When I was young, I recall a fair bit of misinformation being spread concerning the evasion of bears. I can only imagine that these survival techniques were a modern construct, because surely those who spent a great deal of time outside in earlier times would have known better. The misinformation stated that, should a bear give chase, you were to run downhill. Another piece of advice was that you should climb a tree. The anxiety that a child feels when thinking about whether a bear will eat them alive serves to fog their mind, preventing them from reasoning that bears, who have roamed Earth in one form or another for about 38 million years, have certainly attuned their movement to handle downhill descent. And to climb a tree? Bears have been known to climb utility poles with not a single foothold on them. Early Twentieth Century children would have known better, and perhaps because they would have played with Fernand Martin’s 1909 wind-up mechanism Climbing Bear Toy, which features a felt-backed bear easily climbing a stand-alone pole for good sport and entertainment. See? So easy it’s laughable. The toy joins other top lots from around this United States in this week’s Picks.
BERTOIA
Sale Date, March 9–10, 2019
Lot 24
Martin Bear Climbing Pole
Circa 1909, when activated, this bear climbs up the rungs of the pole with base. He wears a felt bearskin and red collar, 20 inches high.
Estimate: $4/6,000
M38541-1 001
SWANN
Sale Date, March 7, 2019
Lot 57
Pietro Carrera, Il Gioco de gli Scacchi
First edition of one of the scarcest early Italian chess manuals and the first book printed in Militello, at the private press of Prince Francesco Branciforte, 87 pages.
Estimate: $4/6,000
JMW AUCTION SERVICE
Sale Date, March 9, 2019
Lot 8
Horatio Seymour Snuff Box
Rectangular box with hinged lid, 2¼ by 3¼ by 1 inch.
Estimate: $2/3,000
CLARKE
Sale Date, March 9, 2019
Lot 47
Carroll Cloar (American, 1913–1993)
Tempera on panel, oil on canvas, 1963. Rockford Art Museum Collection labels affixed verso, 24 by 34 inches.
Estimate: $10/15,000
MICHAAN’S
Sale Date, March 9, 2019
Karl Bodmer (Swiss, 1809–1893)
“Pehriska Rupa (dancing) McEnnitarri Warrior,” hand colored engraving.
Estimate: $5/7,000
HERITAGE
Sale Date, March 8–10, 2019
Lot 61269
George Jones & Sons Majolica Bee Hive-Form Cheese Stand and Cover
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England, 1872, 13½ by 10¼ by 9¾ inches.
Estimate: $2,5/3,500
FONTAINE’S
Sale Date, March 9, 2019
Lot 142
Pair of Bronze Torchieres From Chicago Courthouse
Large square bronze bases with acanthus leaf trim, pyramidal plinths have large relief decorated panels with front panels reading “LEX, 1927” (Latin for Law). Each 88 inches high.
Estimate: $20/30,000
MORPHY
Sale Date, March 13–14, 2019
Lot 1233
Cast Iron Halloween Girl Doorstop
Charming young girl in her Halloween costume holding a Jack-o-Lantern. Made by Littco Products of Littlestown, Penn. One of four examples known to date.
Estimate: $15/25,000
FREEMAN’S
Sale Date, March 12, 2019
Lot 167
A Chinese Gilt-Bronze and Cloisonné Ruyi Scepter
Qianlong period, the shaped head with central cloisonné panel depicting a descending bat within a scroll border, the scroll and bat-pierced shaft and base, centered by panels depicting Indian lotus and shou symbols, the reverse carved with additional auspiscious symbols, associated silk tassels.
Estimate: $8/12,000
