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Gallery Report: August 2008

Oriel china cabinet, $24,150, Cowan’s

 

A late 19th-century Oriel Cabinet Company oak china cabinet, adorned with full-bodied Norman soldiers and a carved crest featuring cherub figures and grotesques, sold for $24,150 at a Summer Fine & Decorative Art Auction held June 21 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati, Oh. Also, five lots of stoneware pig flasks made in Anna, Ill., went for a combined $53,47; the top lot of the group was a railroad pig marked “Cincinnati the Pork City” that soared to $14,950. Also, a watercolor painting by Italian artist Marie Martinetti changed hands for $12,075.

 

 

Rockola baseball game, $44,400 James D. Julia

 

A Rockola World Series baseball game featuring the 1937 All-Stars sold for $44,400 at a Toy, Doll, Advertising & Coin-Op Auction held June 28 by James D. Julia Auctioneers in Fairfield, Me. Also, a Caille New Century upright slot machine with music achieved $40,250; a Caille Uncle Sam strength tester climbed to $25,875; a Lukat the Lucky Cat early lottery game went to a bidder from France for $22,425; an English working model depicting an interior scene of a funeral parlor brought $23,000; and a German Moko toy motorcycle made $18,975.

 

 

 

French painting, $14,575, Hal Hunt

 

 

A beautiful Parisian street scene with figures, rendered by the French artist Henri Victor Lesur (1863-1900) sold for $14,575 at a multi-estate sale held June 29 by Hal Hunt Auctions in Northport, Ala. Also, a wonderful collection of twelve original works of folk art by the late Alabama painter W. (Willie) Walker went for prices ranging from $1,000-$2,750 each; a stunning 5.44-carat Marquise diamond ring soared to $67,100, making it the top lot of the sale; and an outstanding 178-piece Wallace sterling silver set in the Grand Baroque pattern brought $6,600.

 

 

 

Aberdeen table lamp, $14,000, Woody Auction

 

 

A stunning American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) mushroom shade table lamp in the Aberdeen pattern by Jewel Cut Glass, with two lights, sold for $14,000 at the sale of The Jim & Francis Miller Collection held August 1-2 by Woody Auction at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo. Also, a signed Sinclaire platter with two matching plates and a detailed wild game bird scenic décor and acorn border gaveled for $10,000; and a rock crystal vase, signed W. Fritsche, with engraved floral, garland and “tear drops” on a pattern cut base hit $10,000.

 

Sterling Tiffany bowl, $4,070, Doan

 

 

A sterling Tiffany footed bowl weighing 59 troy ounces sold for $4,070 at an auction held May 3 by Doan & Associates Auction Company in Kennesaw, Ga. Also, an 1830 shelf clock with carved eagles on the top chimed on time for $2,750; and a Southern six-drawer chest hailing from either Kentucky or Pennsylvania topped out at $1,430, despite having had several repairs. Also, a painting of George Washington changed hands. The auction was well-attended, with out-of-town bids recorded from Ohio and Indiana. Prices include a 10% buyer’s premium.

 

 

 

Original Disney artwork, $35,125, Geppi’s/Hake’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original Tom Wood artwork for Disney’s “Mickey’s Magic Hat,” which appeared in the July 1935 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, sold for $35,125 at an auction held by the Hake’s Americana & Collectibles unit of Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions of York, Pa. In spring 1934, Good Housekeeping introduced a unique series of Disney story pages, featuring original watercolor illustrations. The series ran from April 1934 to September 1944, in 125 installments. Mr. Wood’s creation was a fine example of color art from the era.

 

 

 

Elvis’ peacock jumpsuit, $300,000, Gotta Have It!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The so-called “peacock jumpsuit” — Elvis Presely’s favorite performance costume – sold for $300,000 in an online auction conducted by Gotta Have It! in New York City. It was the most ever paid for a piece of Elvis memorabilia at auction (the previous record was $295,000 for The King’s 1956 Lincoln Continental Mark II). The buyer of the jumpsuit was identified only as a serious Elvis collector. The white outfit has a plunging V-neck, high collar and blue-and-gold peacock design. Elvis paid $10,000 to have it made, by designer Bill Belew.

