A lithograph on tin Prince Albert tobacco advertising sign, depicting “Chief Joseph Nez Perce” in full headdress (circa 1913-14), sold for $8,050 at a cataloged auction held Dec. 3 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Va. Also, a Reed Capitol Building panorama toy, lithographed paper on wood, made in the 1880s, went for $3,335; an I.W. Harper Whiskey reverse-painted glass advertising sign from 1904 realized $2,760; and a set of Marx “Amos ‘n’ Andy In Person” windup toys hit $1,840. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
18th-century Chinese vase, $15,210, Kaminski Auctions
An 18th-century Chinese blue and white vase with scrolling lotus and ruyi decoration, and bearing the six-character Qianlong mark, sold for $15,210 at an auction of Asian art held Dec. 8-10 by Kaminski Auctions in Beverly, Mass. Also, a Chinese bronze vessel from the Warring States period (ending 221 B.C.) fetched $30,420; and an 18th- or 19th-century Sino-Tibetan gilt bronze figure, possibly representing Padmapani Avalokiteshvara seated on a double lotus throne, commanded $21,060. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.
Chinese carved opium bed, $53,680, Leslie Hindman
A Chinese carved hardwood opium bed with inset marble panels sold for $53,680 at a sale of the property from O’Hara’s Gallery held Jan. 22-24 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also, a suite of French giltwood parlor furniture decorated with Vernis Martin lacquer work realized $23,180; a pair of Empire gilt bronze 36-light chandeliers lit up the room for $21,960; a pair of gilt bronze mounted cobalt urns brought $10,370; and a French champleve and porcelain mounted mantel clock hit $9,300. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Edward Duffield tall clock, $118,500, Pook & Pook
A Queen Anne brass face tall clock by Edward Duffield of Philadelphia, in an excellent state of preservation and with an old dry surface, sold for $118,500 at a sale of Period Furniture, Fine Arts & Accessories held Jan. 13-14 by Pook & Pook, Inc., in Downingtown, Pa. Also, a Philadelphia William & Mary mahogany spice (or valuables) box on frame, made of a single piece, went for $112,575; and an original painting of the American side wheeler J.B. Schuyler by James Edward Butterfield soared to $94,800. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Rosewood secretary desk, $21,280, Stevens at Flomaton
A rare, museum-quality mechanical rosewood drop-front secretary desk, made around 1860 and attributed to Thomas Brooks, sold for $21,280 at a multi-estate sale held Dec. 31 by Stevens at Flomaton in Flomaton, Ala. Also, a six-piece parlor set by John H. Belter in the Rosalie with Grapes pattern and crafted circa 1850 realized $15,680; a palace-size 48-inch Nicole Freres Pat. 1815 Swiss cylinder music box went for $12,320; and a queen-size half tester bed signed McCracken & Brewster made $10,080. Prices include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.
Jasper Cropsey painting, $252,000, Shannon’s Fine Art
An oil on canvas landscape painting by Jasper Francis Cropsey (American, 1823-1900), dated 1873, sold for $252,000 at an auction held Oct. 27 by Shannon’s Fine Art Auctioneers in Milford, Conn. Also, a large acrylic on canvas rendering of vertical red and black lines by Gene Davis (American, 1920-1985), fetched $55,200; a bronze sculpture by Medardo Rosso (Italian, 1858-1928), titled Gavroche, commanded $36,000; and a 1904 bronze by Bessie Potter Vonnoh (American, 1872-1955), titled A Modern Madonna, made $33,600. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Tonka toy fire truck, $1,932, Serious Toyz
A rare 1950s Tonka Suburban Pumper toy fire truck, in near-mint condition and still in the box, sold for $1,932 in an Internet and catalog auction that ended Jan. 6-7, by Serious Toyz (www.SeriousToyz.com), based in Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y. Also, a 1954 Marx Fire House play set, still in the box, brought $1,634; a 1955 Big League Stars American League, Team B nine-piece figure set made $1,125; and a 1950s Dopeke Aerial Ladder Truck, near mint, hit $1,090. Prices include a 12 percent buyer’s premium.
