Auction May 18th 2008

Photographs

Bonhams

New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles

English and continental furniture, silver and silverplate, metalwork, pottery and porcelain, glass carpets, decorations and fine art.

Auction May 21st, 2010  6:30pm

Hudson, NY

Buyers and Sellers Enjoy Spring Blockbuster in Texas

4.21.2010 Round Top, TX  — Was it the aroma of wildflowers? The full moon in the Texas sky? The perfect weather? Or was it the mountain of antiques that set off a shopping frenzy at the March 30-April 3 Marburger Farm Antique Show in Round Top?

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said first-time exhibitor Jeff Littrell of Atlanta, “except perhaps the ‘running of the brides’ at a Filene’s Basement sale. It was the most fun I’ve had in 30 years in the business.”

In a Texas cow pasture that blooms with antiques twice a year, customers arrived by SUV, by pick-up truck, by bus-loads of moms clubs, school clubs, groups of realtors and re-unions. Some customers even arrived by helicopter— not the first time that the 350+ dealer blockbuster show has used its helicopter parking zone.

“It’s been a long winter for America,” said show co-owner Rick McConn. “People were ready for some fun. We had the most out-of-state buyers ever, international buyers, stores buying containers of inventory and lots of kids, strollers, families, sometimes three generations together. It was a record Marburger Farm attendance. We ran out of tickets at the gate.”

“I wrote so many receipts that I had writer’s cramp in my hand,” complained a happy Larry Arnold of Colorado. “On opening Tuesday we had lots of first-time Marburger shoppers and lots of people at their first antique show ever. But on Wednesday morning early, when things were quieter, a woman from Austin stepped into my booth and bought 49 pieces of silver. She had never been here before.”

Long-time Marburger exhibitor Lowell Dunn of Canterbury Court Antiques also noted the change. Selling English furniture, Imari and Staffordshire, Dunn reported that “We always do well at Marburger, but this time we sold to lots of new customers. People are wanting value for what they are spending. They found it at Marburger Farm.”

The new shoppers reflect the show’s outreach through the internet and high-end consumer publications. The magazine Cowboys & Indians came to see what the ruckus was all about. The Maine Antique Digest sent their “Young Collectors” team, Andrew Richmond and Hollie Davis, to report on the show. Washington state bloggers Linda Albers and Dixie DeRocher came to blog the show for the first time. “We’re updating Facebook as we go through the Marburger Tents,” said Albers. “People are going nuts for Marburger Farm.”  As CactusCreekDaily.com put it, “Marburger Farm—the best of the best.”

The Special Events Tent at the show featured Jo Packham, founder and editor of the magazine Where Women Create. Packham greeted shoppers in a fictional woman’s workshop created entirely out of antiques from Marburger Farm by nationally-known designer Gina Galvin. Galvin’s own workshop was featured on the Spring cover of the magazine. “There are more younger people here than I have ever seen at an antique show,” she said.

“I love those young women,” said Bushnell, FL dealer Buffy Charboneau, who sold an extensive collection of gold-filled Victorian bangles, many engraved with old-fashioned names. She also sold retro 1950s silver necklace and earring sets, as well as copper hand-hammered Arts and Crafts era lighting and accessories. “It was really surprising to see the younger generation interested in older things. We should have started doing this show years ago!”

Dealers reporting excellent sales included Richard Auber of Stonington, CT who sold an American chest of drawers, a French armoire, a Black Forest carving and a triptych oil painting by New York artist Frank Vincent DuMond.  Karol and Tom Streling of Kawadin, Michigan, sold primitives, Americana and an agricultural potato processing machine to be re-purposed as a table.

John Sauls, co-founder of the Marburger Farm Antique Show, had his best-ever Marburger opening day, selling quilts, quilts and more quilts. Another long-time Marburger dealer, Georgia Morel of New Roads, LA, also reported strong opening day sales of lighting, garden artifacts and industrial antiques. “I needed that shot in the arm,” she said. “We all did.”

