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Gallery Report: April 2009

Molded copper weather vane, $83,375, James D. Julia, Inc.

A molded copper weather vane attributed to Harris & Co. of Boston, depicting a leaping stag with zinc ears and antlers, sold for $83,375 at a sale of Fine Art & Folk Art held Feb. 6-7 by James D. Julia, Inc., in Fairfield, Maine. Also, a Paul Storr covered soup tureen with original liner, decorated with grape clusters and trailing vines on elegant claw feet, realized $38,525; and an original painting by Emile Gruppe, titled Water Lilies and depicting a large pond filled with water lilies, changed hands for $34,500. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Winchester die-cut poster, $13,080, SoldUSA.com

An extremely rare Winchester three-panel triangle mobile-style die-cut poster soared to $13,080 (a new world auction record) in an Internet and catalog sale that ended March 21-22 by SoldUSA.com. Also, the top lot of the sale was a Winchester Model 1890 bullet board, untouched and in the original frame, that climbed to $22,600; a rare and unusual Winchester neon hanging clock (circa 1930-1933) topped out at $6,215; and a Peters promotional fold-out store window poster (circa 1935) gaveled for $1,305. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Babe Ruth signed postcard, $62,150, Philip Weiss Auctions

A sepia postcard depicting a Hall of Fame plaque of baseball legend Babe Ruth, boldly signed by the Bambino himself, sold for $62,150 at a multi-estate sale held March 28-29 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, New York. Similar postcards were also sold, for Grover Cleveland Alexander ($31,640) and Eddie Collins ($19,775). Also, the Pascaline Calculator – a 1950s-era mechanical device used for adding currency – rose to $21,470; and a Louis XVI-style marble-top side cabinet realized $15,820. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Horner grandfather clock, $97,750, Fontaine’s

A monumental 10-foot carved oak grandfather clock by R.J. Horner sold for $97,750 at a multi-estate sale held April 4 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Also, a winged griffin oak partners desk, attributed to R.J. Horner, soared to $27,600; a John H. Belter “Rosalie With Grapes” 8-piece parlor set went for $28,750; a beautiful Belter “Rosalie” rosewood marble-top table commanded $43,700; and a signed oil on canvas mountain landscape by Samuel Colman (1832-1920) garnered $32,200. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Woodward artwork, $66,000, St. Charles Gallery

A crayon on paper work by William Woodward, titled Old French Opera House 1896, sold for $66,000 at an auction held March 28-29 by St. Charles Gallery in New Orleans. Also, an oil on board by Clarence Millet, titled St. Louis Cathedral Jackson Square, brought $19,200; a small oil-on-canvas swamp scene by William Henry Buck went for $16,800; an early oil on canvas of St. Louis Cathedral by Knute Heldner brought $14,400; and several works by Alexander Drysdale hit prices from $5,280 to $6,900. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Marklin steam train set, $32,200, Morphy’s

A Marklin F&E live steam train, 22-inch loco and tender with 15-inch-long selection of cars, sold for $32,200 at an Early Spring Sale held March 5-7 by Morphy’s in Denver, Pennsylvania. Also, a Marklin painted-tin clockwork battleship Wilmington topped out at $26,450; a Planters porcelain half-moon-shape Mr. Peanut advertising sign (circa 1930s/’40s) rose to $16,100; a framed paper Winchester Cartridges sign featuring a wild turkey hit $10,350; and an onionskin marble with suspended mica made $9,775. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

George Catlin letter, $14,407, RRAuction.com

A significant 1846 letter from the famed artist George Catlin, in which he outlined the scope and aims of his Indian Gallery, sold for $14,407 in an online auction held in March by RRAuction.com, based in Amherst, N.H. Also, a letter from Tchaikovsky, written just weeks before he undertook his last and greatest symphony, rose to $13,045; a Lincoln endorsement addressed to the senator who later became son-in-law to Robert Lincoln brought $9,779; and a bass guitar signed by Paul McCartney hit $6,991. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Brown Bess flintlock musket, $23,000, Poulin Auction Co.