Pancho Villa saddle, $718,000, High Noon
A silver embroidered saddle that belonged to the infamous renegade and revolutionary hero Pancho Villa, the last saddle he rode on prior to his assassination in 1923, sold for $718,000 at the High Noon Western Americana Auction held Jan. 28 in Mesa, Ariz. It was a new world record for a saddle at auction. The historic saddle had been created for Villa by renowned Mexican artisans and was smothered in silver-wrapped threads over leather stump work. Each stirrup carried Villa’s engraved initials. The price includes a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Winchester Model 1892, $7,763, Cordier Auctions
A rare Winchester Model 1892 rifle with multiple factory options sold for $7,763 at a quarterly Firearms & Militaria Auction held Dec. 10 by Cordier Auctions & Appraisals in Harrisburg, Pa. Also, an unusual handgun known as the “Invisible Defender” by Shattuck Arms Co. hit $920; a U.S. Civil War Confederate foot soldier’s sword climbed to $5,750; a 16th-century Burgonet helmet with flowered accents realized $1,725; and a World War II Nazi Heer helmet with the original liner breezed to $1,265. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Hermann Herzog oil, $44,850, Nadeau’s
An original oil on canvas painting by Hermann Herzog titled Rough Seas at the Life Saving Station sold for $44,850 at a New Year’s Day auction held Jan. 1 by Nadeau’s Auction Gallery in Windsor, Conn. Also, a painting on porcelain by Louis Ferdinand LaChassaigne, depicting circus characters, hammered for $14,950; an oil on board painting by Abraham Manievich, titled Bronx, N.Y., realized $11,500; and a pair of Meissen figures showing a preacher and his wife went for $7,475. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Titanic broadside, $72,000, Swann
A broadside for White Star Line, operators of the doomed ocean liner the Titanic, advertising the ship’s planned return voyage from New York in 1912, sold for $72,000 at a sale of Rare & Important Travel Posters held Nov. 11 by Swann Auction Galleries in New York. Also, a poster advertising Australia, Gert Sellheim’s “Australia / Surf Club,” Melbourne, circa 1936, brought $24,000; and a previously unseen variation of “Cunard Line / Monarchs of the Sea / Lusitania,” Liverpool, circa 1907, topped out at $14,400. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Jerome Thompson work, $26,450, Marion Antique Auctions
An oil painting by Middleborough, Mass., artist Jerome Thompson, titled Frontier Wash Day, sold for $26,450 at an estate auction held Nov. 26 by Marion Antique Auctions in Marion, Mass. Also, a framed portrait of an Episcopal minister by Cephas Thompson (Jerome’s father) brought $5,980; and three pieces of late 19th-century silver made by the Norwegian silversmith H. Moeller—a large loving cup, claret jug and center bowl, decorated with sea serpents and Viking warriors—went for a combined $20,240. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Victor Higgins painting, $728,000, Mapes Auctioneers
An original oil painting by Victor Higgins (New Mexico/Illinois, 1884-1949) sold for $728,000 at an auction held in late 2011 by Mapes Auctioneers & Appraisers in Vestal, N.Y. The buyer was a phone bidder in Italy. The seller was a man who was retiring and brought the painting to Mapes for consignment in the next sale. The work had been in his family for generations and had never been cleaned. Higgins was a key member of the Taos, N.M., Society of Artists, known for landscapes, Indian genre works and portraits. The price includes a buyer’s premium.
Daniel Seghers painting, $74,500, Doyle New York
A classic Old Masters painting by the Flemish artist Daniel Seghers (1590-1661) titled Still Life of Tulips and Other Flowers in a Vase sold for $74,500 at a sale of Important English and Continental Furniture & Decorations held Jan. 24 by Doyle New York in New York City. Also, a late 19th-century Persian Tabriz carpet, 18 feel by 11 feet, garnered $43,750; a large Louis XV gilt-bronze cartel clock signed “Furet a Paris” went for $68,500; and a George II silver tankard with rubbed marks made $31,250. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Waltham girandole clock, $17,255, Gordon S. Converse & Co.
A rare and important Waltham girandole clock made around 1900 sold for $17,255 at an auction held Dec. 28 by Gordon S. Converse & Co. in Malvern, Pa. The ornate banjo-style clock was marked with serial no. 1, making it possibly the first of fewer than 50 made. Also, a display of various Chinese Imperial seals, all contained in a carved Zitan box, knocked down at $6,545; and a patented clock by the New Jersey clock maker Aaron Crane, featuring a torsion pendulum, hammered for $6,545. Prices include a 19 percent buyer’s premium.
