Lindsey Collection Bristles At James Cyr Auction

GRAY, MAINE

: New Hampshire Country Furnishings and Accessories and an equally impressive assortment of Native American and rustic items from the collections of Tom and Nancy Lindsey saw spirited bidding at an auction conducted at Jim Cyr's. The sale, which took place in two separate sessions, was conducted on Wednesday and Thursday, August 3 and 4.

"These people were well loved and ran a great antiques business," commented auctioneer James Cyr after the auction, "and the response to the sale was even better because of that." Cyr commented that there was a standing room only crowd on hand for the New Hampshire Americana portion of the auction with more than 200 registered in the gallery and another 150 people either bidding by telephone or absentee. "I expected about 30 people for the Native American part," stated the auctioneer, "and we ended up with about 100 in the room, plus we had lots of left and phone bid action there as well."

The Lindseys were known in the antiques community as the owners of Burlwood Antiques in Meridth; however, they were also well known as passionate collectors of antiques fresh from New Hampshire homes. More than 1,200 lots were offered in the two sessions with virtually all the items having been picked fresh from homes over the past 40 years.

Cyr termed the auction an "exciting event" that "should not be missed," and he was correct in his assessment.

Dealers and collectors were out in force and the major battle of the day came as a 16-by-36-inch lift-top box in great old blue paint with bright yellow and red foliate decoration was offered. Several in the crowd and on the telephones tried to take the lot home, yet it was ultimately claimed by a Maine collector for $23,000.

A nice dry sink in great old faded blue paint was another of the lots that created a stir with bidders banging heads all the way to a final price of $21,850. A large vertical trade sign for a jewelry store advertising the wide variety of materials offered also caused a commotion as it crossed the auction block with the lot hammering at $18,400.

Other items sold included a Lake Champlain scrimshawed signal horn that sold for $5,750, a White Mountain landscape attributed to Champney made $1,725, and a great New England Indian double wall basket with red and black dot decoration realized $862.

One of the surprises of the auction came as a group of oval fingered pantry boxes were individually offered. The majority of the pieces sold between $230 and $5,175 depending on size and paint, yet when the smallest of the group, a fingered box in chrome yellow paint, crossed the block it hammered down at $9,200.

The Lindseys also had a good collection of pottery with a large assortment of redware in all shapes and sizes doing well. Prices ranged from $30 right up to the $3,162 that was paid for a Gonic glazed stew pot. Stoneware pieces also did well with common jugs selling for a little as $230, while $2,300 was paid for a Woodruff four-gallon churn with tulip decoration.

The Thursday session of Native American items was also well received with a large Pueblo pot with deer decoration topping the lost at $12,650.

A mundane Navajo rug in muted brown and black colors and a diamond pattern proved to be the sleeper of the group as buyers quickly identified it as an early rug and pushed the price to $3,795.

A Northwest Coast carved argillite pipe bowl in totem form did well at $3,105, a Redman figural club fetched $1,265, an Eskimo painted wood bowl with traces of the original polychrome sold for $1,150, and a crooked knife with carved eagle head realized $316.

Two nice Southwest baskets were offered with geometric and figural designs with the lots bringing $2,070 each.

Prices include the 15 percent buyer's premium charged.

For further information contact Cyr Auction Company, Route 100 North, POB 1238, Gray ME 04039, 207-657-5253 or www.cyrauction.com.