A rare car weathervane started quite a commotion as it crossed the auction block at Skinner’s American Furniture and Decorative Arts Auction this past Sunday, November 4.

Originally mounted atop the manor Crescent Building on Bedford Street in Lexington, Mass., the weathervane had been saved when the building was razed in the 1960s and given to an eastern Massachusetts cultural institution. Far removed for the museum’s collecting area and historical mission, the weathervane, along with several other lots, were deaccessioned and found their way to Skinner.

Estimated at $30/50,000, the touring car-form vane with a driver became the subject of active bidding from the gallery and a host of telephone bidders, with the lot selling at $941,000 to telephone bidders Jerry and Susan Lauren.

A rare American School portrait of a young lad with his dog, oil on panel, also attracted a great deal of attention. The painting, with great local history, depicted Edward Dorr (1808‱880) seated in a brightly decorated yellow chair positioned on an Oriental carpet with trees laden with oranges forming a backdrop.

Dorr’s son (1854‱937) purchased a home in Dorchester, Mass., in 1904, where the painting was recently discovered. In untouched condition with layers of grime concealing the painting’s true beauty, it carried a presale estimate of $30/50,000.

Bidding on the lot easily surpassed the estimates, with it ultimately selling to Woodbury, Conn., dealer David Schorsch, bidding by telephone, for $886,000.

A complete review will appear in a future issue.