Spring is in the air, and it’s wafting through the past week’s auction results. A large Russian “Surprise Easter Egg” did just that at World Auction Gallery when it surpassed the $10/12,000 estimate with a glittering $18,750. Bobbing right behind was Kaminski Auctions’ rare Nineteenth Century Chinese carved jade covered hen, whose $14,400 selling price left its $750/1,200 estimate in the dust. More avian friends were spotted in Bruneau & Co’s top lot, an oil on canvas painting of three women in white and yellow, two of which are holding birds, by B. Prabha (1933-2001). The painting just exceeded its estimate, selling for $37,500. To complete the tableau, or menu, depending on the celebration, Blanchard’s Auction Service sold a French butcher shop sheep head for $1,560 ($3/600). The ewe’s provenance matches the occasion, coming from the collection of Marilynn Brass, who hosts the PBS series Food Flirts with her sister, Sheila Brass. Find more signs of the season in this week’s Across The Block.
Wooten & Wooten Bidders Lift Paddles For Warping Paddle
CAMDEN, S.C. – An early Nineteenth Century carved pine warping paddle that measured two feet long and was likely Moravian and of Pennsylvania Dutch or North Carolina origin brought one of the top prices at Wooten & Wooten Auctioneers’ March 26 Spring Estates & Collections sale when it sold for $10,200 against a $300/500 estimate. When asked what drove interest in the lot, Jeremy Wooten said it had been discovered in the kitchen of a Hickory, N.C., retirement home and it was in wonderful original condition. A private collector in New England brought it home. For information, 866-570-0144 or www.wootenandwooten.com.
Chinese Antique Carved Jade Smalls Get Big Bids At Kaminski
BEVERLY, MASS. – Kaminski Auctions moved its March estates auction to April 2 and 3. It was worth the wait for jade lovers as two choice imported Chinese jade smalls performed impressively. A rare Nineteenth Century carved jade covered hen (shown), 1½ by 2½ inches from a Palm Beach, Fla., estate, greatly surpassed its $750-$1,200 estimate to sell for $14,400 to a floor bidder, while a Ming dynasty carved celadon jade dog found a telephone bidder willing to part with $8,400, more than double its high estimate. For information, 978-927-2223 or www.kaminskiauctions.com.
‘Light’ Fare At Thomaston Serves Up Decorated English Plates
THOMASTON, MAINE – Thomaston Light, a series of auctions by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries designed to offer an easy, affordable and sustainable way to add interest and individuality to one’s home, presented well-loved and quintessentially English home decoration and accessories on April 1, including silver, glass and china, original art, furniture, collectibles and more. A Brownfield’s china for Tiffany & Co. set of eight plates by William Brownfield & Sons, Cobridge, led the sale at $1,800. With reticulated and gilded rims, each 8½-inch diameter plate presented a different enameled bird and foliate decoration on a gilded background; one plate was signed “G. Hassells.” For information, 207-354-8141 or www.thomastonauction.com.
April Comes In Like A Lamb At Blanchard’s Auction Service
POTSDAM, N.Y. – Blanchard’s Auction Service’s April 3 auction featured the collection of copper cookware and kitchen collectibles from Marilynn Brass, Cambridge, Mass., one of the Brass sisters from the PBS television series The Food Flirts. It was not the top lot in the sale, but a French butcher shop sheep head turned bidders’ heads as it surpassed a $300/600 estimate to finish at $1,560. Measuring 14 inches wide ear to ear and 7 inches deep, the head was made of tin with a copper patina and dated from the late 1800s. For information, 315-265-5070 or www.blanchardsauctionservice.com.
Brady Rookie Card Scores Touchdown For Cordier
HARRISBURG, PENN. – A 2000 Bowman chrome Tom Brady rookie card – numbered 236 and rated a “9” by PSA – sold for $4,800 against a $2/3,000 estimate when it was offered in Cordier Auctions & Appraisals’ April 3 Sports Card and Memorabilia event. It was one of five rookie cards of the New England Patriots’ quarterback who has been called the “Greatest of all Time.” For information, 717-731-8662 or www.cordierauction.com.
Russian Easter Egg Brings Surprise To World Auction Gallery
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. – Leading World Auction Gallery’s April 3 Private Collections & Great Estates Auction, Part 2, was a large Russian “Surprise Easter Egg” silver, diamond and other precious stones in guilloche enamel that opened to reveal a perfume bottle inside. Standing 10 inches tall and fully hallmarked, the catalog indicated that it incorporated nearly 1,000 small diamonds. Consigned from a private collection on Long Island, N.Y., it exceeded expectations and finished at $18,750. For information, www.worldauctiongallery.com or 516-307-8180.
Rhode Island Tall Clock Tops Americana Auctions
REHOBOTH, MASS. – The top lot in Americana Auctions’ April 3 Fine Nautical & Estates Auction was a circa 1815 mahogany tall clock with a metal dial signed David Williams, Newport. Featuring a painted mechanical moon phases dial and standing 95 inches to the top of its brass finial, the piece realized $8,750, just shy of its high estimate. For information, www.americana-auction.com or 508-771-1722.
Contemporary Indian Figural Painting Tops At Bruneau
CRANSTON, R.I. – An oil on canvas by B. Prabha (Indian, 1933-2001) was, at $37,500, the top lot in Bruneau & Co’s April Estate Fine Art & Antique Online Auction on April 4. Measuring 36 by 48 outside of its frame, and rendered in oil on canvas, the work depicted three women, two holding birds. Sourced from a Massachusetts estate, it had at one time been in a private Texas collection and carried an estimate of $25/35,000. It sold to a collector in California. For information, 401-533-9980 or www.bruneauandco.com.
Greg Allman’s Les Paul Hits High Note At Heritage
DALLAS – Topping the charts at Heritage Auctions’ guitars and musical instruments auction on April 3 was Greg Allman’s circa 1970 Gibson Les Paul Custom black solid body electric guitar, which sold for $35,000. The guitar was special ordered by Eric Clapton, who later gave it to Allman in 1971. The guitar arrived at Heritage from a friend of Allman’s, accompanied by a signed and notarized letter. For information, www.ha.com or 214-528-3500.
