: Bill Spicer runs his auctions the old-fashioned way - he gets
into houses, and then everything goes on the block. No reserves -
ever.
Spicer has done this for 25 years. Local antiques dealers and
collectors know they can go to a Spicer sale and see lots of
different things offered - from good box lots to Queen Anne
tables and pretty much everything in-between.
Spicer's July 28 auction was conducted, as usual, at the American
Legion Hall. The parking lot was full to overflowing, and the
reason for the excitement was that Spicer had unearthed some fine
quality Eighteenth Century American furniture in a home in nearby
Massachusetts. From the same home came the top lot of the sale -
a rare and early Nineteenth Century American whalebone pie
crimper, with hearts cut out in the handle.
Despite his out-of-the-way location, Spicer had no trouble
attracting many of the heavy hitters from the New England
antiques scene. Antiques dealer and nautical specialist Paul
DeCoste, who came all the way from Newburyport, Mass., for the
sale, was on hand. DeCoste won the pie crimper, which saw lots of
action. There were two phones and interest from the floor when
the pie crimper was offered. It opened with a bid of $1,000 and
quickly escalated to its selling price of $5,280.
The same home produced a rare American square top Queen Anne
candlestand in old surface. After some rapid bidding from the
floor, the Eighteenth Century piece went to a left bid for
$4,400. There were two Queen Anne drop leaf tables from this
house. One had rectangular leaves and pad feet, and went to a
left bid for $4,400. The other table had rounded leaves and
brought $3,180.
An American two-drawer workstand from the Nineteenth Century with
turned legs and bird's-eye maple drawer fronts sold for $440. A
slag glass period lamp with reverse painting on the shade sold
for $275. An interesting and much admired example of art pottery,
a large, colorful Mission vase, which was marked on the bottom
"Santa Barbara Mission," saw lots of action, drawing four phone
bidders before selling at $990.
A Newcomb-Macklin frame measuring 34 by 40 inches went off the
block for $600. An American Eighteenth Century tall-case clock,
which was in "as found" condition, sold for $1,200 and a slick
and stylish 1952 Schwinn Pathfinder bicycle in almost perfect
shape sold for $440.
This Newcomb Macklin frame measured 34 by 40 inches and
realized $600.
A set of Nineteenth Century American mahogany Chippendale
chairs in fantastic shape went off the block for $1,430, and the
matching mahogany table, which was 54 inches wide, also sold for
$1,430. A period sextant, found locally, brought $330, and a pair
of glass whale oil lamps sold for $466. An American pewter oil
lamp, Calder, from Providence, R.I., sold for just $193.
An American cast iron coffee grinder - a large one that was
painted in vivid blue and red - seemed like a deal, going off the
block for $605. A large Rookwood vase, blue with a big white
flower, sold at the auction for $275.
This was a fun sale, with many quality things from the Eighteenth
and early Nineteenth Centuries. Spicer insists that his material
be really fresh, and he does not accept any reserves, so the
customers know that they are really getting a break. Many people
routinely attend Spicer sales, knowing that they can buy here.
They can wait through the large number of items offered.
One warning: these sales are not cataloged - one must be alert!
All prices quoted include ten percent buyer's premium
