This scale model train,
measuring 25 inches in length, sold in the room for
$8,337.
By David S. Smith
GRAY, MAINE -- Within the antiques community, Maine has long been
known as a source, as a prime location, for quality accessories.
So it was with little surprise that when John and Cia Sideli
decided to liquidate their collection of nearly 500 prime
accessories that the assortment appeared at the Maine auction
gallery of James Cyr.
John Sideli, after more than three decades on the antiques show
circuit, has long been highly regarded for his eclectic eye and
vibrant offerings, something that this personal collection of
smalls certainly expounded. The items were displayed at Cyr's in
appealing gallery-type settings, resembling a museum exhibition
or antiques show booth more than that of an auction gallery.
Sideli's talent for marketing was certainly evident.
The auction offered a varied assortment of merchandise, including
redware, early glass and bottles, primitives and a smattering of
furniture that piqued the interests of a variety of collectors.
Preview for the highly anticipated sale was heavy, according to
the Cyr auction gallery, and those that waited till the morning
of the auction to preview, found virtually every seat in the
gallery reserved. Come sale time there was not an empty seat in
the house and the large crowd was forced to stand either in the
rear or on the side of the room.
As Jim Cyr finished with his announcements, he told the crowd,
"This is a wonderful lot of goodies, I'm going to bite my tongue
saying that this is my favorite item; everything here is
something to fall in love with." With that said, Cyr offered up
the first of the lots and it proved to be a foretelling sign of
things to come. A wonderful scale model train constructed of
brass, copper and other metals, measuring 25 inches in length,
opened to the crowd at $1,000 and immediately got an opening bid.
The blanket chest realized $2,875, the large game board $6,325,
the small barber pole $4,887, and the large barber pole $1,437.
Two telephone bidders competed with the room as the lot advanced
rapidly in $500 increments to $6,500 where the next bid was cut
to $250. The phone hit the lot at $6,750 and it bounced back and
forth a couple more times until the lot sold in the room at
$8,337. (Prices include the 15 percent buyer's premium.)
The next lot offered, a country Queen Anne graduated four-drawer
chest with notched-top in old red paint, also did well, selling
to a buyer seated in the front of the room for $8,050. A red and
black dovetailed blanket chest was up next and sold for $2,875,
while a stately early cupboard with single paneled door in old
gray paint followed at $5,750.
Despite the presale speech that Cyr had given just moments prior,
he proclaimed lot 5, the Sheraton mirror with yellow grained
columns and green, orange and red paint decorated turnings, to be
one of his favorites. The mirror was bid actively, selling at
$690; a large trade sign fountain pen, 18 inches in length,
painted in salmon, gold and black, also did well bringing $805.
One of the star attractions from the smalls was a neat document
box in the shape of Noah's Ark that carried a provenance of
having come from a lodge in Homer, N.Y. Substantial interest was
expressed in the piece with it selling at $2,300 to a phone
bidder. The following lot was a large Pease ware treen sugar bowl
with cover and bail handle that measured eight inches in
diameter. The robust form helped the piece to a selling price of
$1,725.
Pantry boxes in paint performed extremely well with a three-inch
box in red paint selling for $2,357; a Harvard oval finger pantry
box in old gray paint, $2,012; a large round box in black paint
with colorful painted compass decorated lid, $1,150;, a green
painted fingered box, $1,042;, and a red box six inches in
diameter realized $920. Other lots brought between $747 and $920.
Sold at $4,312 was a light infantry militia canteen in red, blue
and gilt paint. A large selection of redware was offered with an
ovoid covered pitcher in a light glaze with manganese and a
greenish decoration attributed to the Essex, Mass., region
selling at $5,462. A Merrimackport jug with yellow glaze and
manganese decoration brought 2,875; a Massachusetts stew pot with
cover, $2,875; a New Hampshire jar with green glaze and olive
spots, $2,702; a large Connecticut redware jar with manganese
decoration, $2,587; and a small creamer pitcher with traces of
green and white slip was hammered down at $2,357.
A small step back cupboard in apple green went out at $6,900,
while a Scandinavian drop leaf table in old white paint brought
$6,325.
Auctioneer Jim Cyr works the crowd.
Game boards brought stunning prices with a folding
checkers/Parcheesi board in salmon, blue, green, red and brown
selling at $6,325, a large polychromed multicolored game wheel
with spinning arrow 6,325, a small game board in green, red and
white brought $3,450, and a paint decorated game wheel sold at
$3,105.
A nice large turned burl bowl brought $2,242, a paint decorated
covered basket $1,150, a trade sign for Dr Patten's office
$4,600, and a pastel thermo on sandpaper depicting fruit brought
$2,875.
The highlight of the glassware offered came from a small
collection of inks with a deep cobalt pontiled umbrella ink with
hints of violet running through it selling at $2,587, a sapphire
blue umbrella ink brought $1,955, while more common colored inks
such as an amber example brought $230.
Prices include the 15 percent buyer's premium charged.
