In this episode, Reyne Haines attends the Annex Auction at Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, CA. She meets with Auctioneer and friend Martin Willis to see what kind of hidden treasures can be found in the 2200 lot auction. Among Reyne’s fantastic finds are gorgeous vintage couture, beautiful rugs and a variety of jewelry including some handsome watches for men.

DENVER, Pa. – The 40-year collection of antique advertising tins, signs, store displays and promotional items amassed by Chicago design executives David and Marcia Hirsch made $560,000 (inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium) in a Nov. 19-20 auction held at Dan Morphy’s gallery in Lancaster County, Pa.

Home Run Cigar tin with colorful baseball theme, one of few known examples, top lot of the sale at $18,400. Morphy Auctions image.

More than half of the articles offered in the 1,520-lot sale pertained to tobacco, with as many as 500 of them associated with cigars – a category that has continued to show strength in the marketplace. The auction’s top lot was an early, richly illustrated tin that once held Home Run Cigars. As implied by its name, the tin’s motif depicts baseball players in action on a baseball diamond, with a runner sliding across home plate to score a run amid clouds of dust. Described in the auction catalog as “one of few known examples,” and displaying the best condition among those whose existence is known, it easily surpassed its $8,000-$12,000 estimate to achieve $18,400.

Made by a different cigar manufacturer but having a similar name, a Home-Run Stogie tin from J.A. Rigby Cigar Co., of Mansfield, Ohio, featured images of baseball players on both sides and the price “3 for 5 cents.” Retaining its rich sky blue, crimson and white coloration, the near-mint tin shot past its estimate to land at $4,600.

Porcelain flange sign advertising Spalding Athletic Goods, one of three known examples, $7,500. Morphy Auctions image.

Yet another rarity with a baseball theme, a Spalding Athletic Goods double-sided porcelain flange signdepicting the company’s stitched-baseball trademark measured 19½ inches in diameter and was in eye-popping near-mint condition. Estimated at $3,000-$5,000, it was bid to $7,500.

A Poppy Cigar tin manufactured in California was decorated with the

Poppy Cigar tin, rare California tin made by American Can Co., $3,450. Morphy Auctions image.

image of a turn of the century beauty surrounded by border of red-and-yellow poppies. Described by the auction house company’s owner and CEO Dan Morphy as “a highly sought-after but rarely found tin,” it garnered a winning bid of $3,450.

Other “pretty lady” images that found favor with the crowd included a 1902 diamond-shape sign for Burdena Broad Leaf Cigars, $3,200 (estimate $800-$1,200) and a stunning reverse-on-glass advertisement for Opia Cigars with a mysterious veiled woman posed dramatically against stars and poppies, $2,200 (estimate $1,000-$1,500).

Another lovely feminine character was the brunette lady in off-the-shoulder evening attire gracing the Exquisite Cut Plug Tobacco flat pocket tin from Larus & Bro., Richmond, Va. Against an estimate of $900-$1,200, it hammered $2,185. An elusive Columbia Dome square-corner tin created for Cameron & Cameron’s Mixture No. 2 boasted colorful graphics on all sides. It sold for $3,750.

Ever-Ready Shaving Brushes store display with 20 brushes and six packs of razor blades, $5,750. Morphy Auctions image.

A handsome metal with glass store counter display for Ever-Ready Shaving Brushes retained 10 soap brushes with variously colored handles, as well as six packs of razor blades. Its die-cut marquee included the company’s widely identifiable man with lathered face and razor logo. Against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000, it made $5,750.

Predicted to be one of the sale’s top lots, a 19th-century lithographed heavy paper sign advertising Sweet, Orr & Co. Union Made Overalls featured a cartouche with the image of two teams playing tug of war with a pair of seemingly indestructible denim pants. Given a generous estimate range of $4,000-$10,000 owing to its rarity, it realized $5,750.

A crowd-pleasing lot that drew a surprising price was the Yellow Kid Ginger Wafer tin with bonus addition of a cloth-gowned puppet depicting the early comic strip character. Around the puppet’s neck was a celluloid cigarette pin with Yellow Kid patois reading: “Dis is Easy Shot.” The two-piece lot with multiple crossover appeal handily outdistanced its $600-$1,200 estimate to reach a final bid of $10,350.

