: York Town Auction, Inc concluded 2003 with an eclectic sale of
1,300 lots on December 12-13 at the York Expo Center.
More than 250 bidders competed to win items from a wide range of
categories. Friday afternoon's session included 100 tobacco
humidors with top honors of $1,237 going to a large Johann
Maresch Black Americana figure in top hat Another Maresch black
Americana figural brought $618; a Nippon hunt scene jar at $590,
figural owl, $442, Dickens Weller jar, $421 and a Majolica dog at
$405.
Sewing items from a Harrisburg estate were the next grouping of
items to cross the block. Starting with a large group of lace
bobbins selling over estimate at $534, and continuing through
figural tape measures, pincushions, needle cases and other
various sewing items.
More than 120 lots of pocket watches from a local collection were
then sold with numerous Hamilton timepieces anchoring the group.
A gold Swiss pocket watch with the movement marked Justin &
Arminger, Baltimore, Md., leading the way at $843 and a Waltham
Vanguard model 1908 ticked away at $675. Hamilton railroad
watches stayed consistently around $281 each.
Mahogany Hepplewhite sideboard, $9,900.
The Friday session ended with jewelry, allowing for some
stocking stuffers for a few lucky folks. An antique diamond
filigree ring was hammered down within estimate at $1,518, while a
stunning sapphire and diamond ring brought $2,472. Competitive
bidding drove an antique diamond pendant well over estimate at
$1,800.
Saturday's sale started with country and sporting items with an
H. Conklin merganser decoy bringing a surprising $618 and a
signed Madison Mitchell goose decoy swimming away at $506. A
polychrome iron pear tree ripened at $442, only to be topped by a
similar bird tree at $506.
Stoneware continues to command interest. Proving that was a
Benedict Milburn two-gallon crock with floral decoration, stamped
H.C. Smith, Alex. D.C., which soared to $3,375 as the floor left
the phone bids in their wake, all despite some small handle chips
and a hairline. Cowden & Wilcox showed well with a
three-gallon jug with nice bird decoration selling at $2,362 and
a two-gallon jug with a three-leaf branch at $787.
Not to be outdone, Pfaltzgraff left eyebrows raised when a
miniature stenciled crock made $1,096 against a $200 high
estimate. Bidders also battled over a York crock stenciled
H.G.B.P. with small flower, making $787. A John Bell redware
bowl, despite a crack, followed to $1,181.
Stoneware crock by H.C. Smith, $3,375.
Furniture marched away, commanded by a tiger maple tall-case
clock with broken arch top with sunflower rosettes, inlaid with
initials MHP in arch, exaggerated shaped waist door with eight
inlays of tulips, pinwheel, sunbursts and quarter moon, as an
absentee bid surrendered at $31,500 to a persistent phone bidder.
A mahogany Hepplewhite sideboard made $9,900, while a cherry
Dutch cupboard brought $6,862. A nice maple and pine New England
tavern table ex-ceeded high estimate, bringing $2,700. A
paint-decorated chest of drawers, also of New England origin,
brought $3,375. Two different Philadelphia side chairs were
purchased by the same buyer, each at $1,912. Painted furniture
continued to shine as a feed bin in original blue green paint
fetched $2,362, more than doubling high estimate; a softwood
cupboard with yellow feathered decoration managed $1,575 against
$900 high estimate.
Some country accessories of note were a nice Delaware Valley
sampler which went to the phone at $2,812; a terrific child's
plank bottom chair, in original paint, at $1,350; a nice
miniature dry sink attracted active bidders to reach $2,025;
flintlock rifle signed N. Beyer made $2,475 despite some damage;
and a John Adams signed land grant was hammered down at $3,825.
All prices reflect a 121/2 percent buyer's premium.