 

 

 

Lou Gehrig’s jacket, $373,750, Hunt

 

 

 

 

 

 

The jacket worn by New York Yankees great Lou Gehrig the day he took himself out of the lineup and ended his streak of consecutive games played in 1939 sold for $373,750 at the 2008 MLB Live Auction at DHL All-Star Fan Fest held July 14-15 by Hunt Auctions at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Also, Babe Ruth’s historic 712th home run autographed baseball soared to $172,500; Tony Lazzeri’s 1928 New York Yankees World Series ring slipped on a new finger for $48,875; and a Jackie Robinson game-used bat hammered for $92,000.

 

 

 

5.5-carat diamond ring, $126,500, Brunk

 

 

 

 

 

 

A A 5.5-carat diamond solitaire ring, nearly colorless and only slightly imperfect, sold for $126,500 at a multi-estate sale held July 12-13 by Brunk Auctions in Asheville, N.C. Also, a Tiffany Chrysanthemum six-piece matching tea service, with marks ranging from 1869-1902, soared to $28,750; a slightly imperfect, near colorless 3.45-carat diamond set in a platinum mount with six accent diamonds realized $21,850; and two paintings by Charleston artist William Aiken Walker (1838-1920), one of a male and one of a female, gaveled for $27,600.

 

 

 

Hurley Rookwood vase, $14,000, Treadway Galleries

 

 

 

 

 

 

A An Iris glaze Rookwood vase by E.T. Hurley sold for $14,000 at an Art Pottery Auction held June 7-8 by Treadway Galleries in Cincinnati, Oh. Also, a vellum glaze Rookwood plaque with a Venetian scene by Carl Schmidt soared to $12,000; a green vellum glaze Rookwood plaque with sailboats by Sallie Coyne changed hands for $9,000; a large double-handled Roseville Futura vase made $3,600; a Fred Rothenbusch vellum glazed plaque finished at $9,000; and a vellum glass vase by Kataro Shirayamadani crossed the finish line at $4,000.

 

 

 

Washington manuscript, $33,563, R&R Auction

 

 

 

 

 

 

A manuscript land survey by then-eighteen-year-old George Washington, endorsed a second time by our first president years later, sold for $33,563 in an online auction that concluded on July 16 by R&R Auction Company (rrauction.com), based in Amherst, N.H. Also, a handwritten document by John Hancock, penned in 1776 just months after he signed the Declaration of Independence, climbed to $17,220; and another 1776 document from another Declaration signer, the brewer-patriot Samuel Adams, changed hands for $12,286.

 

 

 

Joe Jackson card, $165,486, SCP

 

 

 

 

 

 

A T210 Old Mill Series 8 “Shoeless” Joe Jackson baseball card, graded PSA 2 Good, sold for $165,486 in a July 12 Internet auction held by SCP Auctions of Mission Viejo, Calif. Also, an 1888 N162 Goodwin Champs King Kelly card, PSA 8 NM-MT, earned $63,337; a 1909-11 T206 Walter Johnson card, PSA 8 NM-MT, coasted to $28,089; a 1910 Old Mill Series 6 Casey Stengel card, PSA 6 EX-MT, soared to $41,902; a 1916 M101-4 Sporting News #151 Babe Ruth card hit $54,712; and a 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle card, PSA 8 NM-MT, reached $91,470.

 

 

 

French Thuillier doll, $70,000, Theriault’s

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 12-inch pressed bisque bebe by the French doll maker Thuillier, originally owned by Lily Tabor of the legendary 19th-century Denver family, sold for $70,000 at a July doll auction titled “Crowning Glories” held at The Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas by Theriault’s, based in Annapolis, Md. Also, a 19-inch bebe by Halopeau (known as the “H” bebe) achieved $60,000; and a 23-inch size 9 Bebe Bru with classic face and rare signed Bru ankle boots, holding a tiny 12-inch Bru bebe wearing classic Bru shoes, hammered for $40,000 and $23,000, respectively.

