1,200-Lot Sale Of Vernon Cole Estate Keeps Legare Crew Busy

NEWFIELDS, N.H. - A good carved wooden eagle with a shield and banner exhorting, "Don't Give up the Ship" brought $10,450 at Leo P. Legare's on-site sale. The eagle was made by a Newcastle, N.H., carver and was the highlight of the sale of the estate of Vernon R. Cole.

Ruth Cole and her late husband collected for more than 50 years, and the 1,200-lot sale offered excellent choices. The sale kept two auctioneers busy, as Legare and Hercules Pappachristos divided the chores between selling the antique farm tools and equipment in the barn and the antiques and decorative accessories in the house.

A long case clock by Danvers, Mass., maker Ezra Batchelder stirred some interest and sold for $7,700, while a quite handsome rooster-form weathervane went for $3,190.

One unexpected treasure was a case of ivory-handled artist's chisels unearthed from the house the morning of the sale that brought a gratifying $4,400.

A selection of Native American objects attracted strong money, as a beadwork cradle fetched $6,875. Auctioneer Legare said the cradle was probably made in Colorado for the tourist trade. A delicately embellished papoose carrier went for $660, and a vivid pair of red-beaded moccasins realized $825. A Navajo rug went for $935 and a lot of three decorated Indian baskets was $880

A selection of more than 300 antique planes included an Eighteenth Century patented clapboard plane brought $3,190 from a Connecticut buyer.

Among the country furniture offered, a drop leaf table in bird's-eye maple was $2,310, and a tripod-screw double candlestand had a nice old surface and fetched $2,200. A grain bin with an old dry surface sold for $2,090

An especially good-looking New Hampshire four-drawer chest with French feet and bird's-eye maple drawer fronts fetched a modest $1,870 because it had been drilled and refinished. A Chippendale mirror with gilt eagle finial was $660, because of the replacement back board.

A pre-Civil War daguerreotype from around the 1840s or so was $3,190, while a daguerreotype of a Civil War officer in full dress was $495. A set of Civil War-era epaulettes in the original tin box was of interest and drew $2,420.

A selection of stoneware jugs with bird decorations brought prices ranging from $534 for an incised eagle jug to $300 for other examples.

What Legare described as "an exceptional painted hobby horse...one of the best I've ever seen" was in fine condition and sold for $1,320. A lot of other toy horses, including stuffed examples and pull-toys, sold for $1,430.

All prices quoted reflect the ten percent buyer's premium. For information, 603-595-9625.