Gallery Report: November 2010

A California gold quartz walking stick with a gold knob and an original piece of gold mounted on the top sold for $21,600 at an auction of Americana (the Collection of Alex Schwed) held Oct. 21 by PBA Galleries in San Francisco. Also, a Clipper Ship sailing card (issued in the 1850s-1860s to advertise clipper ships that were loading cargo for San Francisco) for the Young America sold for $5,100; and an 1851 manuscript California Gold Rush diary from the Northern Mines District in Nevada City, Nev., fetched $10,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

‘Detuk’ painted schrank,$818,500, Pook & Pook

An important Berks County, Pa., painted schrank inscribed “17 Philip Detuk 75,” sold for $818,500 at the sale of the Collection of Richard and Joanne Smith held Oct. 30 by Pook & Pook Inc., in Downingtown, Pa. Also, a harvest jug inscribed “Waynesboro PA May 12, 1860” and stamped “John Bell” (the maker) soared to $59,250; a rare slide lid box by the “Compass Artist” commanded $54,510; and two carved and painted horse figures by Peter Brubaker of Lancaster County, Pa., brought $20,145 and $26,070. Prices include a 16 percent buyer’s premium.

Circa 1925 pedal car, $46,000, Bertoia Auctions

A circa 1925 American National deluxe coupe pedal car, a rare example with opening doors, upholstered door panels and many other luxury appointments, sold for $46,000 at the sale of the Donald Kaufman Toy Collection held Sept. 24-25 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, N.J. Also, a circa 1927 Toledo Buick with special spring-reinforced, shock resistant prototype bumper, 30 1/2 inches long, sped off for $34,500; and a 1930s Kenton Morgan cast-iron toy crane went for $20,700. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese jade boulder, $207,400, Leslie Hindman

A Chinese jade boulder that had not been on the market in over a half century, consigned by a Chicago family, sold for $207,400 at an auction of Asian Works of Art held Oct. 26 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. The boulder was estimated to bring $20,000-$40,000. Also, a gilt-bronze figure of Guandi went for $85,400 to a bidder from Shanghai. The auction realized over $1.25 million and was the highest grossing Asian Works of Art auction in the firm’s history. Most lots sold to Chinese bidders. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

1900 Tabriz Persian rug, $26,000, Morton Kuehnert

A large circa 1900 Tabriz Persian rug sold for $26,000 at a Catalog Auction held Sept. 23 by Morton Kuehnert Auctioneers & Appraisers in Houston. Also, a signed Tiffany Studios “organic root” candlestick lit up the room for $10,800; a set of 18th-century Sevres presentation plaques with landmark scenes from France topped out at $12,000; a pair of 19th-century Wedgwood urns commanded $6,000; and a Louis XV-style bed and a 19th-century Louis XV-style console and mirror each realized $5,400. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

J1879 ‘Washlady’ dollar, $161,000, Heritage Auction

Amagnificent 1879 ‘Washlady’ dollar, one of only 12 to 15 examples known to exist in copper and silver (one is known to exist in white metal) sold for $161,000 at the Coinfest Signature U.S. Coin Auction held Oct. 27-30 in Stamford, Conn., by Heritage Auction Galleries of Dallas. Also, a 1785 Connecticut copper African Head coin (VF30 NGC) from the W. Philip Keller Collection of U.S. Colonials realized $115,000; and an 1882 $20 gold piece (AU53 PCGS), one of only 571 struck, went for $80,500. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

50-case wine ‘super lot,’ $320,000, Skinner Inc.

A50-case “superlot” of all five First Growth Bourdeaux, spanning the years 1995-2004, sold for $320,000 at a Fine Wine Sale held Nov. 2 by Skinner Inc., in Boston. Also, a case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982 Paulliac, sold for $48,600; a case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1947 Paulliac, $19,440; a case of Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982 Paulliac, $17,010; and a case of Chateau Latour 1982 Paulliac, $17,010. The auction grossed just under $1.5 million. Prices include a 21.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Fitz Henry Lane oil, $140,000, Carlsen Gallery

An original oil on canvas painting by Fitz Henry “Hugh” Lane sold for $140,000 at an auction held Oct. 3 by Carlsen Gallery in Freehold, N.Y. Also, a labeled R.J. Horner lamp with figural base illuminated the room for $7,750; an 18K gold necklace and bracelet ensemble brought $7,000; a 19th-century antique serape went for $6,000; an 18K gold box with sapphires rose to $5,500; an oil on panel by David Burliuk titled Two Figures fetched $5,500; and a circa 1790 Federal tall-case clock hit $5,000. Prices exclude the 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Russian 14K kovsh, $58,750, Weschler’s

