Duncanson painting, $105,750, Cowan’s

An original oil on canvas painting by American painter Robert Scott Duncanson (1821-1872), done in 1856, sold for $105,750 at a Winter Fine and Decorative Art Sale held Feb. 7 by Cowan’s Auctions Inc. in Cincinnati. Also, a bust of Minnehaha by Edmonia Lewis rose to $138,000; a late 19th-century Ohio stoneware jar achieved $3,525; a portrait of a woman and child with dog, attributed to Sheldon Peck, made $22,325; and a rare Chinese rhinoceros horn libation cup changed hands for $18,800. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Rosewood Belter bed, $201,250, Hal Hunt

A rare and magnificent pierce-carved laminated rosewood bed, made by John H. Belter in the 1850s and one of only two known, sold for $201,250 at an estate sale held Feb. 21 by Hal Hunt Auctions in Northport, Ala. Also made by Belter, a 10-piece laminated rosewood parlor suite in the Milwaukee pattern hammered for $132,250. A Belter rosewood dresser with serpentine laminated drawers, carved flowers and dresser boxes, achieved $92,000. A J. & J.W. Meeks parlor table made $54,050. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

A KPM porcelain royal diplomatic plaque decorated with a portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm and views of Germany sold for $46,000 at a sale of Fine and Decorative Arts held Feb. 11 by Doyle New York in New York City. Two Tiffany sterling silver flatware services in the Olympian and Persian patterns went for $20,000 and $18,750, respectively; two Daum acid-etched and enameled glass vases decorated with fuchsias attained $20,000 and $11,250; and a pair of gilt-bronze mounted vases brought $15,000. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

Harry Potter book, $19,120, Heritage

A softcover copy of the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone, published in London in 1997 by Bloomsbury, sold for $19,120 at a Rare Books Auction held March 6-7 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The book is one of 200 copies of the first printing issued with the original publisher’s illustrated soft cover wrappers and an illustrated card signed by J.K. Rowling. The winning bid was nearly double the previous record for a Harry Potter book. The buyer was from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Price includes a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.

German ivory charger, $48,175, Weschler’s

A German ivory oval charger depicting a Bacchanalian scene in the center sold for $48,175 at a sale of European & American Furniture & Decorations & Asian Works of Art held Feb. 7 by Weschler’s in Washington. An American “War of 1812” Stephen Decatur silver medal, with a framed true copy of the Congressional resolution awarding the medal to Lt. James L. Edwards, soared to $47,000; and a large pair of Chinese cloisonne enamel and gilt bronze figures of herons changed hands for $19,975. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Washington portrait, $336,000, Skinner

A miniature watercolor on ivory portrait of George Washington painted by Robert Field in 1801, while Washington was still in office as president, sold for $336,000 at an Americana Sale to coincide with Presidents Day and held Feb. 15 by Skinner Inc. in Boston. Also, a neoclassical French ormolu mantel clock depicting Washington in full military dress made by Jean-Baptiste Dubuc in Paris in 1810 rose to $112,575; and a Federal banjo clock by Simon Willard (circa 1805), went to $130,350. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Shepler ski poster, $26,400, Swann

A ski poster advertising Sun Valley, Utah by Dwight Clark Shepler, titled Sun Valley / Union Pacific, sold for $26,400 at a Vintage Posters auction held Feb. 5 by Swann Galleries in New York. An advertisement for Buffalo Bill’s Wild West / The Great Train Hold-Up & Bandit Hunters of the Union Pacific (1907) hit $12,000; Walter Holz’s Maccabiah, printed in London to advertise the 1935 games in Tel-Aviv, reached $9,000; and Herbert Bayer’s Mont Trembland (1939) made $6,480. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Elizabeth I ruble, $210,000, Baldwin’s

An Elizabeth I 1741-1761 pattern ruble 1756, from the collection of the ex-Grand Duke George Mikhailovich, sold for $210,000 at an auction held jointly on Jan. 7-8 by Baldwin’s Auctions, M&M Numismatics and Dmitry Markov in New York. The sale was part of the 37th annual New York International Numismatic Convention. Also, a Greek Tetradrachm coin signed by Heracleidas and depicting the head of Apollo commanded $140,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Hollywood collection, $25,745, RRAuction

A collection of some 10,000 vintage Hollywood heavyweights, from Fred Astaire to Catherine Zeta-Jones, together with some intriguing if less-remembered personalities, sold for $25,745 in an online auction that concluded Feb. 11 by RRAuction (rrauction.com), based in Amherst, N.H. Also, the original 1964 manuscript of the theme music from the Star Trek television series, with a letter of provenance from composer Alexander Courage, hit $14,992; and a crayon drawing by Picasso realized $12,756. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Lever-action carbines, $7,475, Rock Island

