AUCTION NIGHT NOVEMBER 19th

My favorite two aspects of my job are getting the stuff and selling the stuff, I guess that is my job when distilled and boiled down.  Auction night was a true success.  A large audience greeted me as I ascended the podium at six o'clock, with many familiar faces and some new as well.  I felt like the first couple of lots started us off a bit slow, as we had a flurry of left bids which won, but then the crowd kicked in and competition heated up the cold November air.

  The Plymouth specific antiques ignited interest with strong bids for the Indian Arrowheads and Antique Souvenir Porcelain.  The early Plymouth colony deed captured bids from the phone, floor and internet, before selling to a Cape Cod dealer.  Silver was another strong category.  Most of these glittering lots sold to the floor.  The large Dominick & Haff flatware set broke the $3500 mark, which I think will please our consignor!

I had a wonderful time bid calling and can't wait to do it again in January.  I would like to thank everyone who joined us for a great evening out, at America's Hometown Auction.  Thank you Chef Steve Coe of Bokx 109 for some truly amazing food and Bartending Service of New England for libations.  I am always grateful for my crew, which in my opinion is the best in the business.  I will see you all again January 21st, 6:00 P.M. at 83 Court Street.

FIVE DAYS AWAY

Anticipation is the watch word of the week.  The catalog is completed, everything is tagged and carefully packed up.  The crew is confirmed, as is the chef and bartending service.  We are ready to go!  I love this week as it gives us time to reflect on over two months of accumulation.  I recall house calls from Boston to Truro,  the interesting people I have met and the precious objects which have joined our November 19th Lineup.  The hard work is complete, now the real fun begins.



We have over 260 lots of everything from 19th Century Kitchen Primitives, to Antique Georgian Silver and everything in between.  Paintings are strong in this sale, my personal favorite is Lot #1, a small 19th C. Oil on Canvas of a shipwreck dated '73 (1873).  We also have dozens of "organic" lots.  These are items from Plymouth, Massachusetts and New England, from wonderful 19th Century Primitives with Southern New Hampshire provenance, to a 17th Century Deed from a Cape Cod Indian Sachem.  The details of this important lot can be found in a fantastic story in the November 13th Edition of "The Old Colony Memorial", by Emily Clark.

READ ARTICLE HERE

  For the silver magnates, over 500 Ozt of Sterling silver spanning 200 years and many famous makers awaits their bid.  In this category a beautiful 19th Century flatware set by "Dominick & Haff" is a true standout, 90 pieces of over 150 Ozt Sterling Silver.  The true show stopper has to be the pair of British Silver Tea Caddies.  Hand chased, with ram finials, WOW!

Please join us for a wonderful night out, Tuesday, November 19th at 83 Court Street, Plymouth MA.  We have a great sale with Beer, Wine and food prepared by Chef Stephen Coe of BOKX109.  Competitive bidding and opportunity await.  See you at the auction!

THINGS THAT SPARKLE

One of my favorite forms of Art is jewelry.  It is a combination of metallurgy, nature and human artistic expression.  Something deep within our DNA attracts us to these objects of beauty.  Our eyes are drawn to gold, our pupils become fixated on a diamond's brilliance.  Is it the beauty both man made and natural which connect us to these objects, or do we just respond to things which sparkle?  For me antique and vintage jewelry hold a special allure.  Whether the ornate detail of a 19th C. Victorian Brooch, covered in mine cut diamonds, or the aerodynamic lines of a 1930's Art Deco Bracelet, I see the beauty.  

This week a call delivered an incredibly diverse collection of fine jewelry.  This group spans a century, from the 1890's to the 1990's, every piece has two common attributes: quality and beauty.  The first work of art presented, was a massive opal and diamond pendant dating from the early 20th C.  The center stone is a round cut Opal with sunrise colored fire, surrounded by over 4c of mine cut diamonds and another pear shaped stone suspended beneath.  Next came a three diamond ring, with stones that appeared to be internally flawless under the 10X of my loupe.  Both these pieces have been sent out for a full appraisal. 

My absolute favorite piece in this collection is an English, Victorian Cameo Necklace in it's original fitted box.  This piece consists of six hand carved Italian Shell Cameos set in 15K gold.  The quality and beauty of this piece is simply remarkable.  In total this call netted over thirty pieces of fine jewelry, which will be available to the highest bidder in our January 21st sale.

THE SECRET LIVES OF THINGS

In my regular work week I see hundreds of things.  Some things have a definite and finite value, for example, scrap gold and silver.  Simply weighed and assayed it is a math problem, a calculation with a numerical solution, the answer... value.  Many things however, defy a simple formula, a beautiful unsigned 19th Century painting for example.  Although we can estimate its value based on experience and sales records of similar paintings in style, age, subject and execution, the true value is enigmatic.  In real terms, it is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it and no more.  This applies to anything in fact, from a house to a bottle of California Cabernet.

Everything we sell at auction has a monetary value.  This value is simply the highest price bid by the last bidder.  I see many objects however, which have a value which transcends dollars and cents.  Some things have historic value, educational value, cultural value,  nostalgic value.  Some things also possess a deeper value... soul.

Two of these soulful items came through our doors this month from two different consignors.  Antique 19th Century game boards.  One of these wonderful examples of American folk art was created from wood,  maple to be exact.  An artistic execution in curly maple, blond and darker wood, with a hand made check inlay make up this beauty.  The other is a wonderful reverse painted glass board in an oak frame. They are of a similar vintage and purpose.  What makes them most alike though is soul.


