The Hot Bid: Voters like ‘Ike’ inaugural license plates

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This license plate from 1957 was issued to President Dwight D. Eisenhower for his second presidential inauguration. Morphy Auctions image

What you see: An inaugural license plate issued to President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957, for his second inaugural celebration. It’s one of two lots of inaugural license plates from the Eisenhower-Nixon years in a mid-May sale at Morphy’s; the second lot is a pair issued to Vice President-elect Richard M. Nixon in 1953. Both lots carry estimates of $3,000 to $6,000.

The expert: Jim Fox, consultant for Morphy Auctions.

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The Hot Bid: Liberty cap flag finial likely unique

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Rare painted tinware and zinc Liberty cap flag finial with Civil War association to the 1861 Pratt Street Riot in Baltimore. Freeman’s image

What you see: A painted tinware and zinc Liberty cap flag finial that was part of one of the earliest deadly incidents of the Civil War—the Pratt Street Riot of April 1861. Freeman’s estimates it at $15,000 to $25,000.

The Expert: Lynda Cain, vice president and department head for American furniture, folk and decorative arts at Freeman’s.

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The Hot Bid: Buddy Holly poster could break record

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The ‘Winter Dance Party’ concert poster starring Buddy Holly and the Crickets will likely sell for $50,000 to $100,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

What you see: A Winter Dance Party concert poster, touting Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, all of whom would die in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959—aka “The Day the Music Died.” Heritage Auctions issued no formal estimate for the poster, but its likely range is between $50,000 and $100,000.

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Nicolò Barovier Mosaico vase could command $500K

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The rare Nicolo Barovier Mosaico vase, 1924-1925, fused and blown polychrome glass murrines, 9in diameter × 13in high. Incised signature to lower edge ‘N. Barovier Murano.’ Image courtesy of Wright

What you see: A rare and important Mosaico vase by Nicolò Barovier, dating to the mid-1920s. Wright estimates it at $300,000 to $500,000.

The expert: Sara Blumberg, a consultant for Wright.

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The Hot Bid: Princess Doraldina fortune-tellers at Morphy’s

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The unrestored Princess Doraldina fortune-telling machine. Morphy Auctions image

What you see: A Princess Doraldina fortune-teller machine. Morphy Auctions is offering the vintage coin-op and a second Princess Doraldina machine in the same auction. Both were made by the same Rochester, New York, company in 1928. The estimate on the machine shown above is $20,000 to $30,000. Its “sister,” shown below and featuring a mannequin clad in white, carries an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000.

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The Hot Bid: Pedro Friedeberg ‘Hand’ chairs in Rago auction  

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A ‘lefty’ version of the Pedro Friedeberg Hand chair covered in silver leaf. Rago image

What you see: A Hand chair, covered in silver leaf and designed by Mexican artist Pedro Friedeberg. Shown further along in this story is a second Hand chair in unadorned mahogany. Both chairs date to circa 1965, both will be offered at Rago in the same Jan. 19, 2020 auction. Each carries an estimate of $7,000 to $9,000.

The expert: Richard Wright, president of Wright auction house. [Rago and Wright merged in 2019.]

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The Hot Bid: Phillip Lloyd Powell fireplace sold for record $96K

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A carved and sculpted black walnut fireplace created by Phillip Lloyd Powell in the 1950s. Rago Auctions image

What you see: A carved and sculpted black walnut fireplace created circa 1956 and 1958 by Phillip Lloyd Powell. It set a record for any piece by Powell when it sold for $96,000 against an estimate of $25,000 to $45,000 at Rago in April 2008.

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The Hot Bid: Ringo Starr’s chart-topping drum kit

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Ringo Starr’s Ludwig drum kit, which he played in his early days with the Beatles. Julien’s Auctions image

What you see: A Ludwig oyster black pearl three-piece drum kit that Ringo Starr played on stage and television with the Beatles in the early 1960s. Estimated at $300,000 to $500,000, it sold at Julien’s for $2.1 million – a world auction record for any drum kit.

The expert: Martin Nolan, executive director of Julien’s Auctions.

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The Hot Bid: Know Nothing US flag sells for $25,000

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Know Nothing’ American Flag dated ‘1858,’ appliqued, printed cotton portrait medallion depicting George Washington below a spread wing eagle and crossed American Flags heightened with 13 embroidered stars. Sold for $25,000. Freeman’s image

Update: The Know Nothing flag sold for $25,000.

What you see: A Know Nothing American flag, dating to December 1858. Freeman’s estimates it at $25,000 to $50,000.

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The Hot Bid: Frank Lloyd Wright chair from Price Tower sells for $13,750

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Imaged by Heritage Auctions, HA.com

NEW YORK – On occasion, The Hot Bid revisits remarkable antique and vintage collectible that have sold. Today’s subject is a futuristic armchair designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

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