Jewel encrusted Mughal dagger sold for $314,500. Rago Arts and Auction Center image. LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. –Rago Arts and Auction Center’s 2,000-lot auction on Sept. 14-16 would have been a great success without lot 2606. With it, Rago’s has made news. Lot 2606, cataloged as “jewel encrusted Mughal dagger, Northern India, rare Kanhjar form, 18th/19th century Quillon, grip and pommel in gold set with cabochon rubies, emeralds and diamonds stretched over iron, sheath with similar mountings, finely worked Damascus steel blade,” sold to a private collector for $314,500.
The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous, said this of his purchase: “Beautifully crafted and decorated daggers such as this only come to auction once in a collector’s lifetime. When I laid eyes on it, I immediately recognized not only the sheer beauty of its form, but also its undeniable historic and cultural significance. To think that centuries ago a fabulously wealthy and powerful Mughal Emperor or Indian Maharajah may well have owned this glorious example of human endeavor instills in me a deep sense of privilege and honor. Indeed, it is an incredible feeling to be the latest custodian of this elegant and rare weapon.”
“We knew that it would sell far over estimate when we set the price. The highest auction records for Mughal daggers showed sales close to six figures,” said Tom Martin, who heads Rago’s estates department, “Needless to say, we had no idea what the final selling price would be. One of specialists here did guess $250,000 as the hammer. Maybe it was the 20 phone bidders that clued him in.”
The selling price was not a record for the auction house. Rago’s has sold property for upwards of $500,000 before, but this was the first outside of their specialty in 20th century design.
There were other extremely strong sales in the Great Estates auction, as well as the two-day Discovery auction which preceded it.
Ephemera performed exceedingly well. Lot 2627, the George T. Dowling Abolitionist papers, consisting of 20 letters, including one from Abraham Lincoln dated 1862, one from President Ulysses S. Grant and others from prominent civil rights leaders and abolitionists, brought $20,000. An Edgar Allen Poe autograph brought $11,875. A collection of Lotten glass brought over $60,000, exceeding the high estimate and bringing in buyers from across the country. Coins and currency (lots 2651-1395) achieved a total of over $61,000, surpassing the high estimate of $49,100.
Just the Great Estates portion of the weekend auction totaled $1.15 million (includes the buyer’s premium) with 90 percent of the lots selling.
Additional highlights included:
Lot 2269 – Alfred Boucher Figural Bronze Sculpture, Au But: $20,000;
Lot 2284 – 19th century European genre scene, oil on panel of a market scene: $17,500;
Lot 2312 – George Woodall / Thomas Webb rock crystal decanter and six glasses: $15,000;
Lot 2228 – Pair of French dore bronze candelabra: $13,750;
Lot 2338 – Chinese ivory carving: $8,750;
Lot 2607 – Mughal dagger with rock crystal handle: $8,750; and
Lot 2271 – Mythological bronze Hercules on marble base: $6,250.
More than 1,600 Internet bidders participated, from the U.S. Canada, South America, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, China, Japan, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Lebanon, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Ukraine, Philippines, Thailand, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
George T. Downing abolitionist papers: $20,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.Alfred Boucher figural bronze sculpture, ‘Au But’: $20,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.Nineteenth century European genre scene oil on panel of a market scene: $17,500. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.George Woodall / Thomas Webb rock crystal decanter and six glasses: $15,000. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.Pair of French dore bronze candelabra: $13,750. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.Chinese ivory carving: $8,750. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.Mughal dagger with rock crystal handle: $8,750. Rago Arts and Auction Center image.
This Alexander Calder hand-hammered sterling silver brooch topped the auction, selling for $22,140. Woodbury Auction image.
WOODBURY, Conn. – An Alexander Calder hand-hammered sterling silver brooch that fetched $22,140 was the top item at Woodbury Auction presented its Early Fall Fine Estates Auction on Sunday, Sept. 16.
The auction had a diverse offering of 537 lots of estate material from three prime estates and numerous other estates and consignors. A standing room only crowd was present in the saleroom to compete for the eclectic material on offer. According to Thomas Schwenke, owner/auctioneer, in this sale the firm experienced nearly 100 percent increase in participation on the Internet with almost 700 bidders competing online during the sale and over 2,200 live Internet bids placed, resulting in over 45 percent of the catalog lots selling on the Internet and over 1,300 Internet underbids being logged.
