There was only one documented ship voyage for Eli Bangs Jr, and that was aboard the Helen Mar of New Bedford from 1856 to 1861. He had no documented artistic training, but it can be surmised that he would have come to know a shipmate on the Helen Mar who would have, at the very least, encouraged him along: Robert W. Weir Jr, son of the Hudson River School artist. Bangs would work with his hands his entire life, going on to become a lieutenant for the Union in the Civil War and later becoming a cooper and a carpenter. His work is scant, with only one lesser pair of teeth and a mantle ornament known, both in the collection of the New Bedford Whaling Museum. A profusely carved pair of scrimshaw whale’s teeth by Bangs approaches the block at Eldred’s, joining other top lots from around the United States in this week’s picks.
ELDRED’S
Sale Date: July 19–20, 2018
Lot 1
Pair of Masterpiece Polychrome Scrimshaw Whale’s Teeth By Eli Bangs Jr
Mid-Nineteenth Century, obverse of one tooth depicts a standing woman dressed in a blue, black, red and white gown wearing black gloves and a crown of red flowers in her hair and holding a bouquet of red flowers. Reverse depicts a bark at sea under sail. Obverse of the other tooth depicts a full-rigged ship at sea, under sail and flying a house flag from the central mast and a large American flag off the stern, which wraps around the edge and slightly on to the reverse. Reverse depicts a portrait of Napoleon on horseback after Jacques-Louis David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps.”
Estimate: $350/500,000
BUTTERSCOTCH
Sale Date: July 22, 2018
Lot 25
Ammi Phillips (American, 1788–1865)
“Portrait of Margaret Platt Bockee,” oil on canvas, 30 by 24 inches, Margaret Platt Bockee (1792–1853), no apparent signature, framed.
Estimate: $20/30,000
SELKIRK
Sale Date: July 21, 2018
Lot 38
Alexander Calder (American, 1898–1976)
“Zebra Hammock,” woven cotton, edition 21 of 100, CAC Publication NY label, 1975, black and white alternating stripes with red-orange oval patch at center, two hanging loops embellished with heavy frapping in black twine.
Estimate: $1/3,000
CROCKER FARM
Sale Date: July 21, 2018
Lot 75
Anna Pottery Masterpiece
Rare and important large-sized stoneware fair jug with profuse incised inscriptions. Serving as a utilitarian stoneware “time capsule” of Union County, Ill., life in the year 1884, this painstakingly-decorated jug commemorates the 29th Annual Union County, Illinois Fair, held that year in Jonesboro, Illinois. 19½ inches high.
Estimate: $30/50,000
LESLIE HINDMAN
Sale Date: July 24, 2018
Lot 149
Oversized Display Fountain Pen
Waterman’s Ideal Fountain Pen, 38 inches long.
Estimate: $500/700
GUYETTE & DEETER
Sale Date: July 22–24, 2018
Lot 65
Rare and Important Oversize Preening Mallard Hen, Caines Brothers
Georgetown, S.C., early Twentieth Century, one of only seven of the highest grade Caines Brothers decoys known to exist. Sharply cut, deep relief wing carving and fluted tail. Finely detailed notch and line carving mostly on wings and neck. Wax eyes.
Estimate: $300/400,000
FAIRFIELD AUCTION
Sale Date: July 18, 2018
Lot 184
Celestial Map
Planisphaerivm Sive Orbivm Mvn, Peter Schenk, Amsterdam, Eighteenth Century.
Estimate: $600/900
COPLEY FINE ART AUCTIONS
Sale Date: July 18–20, 2018
Lot 14
A. Elmer Crowell (1862–1952) Phillips Rig Preening Black Duck
East Harwich, Mass., circa 1912, 13 inches long. This decoy is a rigmate to the Dr John C. Phillips (1876–1938) preening pintail that has set the world record for a decoy on three separate occasions. A testament to the standard Crowell set for his major patron, this Phillips rig black duck also holds the distinction of setting the world record for any decoy at auction when it was last offered for sale in 1986.
Estimate: $200/300,000
DuMOUCHELLES
Sale Date: July 20–22, 2018
Lot 71001
Peter Gifft Pennsylvania Curly Maple & Cherry Tall Case Clock
Circa 1800–15, 93½ inches high. With eight day works, metal dial with seconds hand and day of week indicator. Raised on four ogee feet, revolving moon phase dial, two iron weights,
a brass pendulum and keys to case.
Estimate: $3/5,000