A lot of two lever-action carbines, a Colt Burgess lever-action saddle ring carbine and a Whitney-Kennedy lever-action saddle ring carbine, sold for $7,475 at a sale held Feb. 6-7 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Moline, Ill. Also, an excellent late production Winchester M1 carbine brought $4,025; a frame of bullet molds commanded $3,450; a Smith & Wesson no. 3 second model American revolver made $2,300; and two German hunting swords with sheaths hit the mark at $5,462. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Spanish Custom House, $1.04 million, Neal Auction

The Spanish Custom House built in 1784 in New Orleans’ historic Bayou St. John area sold for $1.04 million at an on-site absolute auction held Feb. 10 by Neal Auction Co. There were 36 bidders, each required to submit $50,000 in certified funds before they could participate. A man from Houma, La., bought the 2,900-square-foot home at 1300 Moss St., which been vacant and on the market for over five years. The price includes a 10 percent buyer’s premium.

Art Deco lady’s ring, $42,000, New Orleans

A platinum and diamond lady’s square-form Art Deco ring, comprising a central Old European-cut diamond of 4.25 carats in a row of 12 smaller diamonds, sold for $42,000 at a Major Estates Event held Feb. 7-8 by New Orleans Auction Galleries. A New Orleans art pottery vase, circa 1890, by William Woodward (American, 1859-1939), depicting a blue crab in relief, rose to $14,400; and a watercolor and gouache painting by Eugene Laloue (French, 1854-1941) commanded $13,200. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Chilkat dance blanket, $22,800, Rago Arts

A rare Chilkat dance blanket sold for $22,800 at a Tribal Auction held March 1 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a monumental Colima shaman figural vessel sold for $10,200; an exceptional Colima redware dog for $8,400; a Nayarit Chinesco painted female figure for $7,800; an Athabaskan shot pouch with accoutrements for $7,800; a rare Rapa Nui Moai kavakava for $7,800; and a Taino ritual vessel for $6,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.

Mahatma Gandhi items, $1.8 million, Antiquorum

Personal items belonging to Mohandes “Mahatma” Gandhi, including his eyeglasses, pocket watch and the bowl from which he ate his final meal, sold for $1.8 million at an auction held March 5 by Antiquorum Auctioneers in New York City. The winning bid was submitted by UB Group, an Indian conglomerate. The Indian government had tried to block the sale of the items, saying they should be returned to the nation. The seller was California art collector James Otis. A UB Group spokesperson said the items will go on display in New Delhi, India.

Bakshaish carpet, $54,625, Grogan

A Bakshaish carpet from the first half of the 19th century and measuring 10 feet 7 inches by 7 feet 6 inches, sold for $54,625 at the annual Fine Oriental Rugs, Carpets and Textiles Auction held Jan. 12 by Grogan & Co. Fine Art Auctioneers & Appraisals in Dedham, Mass. Also, a silk wrap Serapi square rug, circa 1875, fetched $48,875; an ivory ground Indian carpet, circa 1880, soared to $43,125; a 19th-century Caucasian yellow field rug made $37,375; and a Yomud carpet from Turkestan hit $18,400. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Charles Gifford oil, $65,520, Willis Henry

An 1876 oil on canvas seascape painting by Charles Henry Gifford of New Bedford, Mass., sold for $65,520 at an Estates and Collections Sale held Feb. 7 by Willis Henry Auctions in Dedham, Mass. Also, a Civil War presentation sword given in April 1864 to Maj. Gen. Nathaniel Prentice Banks brought $53,820; a 19th-century portrait of a girl in a white dress holding a cat, unsigned, probably Boston in origin, climbed to $12,870; and a mathematical equation signed by Albert Einstein realized $4,680. Prices include a 17 percent buyer’s premium.

Jack Lorimer Gray painting, $46,000, Thomaston Place

An oil on canvas rendering of two fishermen by Jack Lorimer Gray (1927-1981) sold for $46,000 at a sale of Native American Items, Paintings & Coins held Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a Plains Indian quirt, circa 1870, climbed to $36,800; a 19th-century Sioux beadwork saddlebag hammered for $9,775; an 1867-S Seated Liberty silver quarter topped out at $13,800; and a landscape painting by William Louis Sonntag Sr. (1822-1900) hit $25,300. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.