popular from the 1920s until the 1970s. They were given to stores that sold the product being advertised. Morton Salt Co. dates back to 1848, but was incorporated with that name in 1910. The Umbrella Girl was introduced in Morton ads the following year and was first used on boxes of salt in 1914. The girl’s image has been updated over the years. You can buy a new Morton advertising thermometer for $18 on the company’s Web site. Old ones sell for more or even less, depending on condition.

Q: I would like to know the difference between hatpins, stickpins and lapel pins.

A: A hatpin is practical as well as decorative, and is used to hold a woman’s hat on her head. Hatpins were especially popular during the Victorian era. A stickpin is a long, straight pin with a decorative head that’s worn to hold a necktie or scarf in place. Stickpins became fashionable when men started wearing cravats in the late 18th century. Today, women sometimes wear a stickpin on a collar or lapel as a piece of jewelry. A lapel pin is usually small and has a short pin on the back. It’s meant to be worn on the lapel of a jacket or coat, but may also be pinned onto a hat, dress or collar. A lapel pin may be a badge or company insignia, or it may be just a piece of jewelry. A small American flag is a popular lapel pin today.

Q: I have a vintage Girl Scout mess kit and canteen. They’re in mint condition. Would they be of interest to a collector? How much are they worth?

A: Girl Scout collectors search for anything pertaining to the Girl Scouts. The Girl Scout movement started in 1912 under the leadership of Juliette Gordon Low of Savannah, Ga. Many Girl Scout mess kits were made in the 1950s and ’60s. Your kit should have an aluminum fry pan with a swing handle, a cooking pot with a cover, a plate, a plastic cup and stainless-steel utensils. All of the pieces fit inside the cooking pot and cover and are held together with a screw handle. The kit originally came in a green plaid carrying case labeled with the Girl Scout insignia. The canteen, with its carrying case, was sold separately. Vintage Girl Scout mess kits sell for $5 to $10. A mint canteen with its original box can sell for up to $35.

Tip: A miniature painting should not be washed. Most miniatures are painted on ivory, and the paint will wash off.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

Need more information about collectibles? Find it at Kovels.com, our Web site for collectors. Check prices there, too. More than 700,000 are listed and viewing them is free. You can also sign up to read our weekly “Kovels Komments.” It includes the latest news, tips and questions, and is delivered by e-mail, free, if you register. Kovels.com offers lots of collecting information and lists of publications, clubs, appraisers, auction houses, people who sell parts or repair antiques and much more. You can also subscribe to Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, our monthly newsletter filled with prices, facts and color photos. Kovels.com adds to the information in our newspaper column and helps you find useful sources needed by collectors.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Hawaiian-themed restaurant menu, 1950s, Sunshine Room, St. Petersburg, Fla., cardboard, Hawaiian flowers and palm trees, gold braided cord, 12 x 9 inches, $25.
Golden Gate International Exposition belt buckle, brass, “1939 San Francisco Bay,” blue enamel paint, $50.
McCoy Locomotive cookie jar, yellow and pumpkin, black wheels, red smokestack, 1960s, 11 x 6 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches, $95.
Black evening bag, rhinestone clasp, black satin lining with two slit pockets, beaded strap, marked “Handbags by Josef,” 10 x 6 inches, $175.
Webb glass vase, bulbous, long neck, blue and white, enameled pink apple blossoms, 15 3/4 inches, $230.
Uneeda Biscuit boy doll, by Ideal, composition flange head, painted eyes, closed mouth, molded blond hair, stuffed body, yellow sateen raincoat and hat, 1914, 15 inches, $325.
Rookwood tray, rook perched on oak leaves and acorns, brown and red matte glaze, circa 1912, 11 x 2 1/2 inches, $645.
Stickley Brothers plant stand, square top, peg construction, old refinish, metal Quaint Furniture tag, 12 1/2 x 32 inches, $780.
Kendall’s Spavin Cure poster, “Cures for Horses & Humans,” hunting dogs, horse, woman in riding dress, circa 1900, 22 x 28 inches, $1,175.
Navajo rug, Storm pattern, gray, white & black wool, 1930s, 32 x 52 inches, $1,300.

Be a smarter, more successful collector. Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles, our monthly newsletter, and archives of its back issues are now available on our Web site, Kovels.com. The searchable archives include hundreds of helpful “Kovels” articles, plus hard-to-find information about trends, prices, caring for collectibles and how to buy and sell. Every issue of our concise, fact-filled newsletter is chockfull of news, sale reports, prices, moneymaking tips, questions from collectors and dozens of color photos. The 12-page completely searchable newsletter is available 24/7 at Kovels.com. Subscribers are sent a courtesy e-mail every month when the latest issue is posted. Subscribers, like all Kovels.com registered users, also receive a free weekly e-mail update with the latest news from the collecting world, access to 700,000 prices, a directory of companies that help collectors and more. Visit Kovels.com for all the details.
© 2009 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Caption:

This huge example of recycling, a chair made with old wooden thread spools, sold for $490 at Thomaston Auction in Thomaston, Maine. It is 53 1/2 inches high by 23 inches wide.

Sign up for daily highlights by email