A 21-inch French Bisque
Bebe came in as the top lot at $55,000.
Bertoia's
Moves $1.2 Million in Dolls, Toys and Mechanical
Banks
VINELAND, N.J. - The attendance at Bertoia's June 28-29 Toy and
Doll Sale matched a packed showcases at the weeklong preview,
according to the gallery.
The facility entertained a large crowd of collectors with toys,
dolls, dollhouses and mechanical banks from prominent
collections. Collectors traded $1.2 million for 1,112 antique
lots sold over two days.
The top lot of the sale, an outstanding 21-inch French Bisque
Bebe, incised A.T., the doll drew applause when it ended with a
new owner at $55,000. Nearing the same pitch in applause was a
Christian Hacker dollhouse pictured on the catalog. It left the
building for $38,500.
An early Steiner doll complete with trunk wardrobe made $22,000;
a charming 181/2-inch Portrait Jumeau sold for $18,700; a 20-inch
Simon & Halbig Socket Head Lady dressed in blue linen dress
brought $23,100. A rare two-faced Bru sold for $17,600; and
another 20-inch French Bru Brevete created its own bru-ha-ha with
a final bid of $16,500. Everyone was genuine in their thanks for
a job well done and the camaraderie among the collectors was
commendable.
Christian Hacker dollhouse, $38,500.
More than 200 lots of dolls and related items were sold at a
comfortable pace set by auctioneers Andy Ourant and Tim Luke.
The Friday session began with a mix of still banks with a
pristine Mickey Mouse taking the lead at $2,200. Mechanical banks
caused some fury and Teddy and the Bear got everyone's attention
when it changed hands at $6,850. A recap of pricing demonstrates
the popularity of penny savers casted in fine form; Dentist Bank,
$4,600; Mammy and Child with yellow dress, $5,225; Organ Grinder
and Bear, $2,750.
Toy prices showed similar rhythm with Black Drumming Schuco
bringing $660, Mechanical Pig Drummer, $770; and an Acrobat Bear
tumbling to the tune of $770. Penny toys performed well: a Felix
penny selling for $1,100; Distler Delivery Truck, $825; and
Airplane Spiral toy, $440.
Pressed steel trucks by famous makers and popular pedal cars
rolled away at a fast pace during the latter part of Friday's
session. All from one collection, the grouping featured some 200
entries and most were carried away by auctiongoers. Built to
last, and they have, a Sturditoy Oil Truck sold at $3,575, while
the same maker's version of an Armored Truck brought $3,025.
Keystone, also well represented, entered the bidding with a bus
at $2,475 and a different sort of pressed steel entry, a Toledo
Blue Streak pedal car, sped to $5,500.
Toledo Blue Streak pedal car, $5,500.
Buddy L, one of the more popular of pressed steel collectibles,
demonstrated strong interest with a boxed warehouse set bringing
$4,125. The company's version of the desirable Roundhouse
commanded $2,200 and in a different transportation mode, a hangar
with airplanes, soared to $1,540. American National Swallow plane
brought $5,225 and this lot introduced a multitude of display
airplanes sold that evening.
The sale contained a great mix of items and included some toy
drums, cast-iron BB guns, toy scales and a nice assortment of
cast-iron furniture. It was an opportune time for collectors to
preview some rare miniature furniture from the Francis Claytor
collection, together with some of the finest in doll examples.
While a toy mirror and wash stand in cast-iron sold for $1,650,
rare tin chairs by Evans and Cartwright sold for $1,870. The
diversity of items and across the board prices continued with an
Admiral Dewey Drum selling at $2,200, Champion Toy BB gun
bringing $825 and a toy cast-iron stove from many offered in the
sale, embossed"XACT" balanced out at $330.