Lot of two Yellow Kid items including Ginger Wafer tin and puppet/doll on stand with celluloid cigarette pin attached to gown, $10,350. Morphy Auctions image.

Dan Morphy remarked that a “strong crowd of interested bidders” was present for the sale. “Everyone who collects antique advertising knows David and Marcia Hirsch. They are two of the most involved and best-liked collectors in the hobby,” Morphy said. “It was such a pleasure to be able to offer their collection at auction. Our entire team loved working with them and handling the amazing assortment of signs and tins they had acquired over so many years.”

After the sale, David Hirsch commented: “I could not have asked for anything more from an auction house. The entire staff at Morphy’s is a very skilled group of people. I particularly enjoyed working with the design and production group. They were most gracious in incorporating my comments and suggestions. Since my professional background is in graphic design, it added to the enjoyment of the whole project. It was like working with family.”

Marcia Hirsch remarked that she and her husband did not fully realize what a major undertaking it would be to prepare their collection for auction until they were actually immersed “into the process…Unless you were there, you couldn’t imagine the amount of detailing and quality of service we received.” As for seller’s remorse, there wasn’t any, Marcia said. “We had no regrets about parting with the collection, but once the decision was made to sell it, we just moved forward. It was the right time to do it, and we were just fine with it,” she said.

Morphy Auctions will conduct a General Antiques sale on Jan. 22, 2011; and an Antique Toy sale on Jan. 29, 2011. For additional information on upcoming auctions, visit Morphy’s online at www.MorphyAuctions.com. Tel. 717-335-3435 or e-mail dan@morphyauctions.com.

Discovery Auction: Jan 14th 2011  9:00 am

Auction: Jan 6th 2011  10:00 am

Auction: April 14th 2011 in New York

Antique Helper Express Auction
Tuesday, December 28
10 AM – 2 PM

Antique Helper Auctions
2764 East 55th Place
Indianapolis, IN 46220

2011 dates for Auctions held in Ewell Village, Epsom, Surrey

SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – Philadelphia-area estates, residences and private collectors were the sources contributing to the outstanding lineup of fine paintings, decorative art, silver and jewelry to be offered by Stephenson’s Auctioneers over the first weekend of 2011.

Pavel Akimov Ovchinnikov, 19th-century Russian enameled-silver inkwell topped by bear figure with ruby eyes. Estimate $10,000-$18,000. Stephenson’s Auctions image.

The opening session on Saturday, Jan. 1 is laden with beautiful antique silver and jewelry. One of the premier lots is a 19th-century Russian enameled-silver inkwell by Pavel A. Ovchinnikov (estimate $10,000-$18,000). The marble-based inkwell is intricately beaded and enameled, and is topped by a realistically crafted three-dimensional silver bear with ruby eyes. “Its central subject is very appealing, and the craftsmanship is simply exceptional,” said Cindy Stephenson, auctioneer and owner of Stephenson’s Auction Co. “We believe there will be a lot of interest in this lot, which was consigned by a Florida philanthropist.”

Russian circa-1900 silver and gold enameled cigarette case, hallmark of Nicholai Kemper (St. Petersburg, 1898-1908). Stephenson’s Auctions image.

Another key piece within the 50 lots of silver is a circa-1900 Russian silver and gold cigarette case with the hallmark of Nicholai Kemper (St. Petersburg, 1898-1908). It is a heavy piece that almost certainly would have been a specially commissioned item, judging from the many script names and applied tokens that include a frog, pig, crown, German 50-mark note, and Masonic logo.

Two American silver tea and coffee services will be auctioned – one by International Silver and the other by Stieff. Both are large sets with a creamer, sugar bowl, waste receptacle and tray. Additionally, the silver section includes a sizable array of hollow ware.