“Our Internet clerk, my daughter Margaret, did an absolutely amazing job handling the huge volume of Internet bidding activity in this sale,” said Schwenke.
The Calder brooch, estimated at $12,000 to $18,000, was sold for an existing Woodbury Auction consignor who decided to offer the piece subsequent to the firm’s notable sale of two other original Calder jewelry pieces in its Spring Fine Estates Auction on June 17. Like those pieces, the brooch had been a personal gift from the artist – in this case to Winifred McCulloch, a prominent New Yorker with social connections to Calder – and had never before been offered for sale. The brooch was in the form of McCulloch’s first initial “W” and she had bequeathed the specially conceived pin to the consignor in 1962. Calder, the noted prolific artist and sculptor whose home and workshop were in Roxbury, Conn., was known for gifting jewelry pieces to his friends during the course of his career.
The big surprise of the sale was a small framed woodcut print by Edna Hopkins, drawn from a New Haven, Conn. Modestly estimated at $60-$80, the print inspired fierce competition from absentee bidders, Internet bidders, and several bidders present in the room. The successful bidder claimed the prize through the Internet for a final total of $9,840. As he knocked down the print, auctioneer Schwenke quipped from the podium, “I guess we were a bit conservative on that one!”
Other noteworthy lots from included an English grain-painted folk art cupboard, which sold for $5,700 after lively bidding from several bidders in the audience. A signed limited edition of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged went for $748, and a Jose Formoso Reyes Nantucket friendship basket hammered for $2,935.
Jewelry and silver performed well, reflecting the recent increase in precious metal spot prices. A lot of four diamond rings went to a LiveAuctioneers’ bidder for $738, a three piece Continental Silver tea set sold for $2,706 to the Internet, and a four-piece sterling silver tea/coffee set brought $3,565 after brisk bidding in the room.
The large collection of British campaign furniture and country furniture outperformed expectation at all levels. Drawn from the Great Barrington estate of Edward Adolph, former part owner of British Country Antiques in Woodbury, the collection included a leather upholstered Chippendale-style wing chair that fetched $2,214; a set of eight yew wood Windsor armchairs, $4,200; an oak brass bound campaign chest, $1,845; a diminutive Queen Anne oak lowboy going to the same buyer, $900; and a brass and leather campaign form folding daybed, $2,337 to an Internet bidder.
The Adolph collection included over two dozen grouped lots of vintage leather cases and automotive related picnic gear, and a like number of group and box lots of Bentley automotive memorabilia, catalogs, parts and signs. Top lots included a vintage Brooks Brothers wicker picnic case, which went to a internet bidder for $523, a group of assorted automobile parts which included a Jaguar hood ornament sold for $450 to an absentee bidder, and a large tin Pirelli Tyres trade sign went for $360.
Woodbury Auction’s next sale is Dec. 9, and additional consignments for that sale are being accepted through mid-November. Phone inquiries should be directed to 203-266-0323 and further information is available on the Internet at the firm’s website www.woodburyauction.com.
Stollwerck and Chiclets vending machine designed to dispense both chocolate candy and chewing gum; porcelain with wood back, $28,200. Morphy Auctions image.
DENVER, Pa. – An all-original antique vending machine that dispensed both Stollwerck Chocolate and Chiclets chewing gum topped the 1,100-lot lineup at Morphy Auctions’ Aug. 10-11 sale of antique advertising and mechanical music. Adorned with beautiful porcelain panels on its front and sides, the near-mint machine handily surpassed its $10,000-$15,000 estimate to serve up a winning bid of $28,000. In all, the auction achieved $756,000 inclusive of 20% buyer’s premium. Online bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.
Soda pop advertising made a strong statement in the sale’s top 10, with a scarce 1920s Coca-Cola bottle-shape lamp earning an above-estimate $12,000. The red, white and green 20¼-inch-tall lamp was a line-for-line scale model of a Coke bottle, complete with metal cap and the trademark and registration notice below the flowing-script logo.
Two figural metal school crossing signs promoting soft drinks were among the top 10 lots. A rare 1955 sign depicting a policeman holding a “Slow – School Zone” paddle served as an eye-catching advertisement for 7UP. Estimated at $4,000-$6,000, it was bid to $9,000. Similarly estimated and also realizing $9,000 was a rare Pepsi-Cola patrol boy school crossing sign with a base designed as a Pepsi bottle cap.