A late 19th-century Russian 14K yellow-gold, plique-a-jour enamel and gem-set kovsh made by Alexander Tillander sold for $58,750 at a sale of European & American Furniture and Decorations and Asian Works of Art held Oct. 23 by Weschler’s in Washington, D.C. Also, a bronze sculpture by Nikolai Ivanovich Lieberich, titled Wolf Hunt, made $42,300; a pair of parcel silver gilt and cloisonné enamel wedding icons brought $10,575; and an American “Boston Tea Party” cream jug by Daniel Dupuy (circa 1774) hit $9,987. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Canadian butter churn, $34,650, Waasdorp

Aminiature Canadian “plow” flower decorated butter churn with dasher and guide, standing 5 inches tall and impressed with the potter’s mark (James O’Hara Picton) sold for $34,650 at a Fall Pottery Auction held Sept. 18 by Bruce and Vicki Waasdorp in Clarence, N.Y. Also, an American 3-gallon cream part in a desirable classic folk art design and with a signature star face design garnered $10,725; and a pair of vendor jugs from the Welding Brantford pottery of Canada realized $300 and $360. Prices include a 10 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese jade screen, $411,250. Potomack

A Chinese carved white jade table screen from the Qianlong period sold for $411,250 at a sale of Asian Works of Art held Oct. 2 by The Potomack Co. in Alexandria, Va. It was the third highest price ever paid at auction for a Chinese carved white jade table screen. Also, a Chinese jade partial zodiac set fetched $164,500, a world record for such a set. In all, 124 Asian lots brought $1.11 million in spirited international bidding. Bidders came from as far off as Hong Kong, Singapore and Beijing. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Mahogany violin cane, $9,200, Tradewinds

Arare mahogany cane concealing a complete and playable violin sold for $9,200 at an auction held Oct. 2 by Tradewinds Auctions in Peabody, Mass. Also, a Tiffany Art Nouveau sterling small eagle cane after cartoonist Thomas Nast’s eagle went for $8,625; an early 20th-century pair of ivory canes carved in the form of Harlequin and Columbine in the manner of German porcelain and inlaid with gems realized $4,888; and a carved elephant ivory ram containing a gun that takes a 14mm shell made $4,600. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Teddy Roosevelt shotgun, $862,500, James D. Julia

Aspectacular Teddy Roosevelt F grade shotgun gifted to him by the president of the Fox Gun Co. and used on his 1909 African safari sold for $862,500 at a Firearms Auction held Oct. 5-6 by James D. Julia Inc., in Fairfield, Maine. It was the second-highest price ever paid for a firearm at auction. Also, a Soviet MiG 21 fighter plane sold “as is where is with no guaranty of air-worthiness” for $23,000; and a rare and exceptional Winchester 1st Model 1873 “one of one hundred” lever-action rifle, the finest of its type, made $373,750. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Superman lunch box, $11,865, Philip Weiss

A 1954 Superman vs. The Robot lunch box by Universal, in mint condition and widely regarded as the Holy Grail of vintage lunch boxes, sold for $11,865 at a three-day estates sale held Oct. 22-24 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, a rare Planter’s Mr. Peanut coin-operated scale, 44 inches tall, by X-Cello Scale Co. (Toledo) breezed to $9,040; and two Pennsylvania Railroad posters from the 1930s by Edward M. Eggleston (1883-1941) promoting Atlantic City made $7,345 and $5,368. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Indo-Portuguese cabinet, $98,500, Doyle New York

An Indo-Portuguese silver mounted stained tortoise shell and ivory table cabinet dating to the 17th or 18th century sold for $98,500 at a sale of Important English & Continental Furniture and Decorations held Oct. 27 by Doyle New York in Manhattan. Also, a pair of George III gilt-bronze mounted mahogany, tulipwood rosewood and sabicu commodes, circa 1765 and attributed to Pierre Langlois, achieved $62,500; and a tempera on panel biblical depiction by Neri di Bicci (Italian, 1419-1491) brought $23,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Whistler etching, $282,000, Swann

A n early impression of Nocturne, etching and drypoint on Japan paper (1879-80), sold for $282,000 at an auction of Whistler and His Influence, about 150 prints by James A. Whistler and his followers, held Oct. 27 by Swann Galleries in New York City. It was the most expensive Whistler print ever sold at auction. Also, a first state of Rotherhithe (1860), etching and drypoint, realized $14,400; Little Smithfield, etching on Japan paper, brought $18,000; and Battersea: Dawn, drypoint (1875), hit $13,200. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.