“My favorite story from the show, however, was not opening day,” reported Morel. “At the fall show a woman had fallen hard for a railroad cart in my booth. She kept coming back to look at it to use as a coffee table, each time saying it was too expensive. After the show, her husband called and asked if he could pay over time and have me bring it to the spring show as a surprise birthday present for his wife.” Every month, Morel said, the man sent a check with the reminder that it was a surprise and to bring it with a red ribbon. At the show, the cart stood for three days in Morel’s booth with a card and red ribbon. All the dealers in the tent knew of the plan. On the third day of the show, the woman came to look at it again and saw the card with her name. She started crying, and all the nearby dealers rejoiced with her. “I was crying too,” said Morel. “It was such a gesture of love.”

Atlanta exhibitor Brian Kelley says that Marburger Farm brings out the best in both customers and dealers. “We all save our best merchandise for Marburger Farm because we know that Texans appreciate quality antiques.” Kelley sold a seven foot tall 18^th c. Italian mirror and every Italian crystal chandelier that he brought. “Marburger Farm,” he said, “is one of the few shows in the country that has lots of energy every day. We sell every day, right up to the end. But one of the reasons that Marburger continues to draw huge crowds on opening day is simply this: the show is strict on security and no one gets in before the opening day. Customers know that the show is full of the best merchandise that we can find.”

After selling more than her share of French fautiels on the farm, Jeanne Tardif, also of Atlanta, summed up the week by saying that “Marburger Farm Antique Show is the best show out there.”

Come see for yourself. The Fall 2010 Marburger Farm Antique Show runs Tuesday September 28 through Saturday October 2, 2010. You can be there! For information on vendors, travel, maps, lodging, shipping and special events, see www.roundtop-marburger.com or call Rick McConn at 800-999-2148 or Ashley Ferguson at 800-947-5799.

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The Reidel Collection

www.auctions-fisher.de

Auktion: 12. Juni 2010
Auction: June 12th 2010

Vorbesichtigung:
München: 27. – 30. Mai 2010
JokersArtRoom, Clemensstraße 75 (eine Auswahl)
Heilbronn: 7. – 12. Juni 2010
Trappenseeschlösschen

Viewing:
Munich: May 27th – May 30th 2010
JokersArtRoom, Clemensstraße 75
(a selection of glass and works)
Heilbronn: June 7th – June 12th 2010 Trappenseeschlösschen
Fon: ++49 7131-15 55 7-0 / Fax: ++49 7131-15 55 7-20
info@auctions-fischer.de / www.auctions-fischer.de

Auktionshaus Dr. Fischer
Trappenseeschlösschen, 74074 Heilbronn, Germany

Wednesday, May 26 – 5 P.M.
Preview begins Monday, May 24, 10am to 5pm
The Complete Catalog is available online at: Dallas Auction Gallery & Live Auctioneers
Live online bidding now through Live Auctioneers

Jules Gustave Le Roy oil on canvas, 24″ x 36″

Steuben plum jade double acid cut back, 10″ Dia.

L & JG Stickley, no. 645 bookcase

It’s always so much fun to hear where Steiff enthusiasts find their next big, well, find! Check out this question from a reader who is wondering if she has scored big with Steiff at a recent local auction. Leslie writes:

“Hello,

I picked up two stuffed animals at an estate sale that were touted as “Steiff” by the auctioneer; but when I purchased them I saw that neither had an authentic tag of any kind, the one simply had a handmade white hang-tag that had ‘Steiff’ written on it.
Here’s the pair: a cute fawn and kitty. I’m thinking the kitty isn’t Steiff but that the fawn might be. I don’t know a lot about Steiff other than the ones I’ve seen in antique stores and the fawn looks more in keeping with the fabric and style that I’ve seen. I did some hunting online and didn’t find any critters that looked like either to use as a reference so I am clueless.

The fawn is 8.5″ high and 8.5″ tall. She appears to be made of velveteen with what I assume is mohair in the ears, under the tail and on the chest and tummy. The eyes are a solid black/dark brown rounded beads with a white leather piece attached behind the bead. The nose and mouth are stitched, though the one side of the mouth stitching is missing on part of it. The feet and ear tips appear to be painted or dyed on the velveteen. Seems to be stuffed with excelsior and have a wire frame as her long legs and neck/body are very sturdy.

The cat is 10″ nose to tail and 3.5″ high. She seems to be made of mohair with a fiber stuffing, possibly excelsior in the legs as they sound a little “crunchy” when I squeeze them. She has stitched slits for eyes in black and an aged light pink stitched nose and mouth. Her eyes appear to look “closed” and she is sleeping face-down.

Any information or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. Either way, they are clearly old and sweet.