A selection of antique occupational shaving mugs was offered, with one lot, in particular, producing an unexpectedly fine result. In near-mint condition, a mug with an image of a man pushing a street cleaner’s cart with shovel inspired collectors to bypass the $600-$900 estimate and chase the rarity to an astonishing $11,400.
“This is a category that grows stronger with every collection we bring to market,” said Morphy Auctions CEO Dan Morphy. “There are a lot of new collectors coming into the occupational shaving mug hobby.”
The Friday session was highlighted by music machines and other coin ops. A visually appealing Rol-A-Top 10-cent twin jackpot machine adorned with repousse cherries on its front panel led the offering. An older restoration, it sold within estimate for $6,000.
The auction also included more than 80 apothecary antiques from a Philadelphia pharmacy that closed many years ago. An extremely rare 15-inch “teardrop” apothecary jar with Greek key motif, described in the auction catalog as being in mint condition, easily surpassed its $2,500-$4,000 estimate to sell for $5,700.
There was no shortage of bidders for the many advertising signs in the sale, which ran the gamut of household and tobacco products; alcoholic beverages and sporting goods. An early 20th-century reverse-on-glass sign promoting I.W. Harper Whiskey retained its original wood frame with a metal tag that said “The Kind Your Grandfather Used.” It hit the midpoint of its estimate at $9,000. A celluloid-over-cardboard sign of a pretty lady applying Murine eye drops to her eyes commanded six times its high estimate – $3,600.
To contact Morphy Auctions, call 717-335-3435 or e-mail serena@morphyauctions.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog for Morphy’s Aug. 10-11 auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Stollwerck and Chiclets vending machine designed to dispense both chocolate candy and chewing gum; porcelain with wood back, $28,200. Morphy Auctions image.
Antique occupational shaving mug with image of street cleaner, $11,400. Morphy Auctions image.
‘Teardrop’ Greek key apothecary jar, 15 inches with original lid, $5,700. Morphy Auctions image.
Clars set a new world auction record for California artist Caroline Rose Callahan (1867-1959) with the sale of ‘A Peaceful Hour,’ which garnered $14,220. Image courtesy of Clars. OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars’ Aug. 11-12 sale of fine art and antiques saw several surprises in fine art, decorative arts and furnishings, recording gross sales of just over $600,000. LiveAuctioneers.com provided the Internet live bidding.
Early into the auction, lot 2161, a framed oil on canvas titled A Peaceful Hour, by California artist Caroline Rose Callahan (1867-1959), slid past its estimate to set a new auction record for the artist. This work, which was deaccessioned by the Honolulu Museum of Art, was expected to earn $2,000 on the high side, but competitive bidding drove the final sale price on this work to $14,220. Callahan was known for her still lifes, landscapes and miniature paintings.
Taking second place in the fine art offerings was a framed oil on board, View of the White Mountains, New Hampshire, by Paul Ritter (German/American, 1829-1907). It sold solidly within estimate at $4,740.
Asian art, a specialty of Clars, also achieved strong results. A Chinese hanging scroll, Gathering Water from the River, after Xu Beihong, (Chinese, 1895-1953), was expected to fetch $1,000 to $1,500 but realized $10,073. A Himalayan painted thangka, ink and color on cloth and featuring Ushnishasitatapattra, earned more than four times its high estimate, selling for $5,036.
The decorative art category featured a very large and impressive ethnographic and tribal arts collection. The highlight of this offering was a Kifwebe Society, Songye, D.R. Congo dance mask from the Hemphill Collection of San Francisco. It sold for $1,422, and was followed by a pre-Columbian (Mexico, 200BC – 250 AD) tomb guardian or warrior figure, Jalisco, West Coast cultures, which sold for $1,303.
A lot of two English carriage clocks estimated at $500 to $700 captured a winning bid of $3,555. Also expected to earn $500 to $700, was a circa-1875 Empire Revival upholstered sofa. It garnered three times its high estimate at $2,133. The top seller in furniture however, was a Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller 670 lounge chair with ottoman, which surpassed its high estimate by more than $1,000, settling at $4,740.
