Bellamy Eagle Flies At Thomaston Sale

THOMASTON, MAINE

:While it may have seemed impossible to top his highly successful August auction of Americana, Kaja Veilleux of Thomaston Place Auctions did just that a mere three months later. The auction offered up another array of impressive, fresh-to-the-market consignments that were sold during his last feature sale of the 2005 season. The assortment of merchandise sold on November 12 and 13 included consignments from a direct descendant of President John Quincy Adams, many with direct lineage back to the President, important historical items including a vest owned by Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock, and a treasure trove of merchandise coming directly from the attics and basements of local old-family Maine homes.

The top lot of the sale had been discovered in a local Christmas Cove home that initially yielded only a few lots, according to the auctioneer - that is until Veilleux got into the attic and garage to inspect the items on which the heirs had passed. The score of the day turned out to be a rare Bellamy carved and painted eagle with banner in original paint that Veilleux found in deep in the recesses of an attic eave in a box marked "old eagle" that was discovered inside a larger box marked "Lionel trains."

The hand carved Bellamy eagle's condition reflected many years of storage in the box as it was in pristine condition and was cataloged as being "untouched." In a nicely patinated white paint with red highlights and a banner with red and blue lettering that read "Don't Give Up The Ship!," the lot was attracting attention from many of the serious collectors. Bidding on the rare piece opened at $5,000, against a $25/35,000 presale estimate, and it rapidly escalated in $500 advancements to $10,000 where Veilleux asked for $11,000.

He quickly got the bid from one of the six clients on the telephone and once again it was off and running with action coming from three different phone lines. One phone bidder repeatedly jumped the bid along the way and at $80,000 Veilleux asked for $82,500. He once again got the bid and action resumed all the way to a final price of $101,750, selling to the telephones. "Needless to say, the eagle has flown," quipped Veilleux moments after he hammered down the lot.

A rare Thomas Gainsborough drawing in charcoal and white chalk of a "Little Girl Seated" was among the artwork consigned from the estate of Ewing and Penny Walker. The rare drawing, which had a registration label and number from the Gainsborough repository on the verso, carried a $10/15,000 presale estimate, yet all interested parties knew that to be conservative. Bidding on the lot opened at $10,000 with the action coming from a bidder standing in the rear of the gallery and a couple telephones. At $16,000 the bidder in the gallery relented and all further action came from three telephones. Advancing in $2,000 increments all the way the selling price of $92,800, the rare drawing sold to a bidder from London.

Another rare drawing was a Conte crayon drawing by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec that depicted a female circus trainer with a dog that was hammered down at $8,800.

Maine clocks always bring a good price at Thomaston and the rare Frederic Wingate tall case clock signed and dated 1806 was no exception. An early clock for the Augusta maker, it was marked on the face as number 15. Bidding on the lot was brisk with it selling for $35,750

The rare Eighteenth Century man's salmon-colored silk waistcoat, or vest, that was the property of John Hancock was another lot that attracted a great deal of interest. Hancock, who was president of the First Continental Congress, governor of Massachusetts and is generally regarded as a great patriot, was, according to the catalog, "considered the fashion plate of his time." The flap pockets, front and lapel, on the elaborate vest were all decorated in a fancy chain-stitch floral embroidery. Estimated at $40/60,000, the lot fell slightly short of expectations selling at $33,000.

Other items of interest included a pair of quilts decorated with large eagles, which according to the auctioneer had appeared in a book on quilts. Veilleux asked for an opening bid of $1,000 and hands all around the auction gallery shot into the air. Bidding on the lot was brisk with the pair selling at $6,875. Another quilt to attract attention was an album quilt decorated with compotes of flowers, clusters of grape, a bird in a thistle and a three-masted sailing ship with American flags. In soiled condition and in need of some restoration, the quilt hammered at $3,300.

Furniture included a Pennsylvania Eighteenth Century walnut Chippendale highboy that sold at the high end of the estimates at $15,400, a Chippendale chest-on-chest with a provenance of having descended in the family of President John Adams sold for $13,200, a Hepplewhite North Shore card table also with Adam provenance brought $9,900, and a Sheraton dining table with rope turned legs went out at $3,300.The buy of the day came as an Eighteenth Century settle bench was offered with it selling at only $660.

Three nice tea caddies were offered with a wonderful large pear that had been shaded with red stain selling at $2,750, a six-sided inlaid tea caddy brought $1,320 and a nice English dome toped example with two-chamber interior sold for $440.

Paintings in the sale included a pair of portraits of Edward Foard and his wife that Veilleux called the "sleepers of the sale." The paintings of the Maryland residents depicted them seated in bow back Windsor chairs with him holding a letter addressed to himself, and she a book. "I don't know who the artist is," commented Veilleux prior to the sale, "but a lot of people must because there has been a tremendous amount of action on them." Bidding opened at $10,000 in the gallery and ended on the telephones at $24,750 with the auctioneer commenting that they were going to New Orleans.

A pair of watercolors by British artist John Wilson Carmichael of men-o-war ships in harbor did well at $15,400, a portrait of the ship "The Sutlej, East Indiaman" by Thomas Dutton realized $9,900, and a painting titled "Off The Isle of Wright" by Charles Martin Powell depicting an American ship and schooner realized $8,250.

A selection of native American materials did well with a large Navajo rug in deep red geometric pattern selling at $7,425, a smaller rug in a rust color brought $6,050, a Sioux beaded sheath went out at $4,125 and a Navajo saddle blanket fetched $3,075.

Sunday's session was highlighted by a circa 1900 flatware set by Shreve, Crump and Low that sold for $14,300, while a smaller set by Tiffany realized $9,350.

A selection of jewelry consigned from a local estate did well with a diamond and sapphire Art Deco bracelet selling for $9,450, another diamond and sapphire bracelet brought $4,950, as did a pair of emerald and diamond gold earrings, and a diamond and gold brooch realized $6,600.

Prices include the ten percent buyer's premium. For further information contact Kaja Veilleux at Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, Route 1, PO Box 300, Thomaston ME 04861; 207-354-8141 or www.thomastonauction.com.