19th century Russian icon, $21,960, Crescent City Auction Gallery
A diminutive 19th century Russian icon of St. Nicholas sold for $21,960 at an estates auction held July 13-14 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans, La. Also, a Chinese Qianlong jade censer, circa 1736-1795, changed hands for $9,760; an untitled sculpture by Lynda Benglis (American, b. 1941) fetched $8,540; a pair of early 19th century patinated and gilt bronze four-light candelabra went for $7,703; and a pair of 19th century Louis XV-style carved gilt wood upholstered wing chairs climbed to $2,607. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese white jade sculpture, $40,120, Elite Decorative Arts
A beautiful Chinese hand-carved white jade sculpture depicting a chariot with horses and riders sold for $40,120 at a sale of Chinese Works and Fine Decorative Arts held July 13 by Elite Decorative Arts in Boynton Beach, Fla. Also, a Chinese hand-carved celadon green jade moon flask vase garnered $37,760; an antique Chinese Qing Dynasty period (circa 1796-1820) celadon jade figural mountain carving fetched $31,860; and a large, solid red coral sculpture depicting a maiden with children made $30,250. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
C. Lee half tester bed, $29,900, Stevens Auction
A mahogany half-tester youth-size bed made around 1860 by C. Lee sold for $29,900 at a sale of the contents of Green Gables, a mansion in Jackson, Tenn., held June 29 by Stevens Auction Co. of Aberdeen, Miss. Also, a fine R.J. Horner carved oak nine-tube grandfather clock from about 1890 chimed on time for $21,850; a laminated rosewood rococo four-piece parlor suite by J. & J.W. Meeks in the Stanton Hall pattern made $13,800; and a rosewood laminated sofa by J.H. Belter hit $10,350. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Five UAB 1970s banknotes, $29,500, Archives International
Aset of five 1970s-era banknotes from the United Arab Emirates Currency Board, ranging from 1 to 100 Dirhams, with an outstanding serial number of 000002, sold for $29,500 at an auction held June 4 by Archives International Auctions in Fort Lee, N.J. Also, a unique Fourth Liberty Loan “Star” gold bond in the amount of $100, yielding 4 1/4 percent, soared to $22,420; a circa-1845 Commercial Bank of India unlisted “Bombay” denomination rarity fetched $5,900; and a John Law signed historic 1720 letter brought $5,020. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Frankenstein poster, $262,900 Heritage
An original 1931 poster for the movie Frankenstein sold for $262,900 at an auction held July 27 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Tex. It was the most valuable insert movie poster ever sold at auction. Also, an original half-sheet poster from The Wizard of Oz (1939, MGM) knocked down for $71,700; a one-sheet poster for the Three Stooges comedy Mutts to You (1938, Columbia) went for $28,680; and a one-sheet poster for Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1958, Allied Artists), drawn by Reynold Brown, rose to $10,157. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.
W. Herbert Dunton work, $138,000, White Auctions
An original painting by W. Herbert Dunton, titled Montana ’06 and executed when the artist was 28 years old, sold for $138,000 at a 20th anniversary sale held by White Auctions in Middleboro, Mass. Also, an early Old Town Canoe salesman’s sample, in original excellent condition, brought $29,900; a pair of open arm lolling chairs soared to $7,475; life jackets and a scrapbook from the 1974 film Jaws snatched $2,990; and an early E. Boston presentation fire horn changed hands for $4,025. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Henry 1860 Model rifle, $33,600, Morphy Auctions
A rare .44-caliber Henry Model 1860 repeating rifle with matching serial numbers and a great original finish sold for $33,600 at a sale of antique and contemporary firearms, swords and other edged weapons held June 15 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. Also, a Belgian-made Browning Superposed Diana Grade 20-gauge shotgun from 1962 rang out at $9,000; a John Shuler, Liverpool, Pa., Kentucky rifle (circa 1830-1840) rose to $3,600; and a 6-inch, .45-caliber diminutive Derringer percussion pistol hit $3,900. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Regina music player, $30,420, Alderfer Auction
A Regina auto-change music player sold for $30,420 at a Fine Jewelry and Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held June 12-13 by Alderfer Auction in Hatfield, Pa. Also, a 10-inch by 12-inch cloud scene by George Sotter realized $26,910; a carved Egyptian pendant with rose gold and diamond headdress hammered for $21,600; an E. Gubelin pocket watch brought $15,600; a Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. pocket watch fetched $14,040; and a snow scene by Walter E. Baum titled Quakertown Church made $13,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Demetre Chiparus sculpture, $60,000, Cowan’s Auctions
A sculpture titled Friends Forever by Russian artist Demetre Chiparus sold for $60,000 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held July 13-14 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati, Ohio. Also, a painting by Ivan Choultse titled Coucher de Soleil Sur La Mer hit $50,400; a Civil War-era Reuben T. Woodward 21st Massachusetts carved soldier’s pipe garnered $15,600; a Patriotic Lady Liberty carved pipe went for $10,800; a George Brown Excelsior clockwork locomotive made $5,535; and a Hubley ladder truck rose to $3,600. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
1918 Indian motorcycle, $52,800, Macon Brothers
A 1918 Indian motorcycle, fully restored and in remarkable like-new condition, sold for $52,800 at an auction held in June by Macon Brothers Auctioneers in Walla Walla, Wash. Also, an 1896 Golden Gate single-stroke engine soared to $220,000 (a new world auction record for a Golden Gate single-stroke engine); a 1910 Auburn touring car, also in amazing condition, sped away for $104,500; and five vintage Indian motorcycles (including the aforementioned 1918) chugged off for $33,000-$50,000-plus each. Prices include a 10 percent buyer’s premium.