The jewelry category attracted many bidders at this sale. Leading the offerings was a modified brilliant-cut diamond ring in white gold that sold for $7,703. This was followed by a stunning Buccellati diamond and Tahitian cultured pearl necklace that earned $6,518; and an “endless strand” necklace of rare freshwater “rosebud” pearls that sold for $1,300.
Looking ahead, Clars’ Sept. 8-9 auction may surpass any in the firm’s history, with fine-art offerings by Stanton Macdonald Wright, Joseph Rusling Meeker and Gustav Klimt; photography from Irving Penn, furniture by Vladimir Kagan, cecorative offerings including a Russian carved nephrite and a rare California gold quartz walking stick; Asian art and furnishings; and exquisite jewelry.
To contact Clars, call 510-428-0100 or e-mail info@clars.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog for Clars’ Aug. 11-12 auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Clars set a new world auction record for California artist Caroline Rose Callahan (1867-1959) with the sale of ‘A Peaceful Hour,’ which garnered $14,220. Image courtesy of Clars.
This framed oil on board, ‘View of the White Mountains, New Hampshire,’ by Paul Ritter (German/American, 1829-1907) sold for $4,740. Image courtesy of Clars.
This Chinese hanging scroll, ‘Gathering Water from the River,’ after Xu Beihong, (Chinese, 1895-1953), was expected to fetch $1,000 to $1,500 but ended up selling for $10,073. Image courtesy of Clars.
The decorative art category featured a very large and impressive ethnographic and tribal arts collection. The highlight of the ethnographic and tribal arts offerings was this Kifwebe Society, Songye, D.R. Congo dance mask from the Hemphill Collection of San Francisco, which sold for $1,422. Image courtesy of Clars.
The top seller in furniture was this Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller 670 lounge chair with ottoman which settled at $4,740. Image courtesy of Clars.
A stunning Buccellati diamond and Tahitian cultured pearl necklace sold nicely at $6,518. Image courtesy of Clars.
Marklin 1-gauge tinplate ‘Café’ train station, circa 1905, ex Ward Kimball collection, $18,375. RSL Auction Co. image.
TIMONIUM, Md. – On July 1st, Ray Haradin, Steven Weiss and Leon Weiss – known collectively as RSL Auction Company – welcomed their biggest auction crowd ever to Richard Opfer’s gallery in suburban Baltimore. The occasion was a 621-lot sale of fine antique toys, train stations, banks and Americana. Numerous world records were set during the event, which grossed $1.3 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. LiveAuctioneers.com provided the Internet live bidding service.
RSL expected a strong turnout for the auction, not only because of its star attractions – the John Jirofsky and Jim Laster collections – but also because the Mechanical Bank Collectors of America and Still Bank Collectors of America were in town for a joint convention. Haradin and the Weiss brothers arrived several days early to assist clubmembers whose homes were to be opened to conventioneers over the weekend.
On Thursday evening, June 28, RSL hosted a lavish reception and auction preview for 230 people. Guests were treated to an open bar and grand seafood buffet catered by Baltimore’s famed Michael’s Restaurant. The menu included – amongst other scrumptious delicacies – shrimp cocktail, oysters on the half shell, chicken wings, and of course, Maryland crab cakes.
The day after the high-spirited reception, however, the mood was not quite as festive.
“On Friday night, some big storms moved in, and by Saturday morning, the storm damage was evident all over Baltimore. There were downed trees and wires everywhere,” said Haradin. “One of the local bank collectors who was supposed to receive clubmembers at his home had lost his power. It was a big scramble bringing in a generator, organizing bathroom facilities and arranging for box lunches to be refrigerated. Our busses had to try three different routes to get to the house, but the only thing that counted was that we pulled it off.”
Fortunately, Internet service at Opfer’s gallery had been spared. And in spite of the closed roads and ravaged landscape around Baltimore, around 150 people found a way to get to the gallery. When the first lot in the sale – a circa-1890 Santa with tree mechanical bank – reached a record $22,050, Haradin said he knew the day would be a big success.
Many of the high-end lots sold to the room, with prices bolstered by the record number of phone bids. “Many bidders came in the morning, then left and bid later on by phone,” Haradin noted.
Black-themed toys showed particular strength. A circa-1915 German spelter bank depicting a European character known as “Snowflake” was described in the catalog as being the only known specimen. In mint condition, it sailed past its $3,000-$4,500 estimate to settle at $9,493, a world record price for the form.