I imagine the place of honour these remarkable works of art held in their respective households over the past century or so.  They were passed down from generation to generation. They were venerated as each family recalled time spent as children and adults in fierce competition.  Whether a fast paced game of checkers, or a strategic duel of chess,  the laughter, tears, victory and defeat these boards witnessed give them that all important element...soul. 

Soul cannot be pegged to a monetary system.  It cannot be monetized in dollars, euros or yen.  But these boards will sell to the highest bidder Tuesday evening on November 19th.  You could write the next chapter in their respective lives and add to their soul.

SILVER STREAK

A gentleman crossed our threshold with a very large box of silver.  I am always thrilled to have precious metals show up, although often upon closer inspection I see the dreaded letters "E.P.N.S" or "Rodgers & Co".  I would estimate that for every piece of Sterling Silver, I see 20 pieces of electroplate.  So with this ratio in mind, I am usually a bit skeptical.  

As we began to unpack the box, the first thing I saw was a beautiful heavy gauge water pitcher.  It looked like early 20th Century Gorham, but I held my breath as I inverted it and made out the marks.  Wrong! It was signed Wallace, but also carried that wonderful word "STERLING".  Another Pitcher followed, this one signed "Gorham" and fortunately "STERLING".  Alright, I was beginning to get excited.  The next piece was a large oval serving tray.  It had a beaded edge and was heavy.  Underneath I beheld another one of my favorite markings "TIFFANY & Co".  I just love anything made by this legendary producer. 

The box turned into a second box and then a third.  Another solid silver tray appeared.  A beautiful Sterling flatware set was the finale.  Late 19th Century heavy quality from a rare and elite maker, with 117 pieces.  After we unpacked this collection and weighed everything, the total was nearly 400 Ozt of .925 Sterling Silver!  

These beautiful and artistic pieces generally sell simply for the price of silver they contain.  I am always amazed, as it is the biggest bargain in the business,  all of the artistry of design and fine craftsmanship comes free.  Antique Sterling Silver draws the eye like nothing else and we are always grateful when it comes through our door.  We will be offering almost 600 Ozt for our November 19th sale! Looking forward to seeing you at the auction.

ON A GRAND SCALE

An ordinary phone call.  The caller has an antique Victrola.  She attended our last sale and saw one sell for good money, so we booked an appointment.  As I pulled into the unpaved drive and came upon the beautiful lakeside home, my optimism began to soar.  I hopped out of the Jeep and sampled the air, a perfect 72 Degree Indian Summer's day.

I was greeted by a smiling woman, who thanked me for coming.  She explained that she was downsizing and was ready to sell some of her things.  As we walked through her home, I quickly realized that she had been a collector for many years, with a keen eye for the interesting, eclectic and unusual.  She explained that she was a veteran of countless auctions and estate sales over the years and simply bought things which spoke to her.

We began our tour in the kitchen, which was full of vintage gear, including a working 1920's "Sunbeam" mixer, with original bowl and a beautiful porcelain scale.  A stack of yellow ware mixing bowls and a super tin lot made our list.  Around the corner I spied a simply amazing turn of the century flip top Physician's cabinet, with black glass top.  This piece was in beautiful original condition, with a gold manufacturers label.  I just love a collection like this. The objects seem unrelated, except for the cool factor!

As we continued our progress, the collection began to show another common thread.  Most of these pieces were from the first three decades of the twentieth century, an epic period of American design and ingenuity.  In the basement an iconic example greeted us, an early Barber's chair.  I love this heavy metal!  The chair was a classic, with a Chicago maker mark, original headpiece and upholstery.  As I was thinking how great this would be for our sale, little did I know that the best was around the corner. 

As I entered the next room I beheld an amazing sight:  A colossal antique sidewalk scale towered over everything.  It was an absolutely superb example, the best I have ever seen.  Heavy porcelain over iron, a fluted column supporting a lollipop dial with reverse painted glass.  This piece came from the North End of Boston, where it enticed curious pedestrians for decades.  What an amazing piece of Americana!  I can't wait to see this baby in our catalog.

It was another great week of our endless treasure hunt.  I am ready to do it again.

  

THE WEEK AFTER

The best stuff just keeps on rolling in!  Our November 19th Sale is shaping up to be exactly what I had hoped for Thanksgiving in America's Hometown.  Months ago I thought a sale centered around as many local items as possible would generate some excitement.  When I say local, I mean Plymouth, Massachusetts and New England,  things connected with our Pilgrim past and of course artifacts left by Native Americans.  

An old collection of pre contact stone arrowheads and tools found in Plymouth came through our doors.  A stone mortar and pestle was my favorite along with some magnificent quartz bird points.  Continuing with this theme, a 1682 land grant to Plymouth Colony from a Wampanoag Sachem, for land in Yarmouth was consigned for November's sale.  Another rare piece of Americana is an 1818 Proclamation from Massachusetts Governor John Brooks in an exceptional state of preservation.  

A large group of Currier and Ives Lithographs has also come in, including a very apropos "Pilgrims Landing at Plymouth".  A grouping of early 20th Century Plymouth souvenir porcelain plates and pitchers, along with sterling silver spoons followed.  These lots were accompanied by a great collection of kitchen primitives including some 18th Century wrought iron!  

With two months before the sale, I cant wait to see what we uncover in the attics and basements of the Old Colony,  we will keep you posted.  As always looking forward to seeing you at the auction.