Approximately 120 lots of jewelry are on the auction roster for day one. A collection of lovely Victorian pins, a Victorian rose gold brooch with seed pearls, tassels and d’epargne black enameling ($500-$700); and a Victorian dragon-head necklace encrusted with garnets ($500-$700) are among the highlights. Other important pieces include a hallmarked European 14K gold wide-mesh basketweave bracelet ($1,200-$1,500) a 1940s Tiffany owl pin, gold with bloodstone accents ($300-$500); and a 1950s Georg Jensen (Denmark) sterling silver cuff bracelet. “We’ve conservatively estimated the Jensen bracelet at $600-$1,000 because it is so uncommon we could not find a comparable bracelet in any available reference material,” said Stephenson’s jewelry expert Theresa Zaengle. “It’s really a great-looking piece.”

Pair of Sevres-style porcelain bronze-mounted urns. Stephenson’s Auctions image.

High-quality vintage Mexican silver will be offered, as well. Within the grouping are a 30-inch sterling link necklace by the Taxco silversmiths Los Castillo ($200-$300) and a wide silver cuff bracelet of 980 silver decorated with amethyst stones and the ancient Mayan motif of the “Feathered Serpent” deity Quetzalcoatl (200-$300).

Every woman loves a charm bracelet, and Stephenson’s New Year’s event includes one of the most desirable examples to come to auction in quite some time. The heavy gold bracelet includes six substantial charms adorned with pearls, rubies and sapphires, and representing such forms as a golf bag with clubs, opera glasses and a telephone. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000. A second charm bracelet features gold coins and a gold charm replicating a coin.

Among the other jewelry highlights are a 30-inch double strand of uniform 8mm pearls with a 14K gold and carved cameo opal and diamond clasp ($2,000-$3,000), a Chinese jade necklace with a large disc pendant, matching earrings and bracelets; a 1920s Art Deco-style 14K white gold filigree three-stone diamond ring, several cameos, and a suite of angel skin coral and diamond earrings, pendant and ring, with each piece to be auctioned separately. Exhibiting the chic, modern styling of David Anderson, a plain silver and enameled pendant duo will be offered as one lot.

Circa-1860 Emma Brownlow (English, 1820-1880) oil-on-canvas painting titled Halloween. Estimate $20,000-$30,000. Stephenson’s Auctions image.

The opening session also includes a number of excellent decorative art lots, with leading entries being the 19-inch Mont Joye enameled vase with sunflower motif ($700-$1,100) and a pair of impressive Sevres-style porcelain bronze-mounted urns. Additionally, Stephenson’s will auction Lalique and Daum crystal, as well as a number of small porcelains, figures and large-size Royal Doulton figural pieces from the remaining stock of an upscale Bucks County specialty shop whose owner is now deceased.

The Sunday, Jan. 2 session is devoted to fine art and furniture. A lively oil-on-canvas genre painting by Emma Brownlow (English, 1820-1880) is titled Halloween and depicts a gaggle of children, some with masks, industriously creating holiday decorations inside a quaint cottage. Cindy Stephenson described the 17- by 21-inch (sight) painting as “a wonderful example of Brownlow’s work,” adding, “We expect it to make $20,000-$30,000.”

Steinway Model B ebony grand piano. Estimate $8,000-$12,000. Stephenson’s Auctions image.

Another significant artwork is the oil-on-canvas Hudson River Valley landscape by William Mason Brown (American, 1828-1898). Artist-signed, the 21- by 29-inch (sight) painting comes from a private residence in Bucks County, Pa., and is estimated at $6,000-$10,000. Other pictures to be auctioned include three works by Joseph Barrett and a few by David Hahn, both of whom are from Bucks County.

A selection of furniture to be sold in the second session includes 15 pieces of Kittinger Colonial Williamsburg, all from a Philadelphia Main Line estate and dating to the mid-20th century; a Pennsylvania cherry corner cupboard, a Chippendale semi-tall chest, circa-1790 Federal drop-leaf inlaid table, and a superior Art Nouveau glass-doored oak bookcase. Adding a musical touch, a Steinway Model B ebony grand piano with bench in beautiful condition is estimated at $8,000-$12,000.

All forms of bidding will be available including live in the gallery, absentee, phone or live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Cindy Stephenson at 215-322-6182 or e-mail info@stephensonsauction.com.

Winter Gallery & Fine Jewelry Auction:  Dec 11th – 13th 2010

View and purchase lots that are still available from a recent auction.

Design Masters Auction Dec 15th 2010 at 6:00 pm in New York