A circa-1875 Ives, Blakeslee wind-up toy known as “The Nursemaid” featured a black nanny known as “Old Aunt Chloe” caring for a white infant. One of approximately 10 known examples, it sold for an above-estimate price of $11,638. A third highlight from the category was the circa-1895 “Black Dandy” ball-toss toy of papier-mache, cardboard and wood. The German-made toy with a target in its midsection exceeded expectations at $8,575.
“There was a lot of crossover interest from folk art and black Americana collectors. As a result of the strong prices, we secured a major collection of black memorabilia. We look forward to offering it in our December sale,” said Haradin.
RSL also presented an outstanding array of building-shape cast-iron still banks in the July 1 auction. A one of a kind “1905 Bank” replicated an old-fashioned bank building with a domed roof and five spires. It led the group at a record $20,825. Several other still banks achieved prices in the same region, including a superbly detailed Ives, Blakeslee Red Palace bank that rang the register at $19,600 against an estimate of $10,000-$15,000.
An excellent selection of cast-iron mechanical banks crossed the auction block, as well. A circa-1895 “blue dress” variant of J. & E. Stevens’ Speaking Dog bank was a popular entry. It boasted especially nice original paint and warranted every penny of the $14,700 winning bid.
The coveted Marklin brand kept bidders engaged on both sides of the Atlantic. A US-based LiveAuctioneers bidder prevailed on an all-original circa-1905 1-gauge Café train station with provenance from the revered Ward Kimball collection. It sold within estimate for $18,375. Another choice Marklin design, a circa-1895 three-tiered castle with revolving parade ground adaptable to a steam source, went to an overseas bidder for $28,175.
RSL Auction Company is currently accepting quality consignments for its Dec. 1, 2012 sale of black Americana and mechanical banks to be held at Richard Opfer’s gallery in Timonium, Maryland. To contact the company, call Ray Haradin at 412-343-8733, Leon Weiss at 917-991-7352, or Steven Weiss at 212-729-0011.
View the fully illustrated catalog for the July 1 sale, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Pfeiffer composition U.S. mounted officer and infantrymen, 90mm, original box, $4,920. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image. PITTSBURGH – Battle lines were drawn in the sand long before Old Toy Soldier Auctions conducted its June 2-3 sale featuring the collections of Bob Bailey and the late K. Warren Mitchell. “Absentee bidding was brisk,” said OTSA’s owner, Ray Haradin, describing bidder interest in the run-up to the 1,247-lot sale. “There were 117 absentee bidders. Add to that, 14 phone bidders and another 220 people online through LiveAuctioneers and we had all the makings for a very exciting event.” The sale realized $385,000 (inclusive of 20% buyer’s premium) and resulted in “a lot of very happy buyers,” Haradin said.
The auction offerings were led by a strong mix of early Britains acquired by Bob Bailey in the 1970s during his world travels as a Pan Am flight attendant, as well as rare soldiers from the revered Warren Mitchell collection. A respected veteran dealer and collector, Mitchell’s influence can be seen in many of today’s top collections. “I know many people in the hobby who bought their very first set of soldiers from Warren. His reputation created a high level of anticipation leading up to the sale,” Haradin said.
Britains military figures performed extremely well during the Saturday session of the Internet, absentee and phone auction, which was devoted primarily to pre-1970 productions. An excellent Britains display set #1905 titled “Officers and Men of the U.S. Army Air Corps” contained 16 uniformed figures, all still tied in place inside their original box. Produced in 1940/41, the set estimated at $2,000-$3,000 marched to a winning bid of $5,860, making it the top lot of the sale.
Another very rare military set, a Pfeiffer 12-piece representation of a US mounted officer and 11 infantrymen, was presented with its original box and entered in the sale with an $1,800-$2,200 estimate. “This was probably the most sought-after item in the sale,” Haradin observed. Made of composition in 90mm size, the soldiers stood at attention as a new owner claimed them for $4,920.
Postwar Britains made a strong impression, as well, especially the US Civil War display set #2070 with original box. Comprising 30 pieces, the selection played no favorites, with an equal selection of Union and Confederate cavalry, infantry and artillery figures. It sold for $2,340, nearly twice its high estimate.
