A highly detailed German cat-form skittles set achieved $13,500 plus the buyer’s premium in October 2021. Image courtesy of Milestone Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK — A popular bowling game in Europe during the Middle Ages and in English inns for many years, skittles, aka ninepins, involves throwing a ball at nine pins arranged in rows. Vintage and antique skittles sets continue to turn the heads of 21st-century collectors.
Steiff brass center seamed mohair cub, $36,341
LADENBURG, Germany, – Ladenburger Spielzeugauktion‘s 367 lot mid-autumn signature Steiff Special Auction sale, held November 6, was an unmistakable success. All prices have been converted from Euro to US Dollars.
R. John Wright dolls from Little Children Series I, est. $800-$1,000
NEW YORK – Yes, you can play with dolls. If anything, dolls are wasted on little kids. You know what you want, and why you want it, and your allowance is far more impressive nowadays, as it should be. Good thing, too, because the truly excellent dolls – as well as teddy bears, toys, and highly collectible playthings – would empty the piggy banks of young collectors several times over.
On Tuesday, September 14, starting at 1 pm Eastern time, Jasper52 will host a sale called Steiff, Artist Bears, Dolls, Toys and More!, featuring 315 lots of exceptional examples of everything named in the title. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Steiff’s black tag series Haute Couture teddy bear, est. $250-$350
CHICAGO – Potter & Potter Auctions will hold a 569-lot sale featuring bears, toys and various novelty items on September 25 starting at 10am Central time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.