Fine paintings from a Cape Cod collection found favor at George Costopulos’s February 28 sale, where the oil on Masonite painting “Seesaw,” replete with mermaids, a sailor, a hot air balloon and ships, by Cape artist Ralph Cahoon realized $28,750 from an area collecting couple. The consignor bought the painting from the artist some years ago.
Another marine painting from the same collection, an Antonio Jacobsen portrait of the ship Vanadis , realized $16,100 from a South Carolina collector on the phone. The picture retained a label from Richard A. Bourne, a former Cape Cod auctioneer who had sold the picture previously.
“On a Spree,” an 1870 allegorical oil on canvas scene of bears tipsy from consuming an excess of honey, by William H. Beard sold for $11,500 to a Los Angeles collector. The painting was acquired in the 1967 auction of the Laura Davidson Sears Academy of Fine Arts. The same collector also paid $3,450 for the 1883 Wesley Webber oil on canvas picture, “The Old Pier, Hull, Mass.,” that had been acquired directly from the artist.
Other paintings of interest included a landscape with figures and cattle drinking from a river by Hudson River school artist Charles W. Knapp. It went to an area dealer for $5,175. A signed painting of two roistering men, one with an injured foot †gout-related, presumably †by Mark Anson realized $1,265.
A landscape with fruit trees by Frederick Leo Hunter that hung in a Harwich Port, Mass., church for the last 80 years realized $575, as did “Chess Board” from the 1970s by Marina Stern and an abstract landscape with trees by James Wilson Rayen.
An 1820s portrait of a Connecticut gentleman realized $526, while a portrait of another Connecticut gentleman and yet another of a New York gentleman passed.
A 20-by-30-foot Mahal carpet brought an impressive $11,500 from a dealer on the phone, who beat out several others in the room.
The star of the furniture across the block was the Salem Chippendale mahogany oxbow bureau on claw and ball feet that sold to an area dealer for $6,900. The chest, circa 1760‱780, came from the estate of Mayflower descendent Eleanor Wiles of Medford, Mass., and had descended to her from Colonel Samuel Bullard, commander of the Fifth Middlesex County Regiment of the Lexington Alarm, and from Silence Fairbanks of Middlesex County, who were not related as near as records reveal. A lot of ephemera pertaining to Wiles sold for $109.
A Sheraton mahogany inlaid four-drawer chest made in the 1820s was $46, while a mahogany chest from the 1840s retaining the label of cabinetmaker Joseph Wallis of the Salem Furniture and Feather Warehouse went for $230. A substantial mahogany round table and four chairs drew $230.
An early cherry candlestand sold for $288, and a Hepplewhite sewing table with inlay was $127. Two Nineteenth Century grain painted side chairs with caned seats were $115, and a Governor Winthrop mahogany desk realized $230. A pretty pine four-drawer chest went to $127.
A very nice Victorian mahogany marble top bedroom set comprising a bed with an incised floral decoration, a nightstand and a dresser and attached mirror represented a good value at $340.
A tall clock by Riley Whiting of Winchester, Conn., was grain painted and sold for $2,300.
A schoolgirl silk sampler wrought in 1805 by E. Neal brought $2,243 from a buyer with the same name. It was alphanumeric with baskets of flowers with perching birds, animals and a verse within a floral geometric border.
A Native American eye-dazzler rug in browns and red sold for $920, and a Confederate flag had some condition issues but still drew $230.
A pair of bronze sconces with Venetian cut glass crystals sold for $719. A table lamp with a lithopane shade with panels depicting waterfalls sold for $460, and a bronze table lamp sold for $150.
Two albums of Victorian postcards fetched $403, and a lot of Nineteenth Century photographs of Native Americans by Boston photographer John P. Soule realized $345. An old photograph of a man with a dog in a dress sold for $136.
A flatware service by W.B. Durgin comprising 91 pieces realized $1,236, and a lot of four heavy Gorham sterling wine goblets was $288, while a Gorham silver overlay tea set in cobalt blue realized $374.
A Stiegel-style flip glass, circa 1780, drew $259.
A carved, life-size (60 inches) figure of a head hunter holding a head in his hand, which auctioneer George Costopulos said might be South American in origin, was an impressive $2,875, while an early bronze plaque depicting Lucrezia Borgia was of interest and commanded $345.
An Arcade cast iron toy taxicab in the original chrome yellow was desirable and brought $345, and a cel of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin was $230. A lot of well-loved mohair bears drew $328.
A 17-inch Satsuma vase fetched $2,300, while a smaller example was $259, and a pretty 22-inch Meissen yellow porcelain vase with gilt brought $776. An unsigned iridescent art glass vase sold for $546.
A fine majolica vase or small centerpiece in the form of a pink flower was $449, and a Weller jardinière realized $403 despite a chip along the bottom rim.
A Nineteenth Century Flow Blue platter by Maddox drew $431, and an early English transfer ware blue platter signed “Coburg E.C.K. Co.” fetched $144.
An extensive Ridgeway Flow Blue china service sold for $345, while a large (20 inches) Wedgwood tureen, platter and ladle with early marks brought $115.
The remnants of some Chinese ivory carvings also went for $115.
A lot of smart-looking evening bags by Whiting and Davis brought $690.
A Nineteenth Century pair of Hessian andirons retaining the original paint was $375, and a lot of two early heavy brass turned candlesticks made $431.
All prices quoted reflect the 15 percent buyer’s premium. For additional information, http://web.mac.com/costopulos or 781-938-6604.