A second model Brown Bess flintlock musket from the American Revolution period sold for $23,000 at a Firearms, Militaria & Sporting Auction held March 14-15 by Poulin Auction Co. in Fairfield, Maine. Also, an early paint-decorated powder horn reached $8,165; a pair of Springfield 1903 grenade launchers topped out at $5,290; and a lot including two military pistols – a Russian PSM and an MAB Model R – knocked down $3,967. The sale grossed in excess of $1 million. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Tiffany Studios lamp, $28,750, Savoia’s Auction

A Tiffany Studios Whirling Leaf hanging lamp with a 22-inch dark green glass shade sold for $28,750 at an auction held March 1 by Savoia’s Auction, Inc., in South Cairo, New York. Also, a Tiffany Studios leaded, stained glass Mushroom shade, 16 inches in diameter on an urn base, achieved $16,100; a small Louis Comfort Tiffany Favrile glass damascene shade, 7 inches in diameter, fetched $5,175; and a Tiffany Studios bamboo-form bronze base, #1205, with Tiffany green glass shade, 14¾ inches tall, hit $3,680. Prices include the buyer’s premium.

Antique clown caravan, $103,500, Bertoia’s

A circa-1909 Marklin Fidelitas clown caravan measuring 37½ inches long, a hand-painted toy made by prewar Germany’s premier toy manufacturer, sold for $103,500 at an auction featuring the Donald Kaufman antique toy collection, March 19-21 at Bertoia’s in Vineland, New Jersey. Also, a Hubley Royal Circus revolving monkey cage brought $97,750; a circa-1907 European tin luxury limo (possibly by the Spanish firm Hispania) made $80,500; and a Gunthermann tinplate open phaeton hit $62,100. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Paul Revere engraving, $469,000, Northeast Auctions

A 1768 copperplate engraving by Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere, depicting the British troops landing at Boston, sold for $469,000 at an auction held March 22 by Northeast Auctions in Manchester, New Hampshire. It was a world record price for a Paul Revere engraving and the first such example to come to auction in nearly a century. The piece was hand-colored by Christian Remick. It is one of only nine known. One sold for $229,000 at Sotheby’s last year; another brought $195,500 at Grogan & Co. in 2004. The price includes a multi-level buyer’s premium.

1931 Dracula poster, $310,000, Heritage

A 1931 Style B one-sheet Dracula poster sold for $310,000 at a Spring Vintage Movie Poster Auction held March 20-22 by Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The poster is one of only three known to exist and carries a provenance from the collection of actor Nicolas Cage. Also, a 1932 insert poster for the notorious Irving Thalberg-produced MGM horror movie Freaks hammered for $107,000; and a 1933 stone lithograph for Walt Disney’s animated film The Mad Doctor realized a little over $100,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Chinese export tureens, $6,000, Rago Arts

A pair of Chinese export Famille Rose covered tureens sold for $6,000 at a sale of the estate of Joseph Stanley: Chinese Export, European & Asian Porcelains held March 27 by Rago Arts in Lambertville, New Jersey. Also, a Chinese Export punchbowl hammered for $4,500; four Chinese Export blue and white round platters rose to $3,900; four Chinese porcelain yellow-glazed and incised pieces made $2,040; a Chinese export cider mug hit $2,040; and a Chinese export blue and white serving platter went for $1,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Bronze pedestal clock, $8,260, Time & Again

A bronze champleve pedestal clock sold for $8,260 at a Winter Antiques Auction held Feb. 22 and 24 by Time & Again Auction Gallery in Linden, New Jersey. Also, a French, 7-piece giltwood parlor suite (circa 1860) gaveled for $8,555; a Reed & Barton sterling silver flatware in the Renaissance pattern brought $7,080; a 19th-century ornate German .800 silver 5-piece tea set fetched $2,478; an oil-on-canvas work by William Howe realized $5,015; and an oil on board signed Charles Chapman made $4,130. Prices include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

George Sotter painting, $102,000, Alderfer Auctions

A classic nocturnal winter scene by George Sotter sold for $102,000 at a quarterly Fine & Decorative Arts catalog sale held March 11-13 at Alderfer Auctions in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. Also, a winter landscape by Arthur Meltzer, titled Chinquapin Road, went for $34,800; a Delaware River view painting by Bucks County Impressionist Henry B. Snell rose to $30,000; a 19th-century red painted jelly cupboard garnered $15,210; and a mocha ware grouping of three items, including a rare teapot, made $8,775. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Ken HallKen Hall is a former business writer now based in Atlanta, where he is with Star Printing & Publishing, parent company of Southeastern Antiquing & Collecting magazine. In 2002 Ken began syndicating three antiques and collecting-related columns: Ken’s Korner, The Celebrity Collector, and Gavels ‘n’ Paddles. His collecting interests include coins, records, autographs and art.