Bronze incense burner, $54,000, John Moran
A 17th or 18th century gilt-splashed bronze incense burner sold for $54,000 at an Antiques & Decorative Arts Auction held June 18 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, an intricately beaded Sioux horse mask gaveled for $27,000; a pair of late 18th century George III walnut dining room urns, built to hold ice water, one fitted with a charcoal burner to warm dishes, breezed to $21,600; and a pair of carved spinach jade covered urns on gilt metal bases with a Qianlong chop mark made $12,300. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Ted Williams game jersey, $184,000, Hunt Auctions
Agame-used jersey by baseball legend Ted Williams, circa 1946, sold for $184,000 at an auction held July 15-16 by Hunt Auctions at the annual Live Auction at T-Mobil All-Star Fanfest in New York City. Also, a Babe Ruth professional model bat, circa 1925-1927, was a hit for $166,750; the Cy Young Award that Milwaukee Braves pitcher Warren Spahn won in 1957 sold for $126,500; and a jersey worn by the Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella hammered for $55,200. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Collection of miniature books, $23,750, Leslie Hindman Auc.
Acollection of miniature books by Barbara Raheb at the Pennyweight Press sold for $23,750 at a sale of items from Adell Venus’s miniatures collection held July 17 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also a William (Bill) Robinson drafting set realized $18,750; a pair of Louis XV-style miniature occasional tables, by Denis E.W. Hillman, commanded $22,500; a Queen Anne-style lady’s writing desk by Paul A. Runyon made $10,625; and a George II-style secretaire bookcase by John J. Hodgson hit $10,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
1921 Saint-Gaudens gold coin, $117,500, Summer FUN Auction
Amint state example of a 1921 Saint-Gaudens double eagle U.S. gold coin sold for $117,500 at a U.S. Coins Signature Auction held July 11-14 at the Summer FUN (Florida United Numismatists) Show in Orlando, Fla. The auction was conducted by Heritage Auctions of Dallas, Texas. Also, an 1898 quarter eagle, graded Proof-68 Deep Cameo, which is the finest of the issue graded at PCGS, hammered for $82,250; and a proof 1864 half dollar, likely the finest of the half-dozen known, changed hands for $70,500. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
1899 gum vending machine, $15,680, Victorian Casino
An 1899 1-cent Pulver’s Kola-Pepsin Happy Hooligan Gum vending machine sold for $15,680 at an auction held May 30-June 2 by Victorian Casino Auctions in Las Vegas, Nev. Also, a life-size replica of the Lost in Space B9 robot brought $8,625; a pair of Belcher Mosaic stained-glass windows in wood frames from the late pianist Liberace’s restaurant made $6,000 each; a Henry Gautschi & Sons cylinder wooden music box from the 1890s hit $4,313; and a Superman tank toy with the box in mint shape made $3,600. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
1821 map of New York, $102,000, Swann Auction
A near-pristine 1821 map, titled The City of New York as laid out by the Commissioners with the Surrounding Countryside, by John Randel Jr., one of only two known copies on satin, sold for $102,000 at a sale of Maps & Atlases, Natural History & Historical Prints and Ephemera held June 6 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York City. Also, Thomaso Poracchi’s L’Isole piu Famose del Mondo (Venice, 1590) fetched $6,720; and Theodore De Bry’s Americae pars, nunc Virginia (Frankfurt, 1590), made $8,400. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.<
18th century Russian icon, $19,800, Kaminski Auctions
A n 18th century Russian icon of the Vladimir Mother of God, covered in a gilded silver oklad, sold for $19,800 at a Summer Continental Estate Auction held July 13 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, a green guilloche enameled card case, made in St. Petersburg, Russia between 1908 and 1917, with the Kokoshnik mark, went for $6,600; a painting by John Mogford titled Shipwreck gaveled for $7,800; and a set of two Bohemian decanters and 12 glasses hammered for $3,960. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Soapstone figural carving, $2.36 million, Michaan’s
Arare and important soapstone figural carving centering Qing dynasty imperial porcelain kiln supervisor Tang Ying sold for $2.36 million at a Fine Asian Works of Art Auction held June 23 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, a pair of jade double gourd-form pendants hammered for $106,200; a hanging scroll by Li Yin titled Mountainous Dwellings went to a determined bidder for $112,100; and a Tibetan cloisonné enamel ewer and cover from the Qianlong mark period changed hands for $53,100. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
St. Drake’s bitters bottle, $37,950, American Bottle
ASt. Drake’s Plantation 1860 X bitters bottle, circa 1862-1872, one of only a few known in the rare blue-green color, sold for $37,950 in an Internet and catalog sale held June 21-30 by American Bottle Auctions (www.americanbottle.com), based in Sacramento, Calif. Also, a deep blue quart scroll flask (probably GIX-2), 9 inches tall and graded 9.8 out of 10 for condition, rose to $19,550. It represents a new record for a scroll flask). An Ira Harvey tepee-shaped blue soda bottle fetched $16,100, which is a record for a soda. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
