The End of an Era - Maison's Final Auction

WALLINGFORD, CONN.

: "I've got $140, I've got $150, I've got $160 - Hey, you there in the back, quiet down. Now, where the hell was I? - Oh yeah, I've got $60..." That tribute to auctioneer Bill Ulbrich, read aloud during Maison Auction Company's farewell auction on Thursday, January 20, was literally the icing on the cake.

As the final auction in the firm's hallowed chapters was unfolding, Ulbrich was interrupted between selling lots as a cake was presented and the aforementioned inscription was recited to the capacity crowd. The house erupted, first in laughter and then in applause. Ulbrich seemingly fought back a tear, then joined his friends and longtime business associates with a hearty laugh aimed at himself.

The auction marked the end of a 40-year career for the auctioneer and his loyal staff as his hammer fell for what was the last time in the history of the Maison Auction Company. Ulbrich and his sister, the late Laraine Smith, co-founded the popular auction house in 1965. He recalled, "We bought a lot of stuff that we were going to sell to another auctioneer, and somebody said 'Why don't you sell it yourselves?'" That simple idea blossomed into one of the most popular and certainly most personable auction houses in the state.

The contents of the sale were modest in comparison to many of the auctions that Antiques and The Arts Weekly has ventured out to Wallingford to cover in years past; however, the prices realized were anything but. Not only was a selection of estate items offered, but also all of the highly coveted wall decorations that had hung in Maison's gallery for years, the furnishings and even the block, a Masonic podium that Ulbrich has auctioned from for decades, were sold.

The crowd was filled with longtime customers who traded memories with the auctioneer, and with his staff, including gallery manager Terry Masai and runner Dan Isyk.

Moments prior to the auction as Isyk and Ulbrich bumped into each other in the rear viewing area of the gallery, the auctioneer commented, "Dan has worked virtually every auction that we ever ran. He has been with us since our first sale, but after tonight he is fired." As he spoke, Ulbrich was smiling with a warmth and understanding that these two close friends share. Isyk smiled back, until moments later when Ulbrich stepped into the runner's turf while he was getting merchandise lined up to sell. Isyk, now 89 years old, promptly sent the auctioneer back out front to shake hands and make sure the microphone at the podium was in working order.

Everyone in the crowd had memories to share; one who took time to chat with Ulbrich was Joe Cutrona, who said that he had been attending Maison's auctions "for years" with his wife Carol. "Our house is decorated in early auction," he said wryly, "and virtually all of it came from Bill and Laraine."

John LeTourneau was also on hand at the auction, remembering that he attended his first Maison sale at age 14, an on-site auction in Meriden. "I'm 53 now and that adds up to a whole lot of sales," he said, adding, "This is the end of an era."

Although not personally in attendance, R. Scudder Smith, editor and publisher of Antiques and The Arts Weekly, fondly remembered his first meetings with Ulbrich, Laraine Smith and gallery manager Tedrry Masai. "Pretty much everyone ran their auction ads with just text in the early days," commented Smith. "Laraine came up one day and wanted to run some photographs in her ad, so we did it for her and pretty soon everyone in the industry followed her lead. I guess it is just one of the many ways that Bill, Laraine and Terry positively impacted and changed the auction business over the last 40 years. They will surely be missed," he said.

As Ulbrich climbed the podium for the final time, he glanced around the packed house and smiled. "Well," he said, "We're just here to finish out a few years in business." To which someone in the crowd reminded him that it had actually been "quite a few years." He then commented, "If I sound nervous, it's because I am." Solemnly looking out at the crowd, he stated, "We're all friends," although someone from the crowd quickly reminded that, "There are no friends at auctions." With that Ulbrich called for the first lot, a mahjong set with Bakelite playing pieces that was quickly hammered down at $121. A box lot of prints went out next at $60, followed by a broadside from an early Maison auction at Miss Porter's School in Farmington that was added to The Bee's collection for $93.

The early auction broadsides that had decorated the walls of the auction gallery for decades proved popular throughout the evening with prices ranging from a low of $88 to high of $375.

A wooden Elgin Watch Co. sign proclaiming "My Elgin is All Right" had been a gift to Ulbrich and Laraine Smith by Phil Liverant, an antiques dealer and longtime Maison customer from Colchester, Conn. It had hung in the auction gallery for more years than either Ulrich or Liverant would care to admit and was one of the many items that had been coveted by collectors and visitors alike.

Although approached regularly throughout the years, Ulbrich always insisted that none of the wall decorations in the gallery were for sale. "Everybody had tried to buy these things for years," commented Ulbrich. "When we decided that this was going to be the final auction, we debated what to do with these things and we felt this would be a good time to let people have at them."

The Elgin sign with transfer on an oak panel opened to the floor for bidding at $50 with a flurry of hands coming from the gallery. Bids came fast and furious all the way to the $962 selling price.

A tin and wooden painted sign advertising "Fresh Milk" had hung above the coffee counter in the concession area of the auction gallery for many years and it too had developed quite a few fans. Ulbrich thought for a moment as he eyed the sign and an anticipatory crowd and then asked for $500. The bid came quickly and two or three chased the lot to a selling price of $2,090.

Another item that attracted a great deal of interest was a paper advertising sign inviting patrons to "Take A Biscuit." It too had graced the concession area and it too was actively bid to $253.

A small tin baby carriage caught the eye of several in the gallery and as the price soared past the $100 mark, then the $500 mark, Ulbrich stopped and asked, "What the hell is it?" After examining the piece for a moment, he raised his eyebrows and went back to selling. A final bid of $907 claimed the lot.

Other items of interest included a Nippon vase at $198, a "Black Beauty" sled top with paint decoration, $165, a group of four oyster plates, $242, a therom with cat in basket, $605, and a miniature portrait of a gentleman, $330. Also sold was a tattered 34-star flag that went out at $407, and a tin painted fish sign that realized $385.

All prices include the ten percent buyer's premium charged.