Pairs were in demand at auctions across the country this week! A duo of children’s alphabet books looked smartest at PBA Galleries, selling for $28,125, while a pair of portraits by James Sandford Elsworth led at Nye & Company at $34,375 and Joseph Goodhue Chandler’s portraits of Mr and Mrs Hawks achieved $1,188 at Flying Pig. For these stories and more, read on.
Steinway Grand Piano Plays Highest Note At Michaan’s
ALAMEDA, CALIF. — Michaan’s January 16 Gallery Auction featured slightly more than 500 lots of vintage cameras, Acoma and Yixing Zisha pottery and various table articles. Playing a tune to $8,820, the highest price of the sale, was a Steinway Grand Piano, serial number 81617, which was accompanied by a leather-upholstered rectangular bench. For information, 510-740-0220 or www.michaans.com.
Ellsworth’s Folky Child Portraits Sell Over Estimate At Nye & Company
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. — A pair of watercolor portraits of a boy and girl by James Sandford Elsworth made $34,375 on January 21 at Nye & Company Auctioneers and Appraisers. Estimated at $2/3,000, these portraits attracted much interest and had earlier been featured in Small Folk A Celebration of Childhood in America by Brant and Cullman. The portraits of the young children had provenance to dealers George E. Schoellkopf and Nathan Liverant & Son. For information, www.nyeandcompany.com or 973-984-6900.
Post-War Lionel Train Set Tops Reynolds Collection At Cagle
ATHENS, GA. — A selection of 386 Lionel trains from the Reynolds collection, Atlanta, sold at Cagle Auction Company on January 10 was led by a Post-War 2356 ABA train set, complete with their boxes. All three trains were C-8 powered and had been tested and deemed fully operational by auction time. Racing past its $1/2,000 estimate, the set pulled into the station for $2,880. For information, 850-736-1802 or www.cagleauction.com.
PBA Sells The ABCs For Top Price
BERKELEY, CALIF. — PBA Galleries conducted a 430-lot auction of Rare and Antiquarian Books with Illustrated & Children’s Books, and the Dr Richard R. Rutter Collection of Oz on January 22. In a surprising turn of events, the sale’s top lot was a pair of children’s books by L. Frank Baum, illustrated by Harry Kennedy and with lettering by Charles Costello. The Army Alphabet and The Navy Alphabet were published in 1900 by the George M. Hill Company, and these second volumes had a signed handwritten inscription from the author to his brother Harry C. Baum, dated 1901. From the Rutter collection, these books earned $28,125 ($1/1,500). For information, www.pbagalleries.com or 415-989-2665.
Richard Mille Wristwatch Is Standout For Kodner
DANIA BEACH, FLA. — Kodner Galleries conducted its Estate Jewelry, Fine Art & Décor auction on January 21, offering 251 lots. Ticking to top-lot status at $272,250 was a Richard Mille Bubba Watson RM055 wristwatch complete with its box and papers. The timepiece had a white ceramic case and a white rubber bracelet, as well as a skeletonized manual wind movement. For information, 954-925-2550 or www.kodner.com.
Hawks Portraits Perch At Top For Flying Pig
WESTMORELAND, N.H. — A pair of Nineteenth Century portraits by Joseph Goodhue Chandler (American, 1813-1884) led Flying Pig Auctions’ two-day 2026 Auction Opener, January 19-20. The signed and dated “1847” portraits were identified as Jonathon and Experience (née Shepherd) Hawks of Deerfield, Mass. The 42½-by-36-inch portraits passed through the family and were consigned by descendants of the sitters, selling for $1,188. For information, www.flyingpigantiquesnh.com or 603-543-7490.
Gold Chain Glitters At Morphy Auctions
LAS VEGAS — A gold nugget chain had 11 bidders chasing it until one determined buyer prevailed at $92,250, at Morphy Auctions’ Old West and Native American Art sale on January 24. The 30-inch-long chain, likely dating to the late 1800s, was made from solid gold nuggets, which tested for at least 20K with most testing just under 24K. For information, www.morphyauctions.com or 877-968-8880.
Woodpecker Etching Soars At DuMouchelles
DETROIT — A rare hand colored engraving with etching and aquatint of “Ivory-billed Woodpecker,” after John James Audubon (American, 1785-1851) on J. Whatman paper, flew to $71,300 at DuMochelles on January 23, the second day of its two-day auction. From the Havell edition and appearing in The Birds of America, this Elephant folio was considered an exceptional example, richly inked with strong, vibrant colors. Measuring 39 by 26 inches, it came from a private collector in Birmingham, Mich. For information, www.dumoart.com or 313-963-6255.
French Light Hangs High For Cornell
BELLPORT, N.Y. — Cornell’s January 24 Resolutions Auction featured nearly 600 lots, led by a vintage French Art Deco pendant light/chandelier. The light had a stepped alabaster bowl with six interior sockets, an alabaster collar and bronze chains for suspension. In total, the piece measured 30 inches in length and the bowl had a 17¾-inch diameter. It sold to an online buyer for $3,00 ($1,2/1,800). For information, www.cornellauctions.com or 631-289-9505.
