: "It was hotter than the dickens, but they stayed right till the
end," said Hap Moore in regard the weather and the crowd after
his most recent auction conducted on Saturday, August 28. The
sale featured a varied assortment of fresh to the market estate
merchandise ranging from Oriental carpets to folk art
accessories.
Moore reported a large crowd filling all of the 200-plus chairs
in the gallery as well as a good number of bidders standing in
the rear of the hall and outside. The auctioneer commented that
the crowd was primarily made up of dealers that were "hungry for
fresh merch."
Leading the auction was a Gorevan Heriz carpet, 8 by 7.11 feet
that had been consigned by a Kennebunk family. Several of the
rugs, including the Heriz, had been passed down in the family and
were no longer desired after they moved to a contemporary home.
A whirligig of a man in a top hat and tails sold for $6,272.
The rug was sought by several in the crowd with it being bid
to $20,720, including premium. Other carpets from the consignment
included a Heriz in a rich red color that did well at $12,320, and
a Kirman that sold at $5,040.
A folky whirligig of a man in top hat and tails with a
grasshopper suspended on a wire in front of him did well selling
at $6,272, a country homemade child's stable in great paint
brought $4,256 and a nice Liverpool pitcher realized $3,024.
Several pieces of scratch decorated birchbark wares by Tomah
Joseph, Passamaquoddy, were offered with a rare waste basket
topping the list. The piece was decorated with several scenes
including one of Indians porting a canoe, Indians dancing while
cooking and an Indian in a canoe with a fallen stag. Bidding on
the lot was brisk with it selling at $4,032. A lot consisting of
a picture frame and a collar box with profuse decoration did well
at $1,792, and an oval box with decoration brought $1,008.
A large Black Ship bowl was popular with bidders as it hammered
down at $5,824, while a Rookwood vase decorated with a heron in a
marsh scene sold at $2,912.
A large Black Ship bowl fetched $5,824.
Several paintings were offered with a Venetian riverscape
scene by Felix Ziem that had been consigned too late to be
advertised leading the way at $7,840. A large riverbank scene with
fishermen signed by E. Lambinet and dated 1869 realized $7,280, and
a surprise of the paintings was a small courtyard scene by S.L.
Thompson that brought $4,928.
Victorian furniture included a set of ten heavily carved boar's
head chairs that realized $2,240, a heavily carved credenza with
crested two-tier upper shelf sold at $4,032, as did a profusely
carved china cabinet.
Period furniture included a Queen Anne highboy that sold
reasonably at $6,272 and a Federal game table brought $1,008.
Prices include the 12 percent buyer's premium charged.
