Tim Chapulis Sells Miss Daisy's Stuff

BANTAM, CONN.

:"Everyone wanted something that Miss Daisy had," commented auctioneer Tim Chapulis after his recent sale of the Daisy LeBrecht waterfront homestead on stylish Bantam Lake. "We had such a large crowd that some people came by boat," he said, "It was a first for me; a couple of them registered and then sat in their boats and bid right from there."

The late Miss Daisy, who died earlier this year at the age of 102, had lived in the waterfront home with her two sisters, previously deceased, for more than 60 years. "They didn't throw much away," commented Chapulis, "and we were lucky for that."

Closets filled with dresses, shoes, purses and coats from the 1920s on, many unworn with the price tags still attached, were a testament to the never-throw-it-away attitude that the sisters had. Chapulis reported that he had to move the car out of the garage to make enough room to start taking things out of the house so the rest of the contents could be inventoried.

The auction also included the lakefront property, which was vied for by 23 registered bidders and sold for an impressive $1,007,000. The home sold to a neighboring town's first selectman, Clifford Brammer, who will be retiring soon. With the strong price realized for the real estate, Chapulis has been consigned two more Bantam Lake lakefront houses that will be sold on October 15, along with a Winchester, Conn., lakefront home.

"It was overwhelming," stated Chapulis. "We had the largest turnout for any estate auction that we have ever done." The auctioneer sold from an elevated deck on the rear of the home with the crowd all seated lakefront throughout the back yard. "It was a bluebird day, too," he said, "everyone just loved it."

The top items of the day came as the vintage clothing was offered with seven lots bringing $13,420 from a New York City vintage clothing dealer. "We found a steamer trunk up in the attic that was filled with 1920s dresses and letters from a trans-Atlantic trip that the sisters took. They must have gotten the trunk back home and just never unpacked it," he said.

The auction began at 10:30 am with an early bird sale consisting of mostly items from the attic and household items. By noon the main portion of the sale began and it lasted well into the night with Chapulis having sold more than 1,000 lots when the auction finished at 10:30. "It got dark on us; we turned all the porch lights on, set up some flood lights and just kept selling," he said. "Eventually we moved into the house and finished up the sale inside."

Highlights included a pair of Modern tables with plywood tops and tubular bases by an unknown maker that sold at $1,430 each. A set of five matching chairs brought $797 apiece.

A dining room set by Paine with Orientalist designs included a table, chairs and sideboard that sold for $4,180. A group of Christmas ornaments found in the attic brought $550, and a boat and cottage rental sign with arrow brought $440.

Chapulis sold large lots throughout the day, at times selling the contents of the drawers to a dresser or chest, then selling the chest itself.

Other items sold included a Gypsy painting at $3,300; a Buddha, $1,265; a San Ilfendenso Indian pot, $1,375; a large Oriental carpet, $5,225; a Jenny Lynn Vienna regulator clock, $550; and a large lot of early baseball cards $825.

Chauplis' next auction will be October 15 featuring the three waterfront properties, boats and house-hold items.

For further information 860-589-0017, or www.timsauction.com.