A George II red lacquered English secretary, decorated with a pierce carved crest and Chinoiserie figures and motifs sold for $207,400 at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers’ Winter Sale conducted Jan. 24-25 in Chicago. Also, an important 19th-century silver and marble garniture brought $134,200; a Faberge gold, jade and diamond cigarette case rose to $36,600; a Louis XVI-style bronze and porcelain clock fetched $31,720; and a celadon jade brush pot carved with pastoral scenes made $34,160. Prices include a 22 percent buyer’s premium.
Marklin twin upright, $46,000, Morphy’s
A Marklin no. 4135 twin upright steam or marine “hammer” engine toy, made in 1904, sold for $46,000 at Morphy Auctions’ Winter Sale held Dec. 10-12 by in Denver, Pa. Also, a Lionel prewar standard gauge no. 378W passenger train set with both the original set box and individual boxes soared to $31,050; a Radiguet live-steam boat, 22 inches long, with early “ram” front, brought $14,500; and a German belsnickle candy container in blue coat, 30 inches tall, with bisque face and rabbit-fur beard, hit $13,800. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Black Forest tableau, $30,590, Neapolitan
A circa-1900, 39-inch-wide Black Forest carved tableau of a St. Bernard dog and her pups sold for $30,590 at an auction held Jan. 23 by Auctions Neapolitan in Naples, Fla. Also, a Lalique Cote d’Or charger of clear and frosted glass, decorated with three nude nymphs known as Trois Figurines et Raisins, went for $1,782.50; a detailed oil-on-panel still life by Continental 20th-century artist Josephine Osnaghi rose to $1,667.50; and a Chinse Qing Dynasty (circa 1900) carved jade and camphorwood screen made $1,495. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Britains Noah’s Ark set, $5,900, Old Toy Soldier
A Britains 1937-1941 Noah’s Ark toy set no. 1550, with figures of Noah and his wife, animal pairs and an ark-shaped box, sold for $5,900 at a Winter Sale held Nov. 21 by Old Toy Soldier Auctions USA in Pittsburgh. Also, a Heyde 15-piece set from 1890 with Frederick the Great on a white horse, with flag bearer, guards and African drummers, went for $4,425; a circa 1910 Heyde Old Volunteer Corps set no. 1387 with original box made $3,835; and a circa 1939 Britains HRH The Prince of Wales toy made $2,360. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.
Cast-iron weather vane, $18,645, Copake Auc.
A 19th-century cast-iron weather vane by Rochester (N.H.) Iron Works, 27 inches by 39 inches, sold for $18,645 at the 30th annual New Year’s Day Auction held Jan. 1 by Copake Auction in Copake, N.Y. Also, a Baltimore album quilt brought $28,250; a pair of George Washington and Lady Liberty dumb stoves went for $22,600; a bronze fountain of a woman with outstretched arms, 58 inches tall, climbed to $9,887; and an 18th-century Queen Anne lowboy with a center long drawer over three drawers hit $6,215. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
Colt Army revolver, $126,500, Greg Martin
A Colt single-action Army revolver with silver grips by Vincente Oropeza, the world-champion roper and star of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, sold for $126,500 at an auction held Jan. 17 by Greg Martin Auctions in Irvine, Calif. Also, a Colt civilian model 1860 Army revolver in exceptional condition hit the mark for $97,750; a Winchester model 1894 lever-action rifle, circa 1901, Pan American Exhibition, made $86,250; and a Conrad Ulrich engraved Winchester model 1866 rifle realized $80,500. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Capriccios by Panini, $935,000, Doyle New York
A pair of capriccios dated 1738 of ancient Roman monuments (one shown) by Giovanni Paolo Panini (Italian, circa 1692-1765) sold for a combined $935,000 at a sale of Old Master Paintings & Drawings and Important English and Continental Furniture & Decorations held Jan. 27 by Doyle New York. Also, a 17th-century Feuilles de Choux tapestry from southwest Flanders bearing the manufactury signature of St. Truijen garnered $68,500; and a landscape work by the 17th-century Dutch artist Hans Bergaigne hit $43,750. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Jumeau doll couple, $72,500, Theriault’s
A happy couple believed to have been prepared as Exhibition Dolls by Emile Jumeau, still wearing their original costumes and boasting a rare character model face, sold for $72,500 at a Premiere Doll Auction held Jan. 8-10 by Theriault’s, based in Annapolis, Md. Also, a large portrait Jumeau realized $53,000; a dollhouse known as “The Balustraded House” topped out at $47,500; a bebe doll by Andre Thuillier fetched $46,000; and a rare Asian model by Leon Casimir soared to $52,500. Prices include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.
