This week’s top lots truly spanned the antiques and arts categories. A marble statue sold alongside a Stickley humidor, and a Japanese woodcut print sold just above a rare Saratoga bottle. Read on for more sales including a similarly priced Steinway and shotgun.
Colors Of Mexico Brighten CT River Book Auction
SOUTH GLASTONBURY, CONN. — Connecticut River Book Auction on January 6 saw an evening of competitive bidding between those in the audience and more than a dozen bidders who left more than 100 absentee bids. A signed copy of Robert F. Kennedy’s The Enemy Within sold for $345. A copy of Pettit’s Sketches in the History of the Underground Railroad sold for $506, and Elma Pratt’s vibrant Mexico in Color (pictured), despite being an ex-library copy, went out the door for $437. Born in 1888 of well-to-do parents, Pratt was educated at Oberlin College, Boston New School of Design and Columbia University. Mexico in Color, published in 1947 in an edition of 2,000 copies, consisted of 10 two-page folios, each containing one page of text and a silkscreen. For information, www.ctriverbookauction.com or 860-908-8067.
Sparkling Sales At Bruneau’s Double Session Auction
CRANSTON, R.I. — Bruneau & Co Auctioneers continued its succession of sales from a monumental collection belonging to “an exquisite Cranston, R.I., estate” on January 9. Offering 430 lots of couture, jewelry, fine and decorative arts, this session’s top lot was a pair of brilliant cut 8-carat diamonds set in platinum and 14K gold. The earrings showed light wear associated with use, but were in otherwise good condition and came with their original box. The pair bid up to just below their high estimate of $25/50,000 at $49,200. For information, 401-533-9980 or www.bruneauandco.com.
Albert Crook Quart, Circa 1865-75, Bottles Up Glass Works Sale
EAST GREENVILLE, PENN. — An “Albert Crook / Paradise Spring / Saratoga Co. N.Y. (Tucker, S-42-A) bottle, circa 1865-75, was a star lot in Glass Works Auctions’ sale of the Neil Moore collection of Saratoga and Saratoga-type bottles (Part I), a timed auction that closed on January 9. With a deep olive green high shoulder, smooth base and applied double collar mouth, the example was “about perfect,” according to owner Jim Hagenbuch, and earned $10,530 against its $4/6,000 estimate. For information, 215-679-5849 or www.glassworksauctions.com.
Marble Statue An Auction Barn Highlight
NEW MILFORD, CONN. — A classical figure of a nude, standing 34 inches high on a circular base that measured 12 inches in diameter, attracted lots of interest in the Auction Barn’s January 9 estate auction. Despite condition notes that read “needs cleaning, some scratches, some chips,” interest in the lot pushed it to $2,813, well ahead of its $400/600 estimate. It was one of the top lots in the 400-lot sale. For more information, 860-799-0608 or www.theauctionbarnct.com.
Modern Japanese Prints Find Favor With Clars Bidders
OAKLAND, CALIF. — One of the top sellers — of 730 on offer at Clars on January 14 — was “Storm on Lyell Mountain” by Chiura Obata (American/Japanese, 1885-1975), which soared above expectations and sold for $12,500. The 1930 woodcut print in colors, printed at Takamizawa print studio, was from the artist’s “World Landscape Series” and was one of three prints by the artist in the sale. All had been estimated at $3/5,000. For information, 510-428-0100 or www.clars.com.
Stickley Humidor Heats Up At Forsythes’
CINCINNATI, OHIO — Topping the 340-lot Arts and Crafts Auction at Forsythes’ Auctions on January 15 was a copper humidor by Gustav Stickley that smoked its $3/5,000 estimate to bring $15,120. Hand-hammered with riveted construction, the humidor had a single bail handle and flared feet, all with an attractive patina. But what really drove interest in the 8¼-by-11¼-by-7-inch humidor was the circular impressed stamp on its underside. For more information, www.forsytheauctions.com or 513-791-2323.
Living Deliberately On Vero Beach
VERO BEACH, FLA. — Vero Beach Auction offered almost 300 lots during its Artwork, Antiques & More Estate Auction on January 14. Although the majority of the upper lots were Highwaymen paintings of the tropical state’s landscape, the top by far was a collection of Henry David Thoreau’s writings. The set of 20 volumes was published by Houghton Mifflin and Company, numbered 461/600 and signed by the publisher in the first volume. As a manuscript edition, the set exhibited reproductions of Thoreau’s handwritten pages and surpassed its $1/2,000 estimate to achieve $14,160. For information, 772-978-5955 or www.verobeachauction.com.
Nineteenth Century Relic Shotgun Blasts To The Top At Milestone
WILLOUGHBY, OHIO — A Discovery firearms and military sale by Milestone Auctions on January 14 was led by a massive J. Manton 8-bore side-by-side hammer shotgun that blasted its way to $5,125 against a $500/800 estimate. Described as “a dinosaur of a bygone era,” the 8-gauge firearm with 36-inch barrels was a relic of the long gone Nineteenth Century market hunting. It featured Damascus barrels, a side lock engraved action stamped J. Manton, checkered pistol grip walnut stock with splinter forearm. For more information, www.milestoneauctions.com or 440-527-8060.
Estate Steinway Plays To Top Of New Year’s Sale At State Line
CANAAN, CONN. — Estate Steinway pianos continue to sell in the second-hand market as evidenced at State Line Auctions & Estate Services when its New Year’s sale on January 15 was led by one at $5,535. The sale featured a New York City apartment full of world tour finery and modern furniture, a large amount of sterling silver flatware, Oriental carpets, jewelry, gilt mirrors and more. For information, www.statelineauctionsandestateservices.com or 860-453-4370.