 

 

 

Pair of doorway cornices, $12,000, New Orleans Auction Galleries

 

 

 

 

 

 

A monumental pair of doorway cornices sold for $12,000 at a multi-estate sale held July 26-27 by New Orleans Auction Galleries/St. Charles Gallery, Inc., in New Orleans, La. Also, a three-piece Amerbed set went for $10,800; a Rococo Revival rosewood parlor etagere rose to $10,200; an original oil-on-canvas work by Knute Heldner topped out at $8,700; a James Michalopoulos oil-on-canvas painting fetched $8,400; an Alberta Kinsey oil painting achieved $7,800; another rosewood parlor etagere realized $7,500; and a 7-piece rosewood parlor suite made $4,560.

 

 

 

Queen Victoria’s bloomers, $9,000, Charles Hanson

 

 

 

 

 

 

A pair of Queen Victoria’s bloomers, with a 50-inch waist, sold for $9,000 at an auction held July 30 by Charles Hanson, Auctioneer, in central England. The buyer was a collector from Canada. The handmade bloomers, dating to the 1890s, bore the monogram “VR” (for Victoria Regina). They were an open-crotch style, with separate legs joined by a drawstring at the waist (a popular style of the time). Also, Queen Victoria’s chemise, with a 66-inch bust, went for $8,000, while her nightgown hit $11,000. Victoria (1819-1901) became queen at age 18.

 

 

 

Painting by George F. Morris, $25,740, A.G.O.P.B.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1936 oil on canvas painting by George Ford Morris (American, 1873-1960), titled “Leila on Pony,” sold for $25,740 at a Sporting & Fine Arts Summer Sale held June 30 by Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. Another 1936 work by Morris, titled “Lord Erin,” soared to $16,380. Also, a painting by Antonio N. Jacobsen (American, 1850-1921), depicting a ship on a turbulent sea and titled “Thingvalla” (1880), garnered $16,700; and a 255-piece Tiffany & Co. sterling flatware set in the St. Dunstan pattern brought $11,700.

 

 

 

Red Skelton’s watch, $80,000, Jones & Horan

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rare, German-made Lange & Sohne minute repeater watch with chronograph in a bold oversized 18k yellow gold hunting case, once belonging to the legendary comic Red Skelton, sold for $80,000 in an auction held June 22 by Jones & Horan in Manchester, N.H. Another timepiece owned by Skelton – a Swiss push-button minute repeater chronograph, triple calendar and moon phase in 14k yellow gold – changed hands for $4,500. Also, a Swiss minute repeating grand sonnerie clock watch with button-activated minute repeater climbed to $15,000.

 

 

 

Joseph Lincoln drake decoy, $137,000, Guyette & Schmidt

 

 

 

 

 

 

An old squaw drake decoy by Joseph Lincoln sold for $137,000 at a Summer Decoy Auction held July 26-27 by Guyette & Schmidt, Inc., of St. Michaels, Md., at the Wyndham Hotel in Portland, Me. Also, an old squaw hen, also by Joseph Lincoln, commanded $69,000; a pintail drake (circa 1900) by the Mason Decoy Factory soared to $19,550; a Canada goose (circa 1920) by the Mason Decoy Factory changed hands for $18,400; a swimming merganser drake by Gus Wilson brought $19,550; and a goose decoy by an unknown maker hit $28,750.

 

 

 

1796 Disme, Judd-10, $690,000, Heritage

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 1792 Disme coin, Judd-10, High R.6, graded PR62 Brown NGC, sold for $690,000 at an auction held July 30-Aug. 3 in Baltimore by Heritage Auction Galleries, based in Dallas, Tex. The sale was held in conjunction with the World’s Fair of Money Summer Convention of the American Numismatic Association and set a record for the most valuable ANA auction ever ($41 million+). Also, an 1825/4 Capped Head half eagle $5 coin also realized $690,000; and a 1944-S steel penny, one of only two examples known of this wartime error, gaveled for $373,750.

 

 

 

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.