I am getting excited for our January sale! The new year has been born and I cant wait to see what treasures 2014 will yield. Every day in this business is a little adventure, a treasure hunt, a glimpse into the past. I have resolved for '14 to work harder, dig deeper and cast an even wider net to bring our customers the rare, the desirable and the beautiful.
We are putting the finishing touches on our exceptional Winter Art and Antiques Auction. We have carefully selected lots to appear in our main line advertising and marketing pieces. Our glossies are ordered, our lotting is finished and our catalog is proofed. I leaned back in my chair in satisfaction and poured a Hennessy to toast when our phone rang. A voice asked if there was time to add any consignments to our sale. My instinct was to suggest our Spring sale and explain that January was now closed, but I couldn't help asking "What do you have?" The answer: "Some things from the Revolutionary War". This sale is reopened!
As I entered the formal dining room of this ancient South Shore home, laid out on the table was a leather cartridge box, a cheesebox canteen and an absolutely amazing silk embroidered vest. Now if I had a dime for every "Revolutionary War" item I have gone to see, I would be sitting on a Hawaiian Beach writing this, but upon closer inspection these three items are absolutely the genuine article, the real deal.
The cartridge box although a bit rough is definatly period. The canteen even has it's original red paint and its owners initials carved into the side. Could these pieces have witnessed General Howe fleeing Boston under Washington's Guns? Were they carried across the Delaware on that famous snowy night? Sometimes I wish these things could speak and tell their stories. The vest was truly something to behold. Original 18th Century clothing is just as rare as it gets! The silk was in an exceptional state of preservation and the embroidery was just stunning. Covered in Delicate hand stitched flowers and foliate design, this vest would have put the "D" in dandy. It seems the New Year is getting off to a great start!
These three wonderful late editions are going to be offered for sale in our January 21st Sale, 6:00 PM at Memorial Hall, 83 Court Street, Plymouth MA. See you at the Auction!
So many objects come through our doors, such a diverse variety it blows my mind. The different uses and reasons for creation range from fine art, created for adornment and pure expression to weapons meant for warfare. All of these objects have their own unique story to tell, since they cannot relate it directly, close observation and careful research can tease it out of the past. Some things we can hold and truly feel an energy and history associated with them. Antique Militaria is a category which truly exemplifies this phenomena.
An interesting collection of weapons and accoutrements will be featured in our January 21st Auction, ranging from a civil war Remington Zoave Rifle to an Early 19th C. British Bandsman's sword. What truly draws my eye is a salty model 1841 Cutlass made by Ames Mfg Co for the United States Navy. This piece has the look! The hilt is brass with a grip made in a fish scale pattern, with numerical rack marks. The blade is marked with a faint 1842 date. Holding this piece can carry one back to the early days of the United States Navy. Was this cutlass aboard a ship in the African squadron, running down slavers off of Sierra Leon? Did it ride upon a blockade ship during the Civil War? Was it in hands of a boarding party during the war with Mexico? This piece truly speaks to you.
Another military piece which carries a compelling history is the Model 1866 Allin Conversion Springfield Trapdoor. These muskets armed our boys during the Indian Wars of the 1870's. They were lethal, but already obsolete when issued due to a single shot capacity. I imagine this weapon griped by a Pony Soldier fighting the Sioux. Out on the barren plains, he would have been cursing it's limited capability in the face of an enemy armed with repeating rifles.
I have been working on a large lifetime collection of Militaria over the past few months, which we will feature in a specialty auction this Spring. This amazing group spans both time and the continents, it includes everything from revolutionary war uniforms to one worn by an SS General during the second world war. I will share some highlights in the coming weeks. Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
I absolutely love antique signs, porcelain advertising signs, hand painted carved wood signs, street signs, posted signs, trade signs, loud signs and subtle signs. I wonder at the art, what the written word evokes in the mind of its reader. The symbolic aspect of signs is truly worth contemplating.
There are several signs still in use Today which I absolutely covet. One is attached to the building of a South Shore car dealer and has probably been there for seventy years, it is the iconic Art Deco Pontiac logo in neon. Another is a hotel sign which dates from the 1940's in East Greenwich Rhode Island. It is part of a small town main street vista, which can act as a time machine if you look long and hard enough. This Neon flange sign advertises a lounge and weekly rates
Signs have been with us for a very long time. While visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum one can see the remains of painted signs on the ruins of the Ancient Roman equivalent of a strip mall. 18th and 19th Century signs often appear in the shape of the goods or services they advertise, to speak to the many illiterate potential customers. I once owned an early painted French metal sign in the shape of a woman's shoe. Early twentieth century porcelain signs demonstrate this art in high form. These signs show the artistic potential, when color and design intersect. I am always thrilled when an early porcelain sign crosses our threshold.
I sometimes wonder how our sign resonates in the minds of people passing our business offices. The day it was hung will always reside in my memory as both a moment of pride and anticipation. Does our sign create a positive response? Is it's message clear? Did we get the color right? I welcome you the reader to let me know. Until then my hunt for early signs continues. Please join us for our January 21st Auction, at 83 Court Street, look for the "Auction Today" signs out front.
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.
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!
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.
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.
The cartridge box although a bit rough is definatly period. The canteen even has it's original red paint and its owners initials carved into the side. Could these pieces have witnessed General Howe fleeing Boston under Washington's Guns? Were they carried across the Delaware on that famous snowy night? Sometimes I wish these things could speak and tell their stories. The vest was truly something to behold. Original 18th Century clothing is just as rare as it gets! The silk was in an exceptional state of preservation and the embroidery was just stunning. Covered in Delicate hand stitched flowers and foliate design, this vest would have put the "D" in dandy. It seems the New Year is getting off to a great start!