Best, Leslie”

Leslie, yes, this sweet set is definitely made by Steiff and congratulations on your great score! They were both produced basically in the same time frame, so Steiffgal wouldn’t be surprised if they were purchased together for a lucky youngster maybe 40+ or so years ago. It is always nice to keep sets like this together, like old friends.

Let’s take a look at each item, and the interesting histories that accompany them.

First of course is the dear deer. But this isn’t just any forest friend, this is Steiff’s Bambi Reh or Bambi deer. She is standing, unjointed, and mostly made from light brown velvet with lighter tan spots on her back. Her chest, tail, and ears are light tan mohair. She has mile-long legs and the most precious face imaginable. Her eyes are huge almond shaped peepers with detailed white and tan painted backings. Bambi was produced from 1951 through 1972 in 14 and 22 cm. She was manufactured under a license from the Walt Disney Company. When Bambi was new, she had a special chest tag noting that partnership arrangement.

It is interesting that the Walt Disney Company released their now famous animated feature, Bambi, in the summer of 1942. This was just a few months before the time that Steiff temporarily stopped producing playthings due to the war, in 1943. Steiff began toy manufacturing again in the late 1940’s. This Steiff Bambi model was one of the very first licensed items in the line post-war, in 1951. And given that it can take months or years to secure a co-branded license, work on bringing a Bambi to the Steiff line probably was one of the earlier Steiff initiatives undertaken once the factory was open for business in 1948 or so.

It appears that the next treasure entered Leslie’s life on little cat’s feet. This cat-napping cutie is Steiff’s Floppy Kitty Cat. Kitty is made from tan mohair which has been hand-airbrushed with black stripes. She is in a flat, lying position. She is unjointed, and very soft – after all, she was designed as a sleeping companion for children (or people who used to be children!) Kitty has closed black embroidered eyes and a pink embroidered nose and mouth. She left the factory in Giengen with a bright red bow around her neck. Kitty was made from 1953 through 1969 in 17 and 28 cm.

Kitty is one of Steiff’s beloved “sleeping” style animals. Steiff produced a great number of these precious animals during the 1950’s through the 1970’s. These included a Zotty Teddy and panda bear, fox, Cocker Spaniel, Siamese cat, tabby cat, seal, and elephant, among others. They were all prone in position and referred to as “floppy” or “cosy” animals. Most were made in two standard sizes, 17 and 28 cm; all were stuffed with soft foam. Each animal had one of a number of “sleeping eyes” designs. All of these bedtime companions were simplified versions of well-known Steiff animal designs. Most, if they had legs, had them splayed out from their torsos like a “V”. The picture above on the left shows Steiff’s sleeping tiger and baby lion, other well known floppy “cats” from the same time frame as Leslie’s Kitty.

Steiffgal hopes that all readers, like Leslie, run across Steiff treasures with great legacies in the most expected – and unexpected – places!

Have a question about one of your Steiff collectibles? Let’s talk! Click here to learn more.

June 3-6 Auction offering examples from The Brenda John Collection, including 1916 Double Die Obverse Nickel MS64

DALLAS, TX — A dazzling array of Buffalo nickels and Lincoln cents from The Brenda John Collection anchor the upcoming Heritage Auction Galleries U.S. Coin Auction, with floor sessions held June 3 – 4 in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin Expo in Long Beach, CA.

“Where do you start with a collection like this?” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. “Incredible rarities in incredible grades… no Buffalo nickel or Lincoln cent collector will want to miss this auction.”

Many famous varieties are represented in The Brenda John Collection. Among the Buffalo nickels is the dramatic 1916 Doubled Die Obverse graded an astounding MS64 by NGC.

“The 1916 Doubled Die Obverse has the date boldly doubled, so much so that many early descriptions called it the 1916/1916,” said Rohan, “but the variety was not discovered until well after its release, and the survival of Mint State coins is a matter of chance. This MS64 example is one of the ‘best of the best.’”

Similarly important is a 1918/7-D nickel graded MS65 by NGC. Gem examples of this bold and popular overdate are extremely rare, and there are none in higher grades.

Among the very popular Lincoln cents is an off-metal error, a 1944-D cent struck on a steel planchet from 1943 graded AU55 by NGC, with another rare and impressive selection being a 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cent graded MS64 Red and Brown by PCGS.