Three veteran collectors locked horns over the eight highly desirable Britains Historical Series sets that came from the Bailey collection. Britains produced the non-cataloged 11-set sampler series in 1940/41 exclusively for the New York department store FAO Schwarz. “They’re so hard to come by that collectors who wanted to fill in the blanks in their collection bid very aggressively on the sets they were missing. They knew it might be a very long time before they had another opportunity like this one,” said Haradin. An example of set #1870 streaked past its $2,500-$3,500 estimate to settle at $5,040.
The opening session also featured Courtenay medieval knights, with lot 206, a rare Z16 Sieur de Crevecoeur, more than doubling its high estimate at $1,560. An English Timpo Ivanhoe set earned $3,930; while an example of the always-in-demand Cherilea Baseball set scored $4,440 against a $1,500-$2,000 estimate. Another collector favorite, a Johillco Cowboy Town set with 18-inch-wide foldout Old West town façade and both cowboy and cowgirl figures, was not going to ride off into the sunset without a fight. Determined bidders pushed it to $4,080, more than three times the high estimate.
Traditionally, OTSA allocates the Sunday session to post-1970 figures. “This is the session that newer collectors gravitate toward, because they know there will be many very nice figures they can buy affordably to create a quality base for their collection. The average lot price for the June 3rd session was $140. Just about anyone can get into the hobby at that level,” said Haradin.
Mignot and Trophy figures were consistently popular with bidders, but the highlight of the day was an impressive and colorful 35-piece Indian Camel Corps set manufactured by Walt Dineen. It garnered an above-estimate price of $660.
Ray Haradin is planning a big three-day extravaganza for OTSA followers over the weekend of Nov. 16-18. The auction will feature the Arthur Puglisi collection of early Britains, German-made Heyde soldiers and non-Britains productions; as well as a large, diverse selection of pre- and post-1970 soldiers from a host of other consignors.
To contact Ray Haradin, call 412-343-8733 (tollfree: 800-349-8009) or e-mail raytoys@aol.com.
View the fully illustrated catalog for OTSA’s June 2-3 sale, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Pfeiffer composition U.S. mounted officer and infantrymen, 90mm, original box, $4,920. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Britains 16-piece U.S. Army Air Corps set #1905, 1940/41 issue only, top lot of the sale, $5,860. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Britains #1873 non-cataloged set from Historical Series made exclusively for FAO Schwarz, numbered 10/17, $5,040. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Medieval knight Sieur de Crevecoeur, signed by the artist/creator Richard Courtenay, $1,560. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Britains 30-piece U.S. Civil War display set #2070 with Union and Confederate soldiers in two-tier box, $2,340. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Boxed 6-piece postwar Timpo Ivanhoe Set #KN 4 containing knights with detachable lances, $3,930. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Cherilea 11-piece postwar Baseball set #B/100, figures tied in original box, $4,440. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Johillco for British Mid West Importers 18-inch-wide Cowboy Town façade and baseboard with cowboy and cowgirl figures, $4,080. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
Walt Dineen 35-piece postwar Indian Camel Corps, $660. Old Toy Soldier Auctions image.
An important pair of Kangxi chargers led Cowan’s Asian Art auction, selling for $274,500. Cowan’s Auctions Inc. image. CINCINNATI – Cowan’s Auctions Asian Art Auction on July 27 realized $1.28 million. More than 400 people from over 16 different countries bid competitively on the telephone, online and in Cowan’s salesroom for the 430 lots.
“I was especially pleased with the energetic response to the auction from our Chinese collectors,” said Graydon Sikes, director, Asian art at Cowan’s. “We had several important collections in the sale and the results were exceptional. We will continue to vet material aggressively and maintain this high standard.”
The highest-selling lot in the auction was a pair of important Kangxi chargers, which realized $274,500. A pair of these chargers is listed in the illustrated catalog of the Tokyo National Museum, titled Chinese Ceramics, Volume 2, 1990.
The second-highest-selling lot was a Ming period bronze Guanyin, which exceeded its estimate of $5,000-$6,000 and hammered down at $72,000.
A northern Chi-style Buddha hammered down at $51,000. This Buddha, possibly fourth century, is carved seated with jeweled regalia and flanked by two attendants.
Libation cups performed well in the sale. A 17th century rhinoceros horn libation cup sold for $48,000, and a Chinese Yuan period/Ming period libation cup realized $26,400.