Zao Wou-Ki painting, $40,250, Hap Moore’s
A 1956 watercolor titled Eruption by contemporary Chinese artist Zao Wou-Ki sold for $40,250 at an auction held Jan. 9 by Hap Moore’s in York, Maine. Also, a two-door country cupboard in old red paint from a family in Hanover, N.H., fetched $2,473; a pair of green ceramic foo dogs breezed to $1,380; portraits of the Rev. David Ives and his wife Polly, founders of the Congregational Church near Westfield, Mass., brought $1,150; and a sketch book of images by artist George M. Hathaway hit $1,725. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Chippendale tea table, $76,050, Pook & Pook
A rare Chippendale mahogany tea table, circa 1770, with a rectangular tray top over a frame with applied carving supported by curved cabriole legs, sold for $76,050 at a sale of Period Furniture, Fine Art & Decorative Accessories held Jan. 16-17 by Pook & Pook in Downington, Pa. Also, a School of Thomas Spencer oil on canvas painting of a horse and rider surrounded by hunting dogs, British, circa 1740s, climbed to $46,800; and a townscape painting by John Joseph Enneking (American, 1841-1916) hit $37,440. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Edward Curtis orotone, $4,485, Applebrook Auc.
A rare Edward Curtis orotone titled At the Old Well at Acoma, in an original Curtis Studio frame, sold for $4,485 at a sale of the Adesman Collection held Jan. 8 by Applebrook Auction in Southbury, Conn. Also, a metal trolley in yellow paint, circa 1900, brought $4,025; a Federal convex mirror with eagle and candle sconces went for $2,990; a rare metal and gilt pocket watch trade sign, 25 inches high with chain, achieved $2,127; and a signed Karl Springer Lucite coffee table commanded $2,300. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
A-Rod home run ball, $103,579, SCP Auctions
Alex Rodriguez’s 500th home run baseball sold for $103,579 in an online auction that ended Feb. 4 by SCP Auctions (www.scpauctions.com). The buyer wished to remain anonymous. “A-Rod” hit the historic home run Aug. 4, 2007 off Kyle Davies of the Kansas City Royals. He became the youngest player to reach 500 home runs and only the 22nd player to reach the milestone. The price includes a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Chalmers wine bottle, $19,600, American Bottle
A Chalmers Catawba wine bitters bottle graded 9.8 for condition and considered one of the top five western bitters known, sold for $19,600 in an Internet and catalog auction that ended Jan. 18 by American Bottle Auctions (www.AmericanBottle.com), based in Sacramento, Calif. Also, a “For Our Country/Eagle” pint flask, over 150 years old and graded 9.8, soared to $14,560; a Baltimore Sunburst half-pint, circa 1840-50, graded 9.8, realized $11,200; and a Bridgeton, N.J., Washington bottle, 9.8, hit $10,080. Prices include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.
Jacko-Presley certificate, $70,800, Philip Weiss
The original marriage certificate issued to pop legends Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic sold for $70,800 at an estates sale held Jan. 22-24 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, a page from the 1964 Beatles USA, Ltd. Tour guide, personally inscribed by all four Beatles to the late pianist Liberace, commanded $15,800; a full sheet of 80 stamps from the People’s Republic of China earned $67,250; and a baseball signed by Hall of Fame player Tris Speaker hit $7,910. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
German WWI awards, $28,250, SoldUSA.com
A rare group of three distinguished awards – the Blue Max, the Iron Cross and a pilot’s badge – given to World War I German flying ace Adolf Ritter von Tutschek sold for $28,250 at an Internet and catalog auction that ended Jan. 23-24 by SoldUSA.com, based in Matthews, N.C. Also, an H.E. Leman identified flintlock Pennsylvania rifle, circa 1835, hit the mark for $8,661; a Colt 3rd model shoulder stock provision Dragoon pistol realized $7,770; and a Winchester calendar poster from 1912 garnered $5,085. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
Colt .45 frontier pistol, $4,070, Tom’s Auctions
A Colt .45 frontier pistol, circa 1880, all engraved and with two pairs of grips sold for $4,070 at an estates sale held Feb. 6 by Tom’s Auctions & Appraisals in Ivor, Va. Also, an early Southampton (Va.) cupboard with original red paint coasted to $935; an early Colt clover leaf with brass frame topped out at $1,100; a rare, incised Washington County stoneware snuff jar went to a determined phone bidder for $2,100; and a Southampton County primitive cupboard, circa 1800-1810, hit $1,200. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