Important condition rarities in the collection include a 1909 VDB cent graded PR65 Red by PCGS, a 1917-S nickel graded MS67 by NGC, the sole finest coin known to NGC or PCGS, and Lot 420, a 1926-S nickel graded an astounding MS66 {star} by NGC.

Silver and gold collectors will find plenty of desirable coins to bid on as well. High on the list is a trio of Morgan dollars that traveled as part of the legendary PCGS Tour: an 1891-O dollar graded MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike by PCGS with CAC attestation, an 1892-O dollar graded MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike by PCGS, and an 1894 dollar graded MS65 by PCGS with CAC attestation.

“The PCGS Tour brought together some of the most amazing Morgan dollars known at the time,” said Rohan. “While nearly two decades have passed since then, some of these Morgan dollars remain the best of their kind. The New Orleans Morgan dollars, in particular, are nearly unknown in Deep Mirror Prooflike.”

Collectors of earlier U.S. silver are sure to be delighted a legendary Judd-7 1792 half disme graded Good 6 by PCGS.

“The 1792 half dismes appear on the borderlands between patterns and money,” said Rohan. “They were struck late in the year, after the Mint Act was passed but before the Philadelphia Mint building was in operation. While they have been collected as patterns in the past, the wear on many pieces like this lot would indicate that they served as money.”

Among the gold coin highlights a 1908 Indian quarter eagle graded MS67 by PCGS. It is one of just two 1908 Indian quarter eagles so graded by PCGS, and one of just four MS67 coins certified by that firm in the entire series.

Proof gold of the 19th century is also well-represented by an 1859 three dollar gold piece graded PR65 Ultra Cameo by NGC, an important early issue that is rarely found with Ultra Cameo surfaces. Also in the auction are a pair of pieces pedigreed to the famous Amon Carter Collection: an 1894 half eagle graded PR66 Cameo by NGC, and an 1883 eagle graded PR65 Ultra Cameo by NGC.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: Twitter.com/HeritagePress; Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-1835.

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media contact
Noah Fleisher, Public Relations Director
310-492-8613; NoahF@HA.com

Last week we touched a bit on some of the things you will need when hitting this summer’s flea markets.   I thought I’d expound a little more on a few of these areas.

Let’s face it; knowledge is power in the world of collecting.  It doesn’t matter if you are a dealer, or a collector – you need to know all there is to know about the items you are buying.

What you don’t know can cost you money.  No one likes making mistakes, but you are going to from time to time.   When on the road searching for those elusive treasures, you need backup.  What do I mean by backup?  A variety of tools that can help you make a wise purchase, or ones to stop you from making a bad one.

So what tools am I talking about?

1. Bring along an array of pocket guides that will help you quickly look up items for additional information on size, colors it was made in, period it was made, any significant markings to look for, and reproduction information.  There are several publishers that have paperback guides you can throw in the backseat of the car for quick reference.  Krause Publications offers their pocket-guides online at http://www.krausebooks.com/category/antiques_collectibles
2. A measuring tape can not only tell you the size of an item (I don’t know about you, but I am terrible at guessing the size of something) but it can also tell you if a piece has been cut down, or if it is a reproduction.  Many items were originally made in very specific sizes, and reproductions of these items are usually a little smaller or a little bigger.  By measuring the item you can often tell if the one you are looking at is new or old.
3. A cell phone or I-pad.  Not only can you “phone a friend” but you can take a quick digital photo to show a friend or customer of an item you are considering.   Beyond the photo capabilities, you can hit the Internet to research current market value.
4. Where to research?  There are lots of places you can go to find price realized on collectibles.  eBay of course is one place for more common items, but many of the auction houses have online catalogs with prices realized.  You can do a few keyword searches on places like Sotheby’s and Christie’s for free.  If what you are looking at falls somewhere in-between eBay merchandise and Sotheby’s worthy, try purchasing a subscription at Artfact.com or Priceminer.com.  Both sites offer photos, item descriptions, estimates and prices realized on a variety of art, antiques, collectibles, jewelry and more.

By arming yourself with these tools you certainly stand a better chance of paying the right price when you come across your next treasure!

Did you think of a tip I missed?  Make sure to comment here!

Happy Hunting!

Catalog Now Online

Auction of Antique & Modern Jewellry

May 20th, 2010  10:30am