Jadeite items also did particularly well in the auction. A jadeite lidded vase sold for $55,200. A Chinese jade bracelet and pendant realized $26,400. A Chinese jadeite snuff bottle realized $12,000, and an archaistic jadeite vase realized $4,200.
Chinese export silver made a strong showing in the sale. A Chinese export silver presentation bowl with dragons sold for $10,800. Two Chinese export silver teapots sold for $4,200 and $3,900.
Additional noteworthy lots in the sale were a bamboo brush pot, which realized $36,000, and an important collection of Chinese incense clocks, which realized $20,400. An 18th century ivory brush pot realized $18,000, and a Kangxi beehive water pot also hammered down at $18,000.
Cowan’s will continue to seek important consignments for its January sale of Asian Art.
View the fully illustrated catalog for the July 27 auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Signed Steve McQueen publicity photo from the 1971 film ‘Le Mans.’ Sold for $3,690 inclusive of 23% buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
LOS ANGELES (AP) – A watch worn by Steve McQueen in the film Le Mans sold for nearly $800,000 at an auction of film memorabilia.
The auction house Profiles in History said Tuesday the Heuer wrist watch sported by the actor in the 1971 action movie sold for $799,500. A signed U.S. passport belonging to McQueen fetched $46,125.
Other items that were sold included a miniature drop-ship used in Aliens for $225,000; Groucho Marx’s wire-rim glasses from A Night at the Opera for $86,100; and Vivien Leigh’s hat from Gone with the Wind for $67,650.
One bidder coughed up $98,400 for Marlon Brando’s assassination jacket from The Godfather. A personal copy of the 1971 film’s script signed by Brando went for $55,000. All prices quoted are inclusive of a 23% buyer’s premium.
The buyers were not identified.
LiveAuctioneers.com provided the Internet live bidding for the sale. Click to view the fully illustrated catalog, complete with prices realized.
# # #
Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
Signed Steve McQueen publicity photo from the 1971 film ‘Le Mans.’ Sold for $3,690 inclusive of 23% buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
Heuer Monaco wristwatch worn by Steve McQueen in his role as ‘Michael Delaney’ in the 1971 film ‘Le Mans.’ Sold for $799,500 inclusive of 23% buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
Steve McQueen’s signed US passport used during the filming of ‘Le Mans.’ Issued on April 14, 1070 at the US Embassy in London. Sold for $46,125 inclusive of 23% buyer’s premium. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com and Profiles in History.
Bidding from across the country was spirited for this rare Pottier & Stymus dining suite, which sold for an impressive $23,700. Clars Auction Gallery image. OAKLAND, Calif. — While July can routinely be a quiet month for auctions, this was not the case at Clars’ July 15 sale, which saw spirited bidding from major Victorian collectors worldwide on a rare Pottier & Stymus, N.Y., dining suite. The sale, which earned over $600,000, also saw strong results in the modern and contemporary fine art that was offered and jewelry did exceptionally well. It was the second highest earning July sale in the firm’s history.
The Pottier & Stymus dining suite, which was executed in 1874 for the A.A. Cohen Estate, Fernside Mansion, in Alameda, Calif., was composed of the table with all its leaves, 12 chairs that retained their original leather embossed backs, and a marble-top sideboard, which was designed to hold all the table leaves. Held privately for over 125 years, this American Renaissance Revival work of art was saved by the Cohen family from a fire that destroyed the mansion in 1897. It was then passed on to the Rena A. Paul family, where it remained until it came to auction at Clars. The presale estimate on this suite was $10,000 to $20,000.
“It was very exciting,” said Deric Torres, director of furnishings and decorative arts for Clars, “to see the biggest buyers in the country vie for this rare offering.” In the end, it came down to a battle between a Missouri collector and a Michigan collector, with the latter winning at $23,700.
Another exceptional offering of American history in furniture design was an impressive American Neo Grec bedroom suite attributed to Herter Bros. New York, 1875. This bedroom suite was part of the Harrah’s Pony Express Museum Collection until 1976. Once again, collectors country-wide participated in the bidding, but it was finally sold to a young San Francisco collector for $11,850.
