Whitaker-Augusta Textiles Sale Grosses More Than $385,000

NEW HOPE, PENN.

:A number of San Franciscans, dressed in Edwardian costumes, paid hundreds of dollars to attend a ball marking the 100th anniversary of the famous earthquake. Had any of these Californians needed other period costumes and accouterments, the recent Whitaker-Augusta auction would be the perfect venue.

Not only Californians but 346 textiles aficionados (185 on the floor and 161 in cyberspace) from across the United States and internationally from England, Chile, Italy, France and China also participated in this sale, which grossed in excess of $385,000.

After the sale, auction house owner and auctioneer Charles Whitaker said, "Our customers, ever increasing in number, are making the trip to New Hope from around the world for this sale because they recognize that there is a huge volume of quality material that can be purchased at one time. This two-day sale contained more than 1,400 lots. Most were sold on the floor. Only 36 lots sold to eBay bidders. Our customers are the best!"

Textiles expert Karen Augusta, who spearheads this bi-annual event with Whitaker, added, "Our auction was very well attended with museums, fashion designers, dealers and collectors all expressing interest weeks before the sale. Charles and I are extremely pleased with the prices that the feature items brought, but that only represents a small part of the sale."

"The large volume of garments and textiles in our cataloged sale and discovery sale also sent many buyers home with great merchandise. One surprise and very special treasure that was "found" during the non-cataloged discovery sale was a rare Aesthetic embroidered, circa 1902, Callot Soeurs tea gown. The collector, with the winning bid for that piece, was stunned at her good fortune," she said.

And it was also good fortune for a Santa Fe, N.M., patron, present in the hall, who was the winning bidder for one of the two top lots in this sale - a circa 1910 palatial linen and lace banquet cloth. Measuring a remarkable 82 by 280 inches in size, this textile was lavishly designed with cutwork and embroidery figural cartouches, which included musicians, putti and Roman couples. Selling over its high estimate for $4,312, the new owner told this reporter it will fittingly grace the interior of an antebellum mansion in Natchez, Miss.

Coincidentally, the second top lot in this sale, a three-piece garnet silk reception gown, from the Civil War era, would also be right at home in an antebellum mansion. In excellent condition, this circa 1864 gown still retained its original lining and seven original velvet covered buttons. It opened with a bid of $500 and a battle for ownership quickly ensued. It wasn't North and South, but rather floor and phone that tried to hold their line. But in the end the floor proved victorious at $4,312.

Perhaps once belonging in the court of Louis XIV (the Sun King) was a pair of circa 1690-1720 red leather heeled lady's mules. They opened with a bid of $2,200 and lit up the gallery when they sold to an Internet buyer for $4,025. This lot seemed like a steal when a pair of heels - no shoes just heels - took center stage.

From the 1920s and never used, this pair of wooden shanks with pearlized celluloid overlay decorated with rhinestones and brass beading, sold to a phone bidder for $977.

Against a high estimate of $150, a group of six Nineteenth Century men's vests, in fair to excellent condition, (three cream brocade, one embroidered ecru and two black), was a surprise sale at $3,450. Commenting on this lot after the sale, Whitaker said, "This shows you just how rare men's clothes are. Men usually wore their clothing until they were worn out."

A grouping of 15 early Twentieth Century men's custom-made, collarless shirts (with 22 collars) sold to the same vest buyer for $1,955.

A number of early wedding gowns also walked down the aisle, the auction gallery aisle, at this sale. One eagerly sought after ensemble was a circa 1865, seven-piece wedding ensemble. Included in the offering was a goldenrod silk faille wedding dress with trained skirt, a festooned overskirt, long sleeved day bodice, silk-fringed evening bodice and two pair of high button boots. A phone bidder caught this lot, minus the bouquet, for $3,105. Bringing $2,415 from a floor patron was a Nineteenth Century lace and tulle wedding veil with appliqués of handmade Brussels bobbin lace that measured 84 by 104 inches. No doubt the new owner of a 1927 Ballets Russes costume (designed by Georges Yakoulov and worn by the prima ballerina Tchernicheva), was dancing up a storm when they acquired this lot for $2,415.

Other highlights included a circa 1780 lady's silk brocade bodice, with a multi-colored floral design and a homespun linen lining, that sold for $2,645 to the Internet. Selling for $2,415 was a circa 1908 one-piece, Brussels lace appliqué tea gown that was trimmed with pale blue silk satin ribbons and bows. A circa 1920s lilac lame and lace gown, attributed to Lucille, sold to a floor patron for $1,955. Bringing the same funds was a circa 1920s labeled Molyneux beaded dress. Despite being in only fair to good condition, a circa 1900 Worth Paris ball gown also sold for $1,955. Selling for $1,495 was a circa 1890s Worth Paris silk afternoon dress. A circa 1950s Mariska Karasz Phoenix tapestry that was worked in embroidery, macramé, crochet and couching, sold for $1,725.

Prices reported include a 15 percent buyer's premium. The next textiles sale will be held in October in New Hope. For information, Charles A. Whitaker Auction Company, www.whitakerauction.com or 215-817-4600; Karen Augusta, www.antique-fashion.com or 802-463-3333.