Just shy of seven weeks after the June 6 fire that destroyed its Bellingham, Mass., gallery, an area landmark for years, the Coyle family came back with a vengeance for its 23rd annual summer estates auction on July 24. The sale attracted a packed house to the family’s temporary slot at the VFW. Post. The energy was palpable as loyal dealers, collectors and friends crowded in to wish the Coyles well and to scoop up the estate offerings. The parking lot was jammed with the vans and trucks of dealers prepared for a good haul, and no one was disappointed.
Brother and sister, Michael Coyle and Nancy Coyle Wyman each addressed the crowd, thanking everyone for their kindness after the fire and welcoming everyone back. They also apologized for the kinks of the brand-new computer system that delayed the bidder registration process but will result in smoother future registrations.
Buyers were happy to have Coyle’s up and running again. One Cape Cod dealer said he was pleased to be back to his “old stomping grounds.” He said he began his highly successful antiques career hanging around Coyle’s.
Nearly 80 percent of the objects to cross the block came from a Winchester, Mass., home. Bidders came in search of such lots as a set of six centennial Chippendale-style dining chairs with claw and ball feet and turned stretchers that brought $2,240 from an area dealer, who also has a business near San Obispo, Calif. The same dealer paid $1,120 for a Victorian oak side-by-side and server from a nearby farmhouse that auctioneer Michael Coyle said was a “five iron away.”
The same buyer paid $1,148 for a banjo clock whose face was signed Simon Willard. Michael Coyle said after the sale that while the clock did bear a “Simon Willard” signature, it was probably an early Twentieth Century presentation reproduction.
An alabaster mantel clock with columns realized $728 and a calendar clock realized $280. A Nineteenth Century carved English mahogany tall clock with shell inlay sold for $952 and an Atmos mantel clock was $560.
As the auction proceeded with Michael Coyle at the podium, he looked around at his bidding audience and smiled, “It’s the same crowd as Bellingham!” Plenty of familiar dealers and auctioneers were on hand to bid and to lend support. One dealer got a nice set of eight Hitchcock dining chairs, including one armchair, for $1,120.
A sterling silver coffee and tea service found in the basement of a home realized $1,008, and two silver servers by Dominick and Haff went for $313. An eight-piece Tiffany silver plate tea service fetched $784. Another silver plate lot, comprising a punch bowl that was about 18 inches in diameter, a tray and a wine cooler, drew $252.
A cylindrical Tiffany iridescent glass vase that was a little over an inch in diameter and housed in a metal stand sold for $1,960, while a gilt metal repousse desk set comprising two boxes and an ink stand fetched $812.
A mahogany china cabinet carved with classical female figures and griffins also had claw and ball feet, was mirrored and the glass was beveled; it went to the trade for $5,264. It was retailed by the late Boston furniture company, Paine and Co., as was a mahogany highboy with shell carving that sold for $1,008.
An Adams-style bench with a caned seat and back slats in the form of stylized urns fetched $924. Other furniture for sitting was attractive to bidders, who bought a Hepplewhite lolling chair for $896, a Windsor bow back side chair with yellow and black paint decoration and a crusty surface for $700, and a second example, with old refinish, was $135. One buyer paid $280 for a Shaker no. 7 rocking chair and $128 for a no. 8 example. A cast iron garden seat had a nice crunchy surface, and sold for $672.
A two-part Regency-style mahogany breakfront with inlay and astragal doors realized $1,792, while a mahogany corner cabinet with inlay and a swan neck pediment opened at $1,000, and sold for $1,512. Then a custom made mahogany block front four-drawer chest, with shell carving, sold for $1,232, and a heavy mahogany Martha Washington desk brought $672.
Hall pieces included a Victorian walnut hall tree that garnered $588; an oak hall mirror, with four double animals for hooks, and beveled glass, that fetched $174; and an oak and mirrored glass hall tree with a white marble platform that realized $196.
An attractive late Federal mahogany breakfast table was $644, a double pedestal dining table, and the accompanying sideboard with inlay, realized $1,008 and a ten-piece Berkley and Gay dining set was a lot of furniture, for which one dealer paid $1,036.
A Queen Anne-style mahogany footstool made by the C. Dodge Furniture Company of Manchester, Mass., realized $112; a pretty little Hepplewhite mahogany chest sold to the trade for $392; and a silver chest on stand with bellflower inlay was $588.
A pair of mahogany demilune chests with 12 drawers each realized $364, a Victorian oak curved glass china cabinet realized $313, while a carved wood pair of wall brackets also sold for $313.
Among a selection of country pine chests, one had a carved skirt and brought $128, while an unembellished three-drawer example fetched $112. A country Sheraton dresser realized $252.
An Electroscope Traveling Crane, a coin-operated arcade game made in the 1930s by the International Mutoscope Reel Co., in an oak and glass case, realized $3,305. An Edison phonograph and horn, with eight cylinder records, sold at $392. More music could be heard when a Steinway baby grand piano, model no. S228575, with a needlepoint bench, realized $11,580 from a buyer on the phone.
Several box lots impressed bidders: one lot of ten pieces of blue and white Spode sold for $364, another of four miscellaneous pieces of Quimper fetched $252, while a box of red glass realized $174.
Some odd and ends in the sale brought mixed results: a pair of celadon green vases went for $392; some blue and white Willow ware with plates, several platters and other serving pieces and a cache pot, also realized $392; an Imari umbrella stand sold for $672 and a 16-inch Mason’s punchbowl brought $280. A gold headed cane was $252, and two marble pedestals, one a black and white example that sold for $196 and a mixed brown one that was $168, were further examples. A three-light library lamp with a green metal shade realized $336.
All prices quoted reflect the 12 percent buyer’s premium. For information, 508-883-1659 or www.coylesauction.com .