Over the past few auctions, Clars has had the honor of representing deaccessioned lots from the Honolulu Museum of Art. In July, a 17th century-style reproduction suit of armor from this collection sold for an impressive $8,888. Provenance of this lot, combined with the quality of craftsmanship, drove this lot well over its high estimate of $2,000.
Rounding out the top sellers in decorative arts was a late 18th century pair of Continental giltwood carved and polychrome decorated figural sculptures. Selling for nicely within estimate, this lot went for $7,110.
The fine art category also performed very well. “Prices realized on the modern and contemporary works offered indicate this market remains strong,” said Shannon Bonifas, fine art specialist at Clars.
Man Sitting on Quilted Bed, 1949 by contemporary artist Claude Howell (American, 1915-1997) was the top lot in the art offerings selling nicely for $15, 405. Howell is regarded as the most important painter of native North Carolina art. The second top seller in this category was another contemporary work by California artist, Raimond Staprans (b. 1926). Selling for solidly over estimate, his framed oil on canvas, Triple Boats, earned an impressive $14,220.
A stunning Tiffany & Co. Lucinda cut solitaire diamond ring in platinum, set with a cut cornered square mixed cut diamond weighing 2.16 carats, H color, VVS2 clarity, sold for $24,885.
For complete information on Clars’ July 14-15 Fine Art and Antiques Sale, visit www.clars.com, call 510-428-0100 or email info@clars.com.
Clars’ next sale will be held Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 11-12. A complete catalog will be available online one week prior to the sale.
Bidding for Clars’ auctions is available in person, by phone, absentee and live online through www.liveauctioneers.com.
Bidding from across the country was spirited for this rare Pottier & Stymus dining suite, which sold for an impressive $23,700. Clars Auction Gallery image.
The marble-top sideboard to the Pottier & Stymus dining suite stores the leaves to the table. The set sold for $23,7000. Clars Auction Gallery Image.
Attributed to Herter Bros., N.Y., 1875, this bedroom suite sold for $11,850. Clars Auction Gallery image.
This reproduction suit of armor from the collection from the Honolulu Art museum flew past its $2,000 estimate, selling for $8,888. Clars Auction Gallery image.
‘Man Sitting on Quilted Bed,’ 1949, was the top seller in the fine art category earning $15,405. Clars Auction Gallery image.
The second top seller in fine art was this framed oil on canvas titled ‘Triple Boats’ by California artist Raimond Staprans (b. 1926), which sold for solidly over estimate for $14,220. Clars Auction Gallery image.
The top lot of Clars July sale was this Tiffany & Co. solitaire diamond ring in platinum set with a cut cornered square mixed cut diamond, weighing 2.16 carats, which sold for $24,885. Clars Auction Gallery image.
Wedgwood Fairyland Luster vase and cover, England, circa 1920, 11 1/4 inches high. Realized: $23,700. Skinner Inc. image. BOSTON – Skinner Inc. experienced strong results from its European Furniture & Decorative Arts auction conducted July 14, 2012. The sale grossed $1.25 million, including buyer’s premium.
The auction’s top seller, a pair of 19th century Meissen porcelain ewers emblematic of fire and water, brought $44,437.50. A large Russian church icon depicting the Dormition (Assumption) of the Virgin measuring over 45 inches tall sold for $24,885.
Examples of Wedgwood Fairyland Luster that performed well at the sale included a covered vase decorated with the Jeweled Tree pattern with a cat and mouse and copper trees that brought $23,700 and a lily tray in the Fairy Gondola pattern sold for $20,825.
Rounding out the top five lots of the sale is a dated 1877 Italian Carrara marble sculpture of a child reaching for a locket held by his mother, 41 inches high, which sold for $20,145.
For details contact Skinner Auction Inc. at 508-970-3279.
Russian church icon depicting the ‘Dormition of the Virgin,’ 19th century, 45 1/2 x 37 1/2 inches. Realized: $24,885. Skinner Inc. image.Italian School 19th century Carrara marble sculpture titled ‘L’Education du Coeur’ and signed ‘G. Mon___ ROMA.’ Realized: $20,145. Skinner Inc. image.Wedgwood Fairyland Luster tray, England, circa 1920, 13 inches diameter. Realized: $20,825. Skinner Inc. image.Two Meissen porcelain ewers, circa 1880, height to 27 inches. Realized: $44,437.50. Skinner Inc. image.
Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.
