“For ten years, Finders Keepers was one of the Florida Panhandle’s premier destinations for people searching for quality antiques and collectibles,” said Logan Adams of The Specialists of the South. “The shop was filled with pottery, books, period furniture, glassware and more.”
Susan Burnette, who owned Finders Keepers, said, “Being from North Carolina, I would regularly travel up and down the Southeast to find the treasures that would make Finders Keepers the store it became. In a bittersweet move back to North Carolina, I must regretfully turn these treasures over to whoever will be lucky enough to win them. I wish a happy auction to all.”
The train set is a separate consignment, from James Quirk of Panama City, whose grandfather built a predominantly Lionel collection that dates back to the Depression era. About 45 lots – to include seven engines, numerous box cars, extensive track, instruction manuals, a book about Lionel trains and more – will be offered, with some of the items sold in multiple lots.
Highlights of the collection include several GM diesel trains (Santa Fe edition), older Lionel engines, Tyco H-O scale examples still in their original boxes, a Shell Gasoline tin tanker, passenger cars, railroad crossing signs, 150-200 pieces of track, transformers, control levers, cranes, steam plows and more. Some pieces have normal wear and patina, but all appear operational.
About half of Finders Keepers was dedicated to books, a passion of Burnette’s. One volume expected to generate bidder interest is a circa-1923 copy of Little Women, the Louisa May Alcott classic, in fine condition. Books of all kinds will be offered – rare, out-of-print, fiction, non-fiction, new authors and old.
An all-original circa-1830 mantel clock made by William, Orton, Prestons & Company of Farmington, Conn., and desirable Southern and Roseville pottery are among the highlights, as is vintage glass. Top lots include an enameled, decorated lavender-to-clear Mary Gregory pitcher with scene of a young girl with gilt rim, a hand-painted Fenton water set with ruffled edge and six tumblers, an early Northwood water set (opalescent blue swirl, with four tumblers), and a Roseville Holland beer stein set (large stein and three mugs), circa 1916, in excellent condition.
Furniture includes a beautiful circa-1890 Renaissance Revival tiger oak buffet with heavily carved claw feet, original dark chocolate patina and original hardware; a mahogany Chippendale-style vanity with tri-fold beveled original mirror, ball and claw feet and bead board around five drawers; and an English-made Art Nouveau hall tree with all the original hardware. Artwork and prints, decorative accessories and a wide mix of other “discovery” pieces round out the sale.
Most of the auction inventory will be sold “absolute” (hammer falls regardless of price) while other lots will carry reserves. For additional information on any lot in the auction, call 850-785-2577, or e-mail specialists@knology.net.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
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