This collection of political buttons that survived the campaigns of Harding, Hoover, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, McGovern, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, Rockefeller and more sold for the highest price of the two-day sale on the second day: $6,000 ($50/75).
Review by Kiersten Busch
COPAKE, N.Y. — Copake Auction celebrated 46 years of its Annual New Year’s sale on January 16-17, offering a mixed bag of more than 1,000 lots. Manager Seth Fallon reported, “The sale was strong, we grossed $325,000 in two days. There was lots of action, and we sold to the US and a bunch of different countries. We only passed a few items; we always sell 99 percent of our material.”
Day one was led by a deer weathervane with verdigris patina, which landed at the high end of its $3,5/4,500 estimate to make $4,200. Fifteen additional weathervanes crossed the block, ranging in price from $120 for a sheet metal butterfly example, to $1,920 for one depicting an angel standing on top of a ball.
While art was not as popular on day one as it was on day two, a painting by Kenzo Okada earned the day’s second-highest price, $3,900. The abstract oil on canvas was signed on its lower right corner and measured 16 by 12 inches framed.
Furniture took many of the top prices on the first day, with a pair of upholstered Mitchell Gold chairs leading the charge at $3,240, despite a need to be re-upholstered. It was followed closely by a faux bamboo bed labeled “Bloomingdales” ($2,760) and a Philadelphia-style Windsor bench with a scrubbed seat and green paint ($2,640).
Despite needing some re-upholstery, this pair of Mitchell Gold chairs far surpassed its conservative $25/50 estimate to make $3,240.
Several cupboards also attracted bidder attention, including a tiger maple benchmade corner cupboard that earned more than five times its $400 high estimate at $2,280. Also notable was a Nineteenth Century paneled wall cupboard in old blue paint ($2,160) and a Nineteenth Century Tramp Art six-drawer cabinet with its original hinges ($2,040).
With the value of silver still high, many bidders were interested in a discontinued 109-piece silverplated Christofle flatware service in the Aria pattern, designed circa 1985 by Bernard Yot. It far surpassed its $700/900 estimate to make $2,280. A selection of miscellaneous silverplate and sterling silver flatware, including some partial sets ($900) and a lot of 36 various Bakelite silverware pieces ($180) also sold. The latter included manufacturing names such as Washington Forge and G.S.C. Company on the silverware.
A collection of political buttons secured the highest price of the auction, selling on day two for $6,000. The assortment included material from the campaigns of Harding, Hoover, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, McGovern, Eisenhower, Roosevelt, Rockefeller and more. “The buttons came from a neighbor, and he will be super surprised,” Fallon shared.
This Tiffany gold signet ring, 24.5 grams, was initialed “LGN” and slipped onto its new owner’s finger for $2,880 ($800-$1,200).
A few lots of jewelry drew bidder interest, topped by a Tiffany gold men’s signet ring, which slipped onto its new owner’s finger for $2,880. It weighed 24.5 grams and was inscribed “LGN.” Earning $1,080 and eclipsing its $50/75 estimate was a lot of three gold Chanel necklaces, including one with a colorful gemstone pendant in the shape of a flower.
Fine art was the most popular category of the day, with many pieces earning top prices. “We were very surprised in general,” commented Fallon. “The artwork did very well.” A pencil-signed and numbered lithograph by Marc Chagall earned the most, besting its $75/100 estimate and selling to a bidder in Poland for $4,500. Numbered “#26/165,” a lithograph by John Anthony Baldessari, depicting two men with colored dots over their faces locked in an arm wrestle, crossed the block for $2,640. Additionally, a pencil-signed lithograph by Joan Miró sold to a bidder in Spain for $2,400.
Two oil paintings far exceeded their estimates, beginning with an Impressionist-style streetscape signed indistinctly “LRC,” which earned $4,500. An oil on canvas illustration of a cowboy by Stockton Mulford (American, 1886-1920) galloped to $1,920. On its reverse, it was noted to have appeared in a Zane Grey novel.
Heading to Poland for $4,500 was this pencil-signed lithograph by Marc Chagall (1887-1985), numbered “#56/75,” 26½ by 22 inches framed ($75/100).
A diverse array of advertising items also attracted bidders. A 28-inch-long optician’s trade sign earned the highest price at $1,320. Made from cast metal, the sign was shaped like a pair of glasses with bright blue lenses. Following at $840 was a framed French poster promoting the quick-drying paint Nitrolian, which was titled “Nitrolian Sec Aussitot Peint.” A two-sided antique shop sign advertising “Bottles, This & Thats” also sold, earning $720.
Copake’s Automobilia, Toy & Advertising Auction will take place on February 21. Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, 518-641-1935 or www.copakeauction.com.
