Antiques & Auction News 011119

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COMPLIMENTARY COPY

New Artifact-Focused Forum To Center On Material Culture LancasterHistory.org Quarterly Series Will Begin With Jay Robert Stiefel’s “The Cabinetmaker’s Account” On Jan. 24 FRIDAY JANUARY 11, 2019 • VOL. 50, NO. 2

Collectors Celebrate Both Halloween And Christmas At Bertoia’s Fall Auction Of Fine Toys, Trains And Holiday Antiques Rare Witches And Veggie People Stole Spotlight At $1.5 Million Event A holiday atmosphere enlivened with the colors and iconic characters of Halloween and Christmas greeted guests to Bertoia’s festive Nov. 9, 10, and 11 annual Fall Auction. The cataloged day one and two sessions were followed by an uncataloged bonus session brimming with excellent These four Linemar (Japan) tin wind-up nodder/walkers toys at moderate price depicting Popeye and friends sold for $6,600. points. The $1.5 million event, which attracted gallery bidders from as far away as Texas, featured more than 1,400 high quality lots across dozens of categories. “Many people came to bid on day one but ended up staying for all three days. We were very pleased about that because it means they A glass-eyed dog skittles set, German, nine-pin pups of many were enjoying our hos- breeds in different-colored outfits, sold for $12,000. pitality and the company of other collectors,” said Jeanne from a 40-year Pennsylvania collection. A fabulous circa-1920s German Bertoia, owner of Bertoia Auctions. Unquestionably, Halloween was witch riding atop a wheeled the “hot ticket” of the three-day mechanical black cat, 16.5 inches sale. New highs were recorded in tall, swept past its $3,500-$5,500 both the number of bidders and estimate to settle at $21,600. “The prices paid for Halloween merchan- buyer was a Christmas collector dise, which was fresh to the market who is now buying Halloween, but only the great, very rare pieces,” stated Jeanne. Along the same lines, a witch on black cat candy container, complete with broom in hand for standby transportation, more than doubled its high estimate at $9,500. An extremely rare composition vegetable man holding an applegreen jack-o-lantern made $10,200 (est. $3,000-$5,000), while a composition candy container in the form of a standing pumpkin man with a removable jack-o-lantern head was a magnet for bids. “We always have a lot of requests for phone lines, but for this one we had 15 requests. We couldn’t accommodate them all, so a few people opted to leave absentee bids with us.” The soughtafter candy container tripled its high estimate, selling for $9,000. The large witch atop mechanical black cat Halloween highlights continued on wheels, circa 1920s, sold for $21,600. Continued on page 2

The public is invited to be a part of the launch of LancasterHistory.org’s new artifactfocused programming series, the Material Culture Forum. On Thursday, Jan. 24, participants will join LancasterHistory.org curatorial staff for in-depth object studies of Lancaster County furniture followed by a presentation by Jay Robert Stiefel, who will discuss his new book, “The Cabinetmaker’s Account: John Head’s Record of Craft and Commerce in Colonial Philadelphia, 1718-1753.” English joiner John Head (1688–1754) immigrated to Philadelphia in 1717 and became one of its most successful artisans and merchants. However, his prominence was lost to history until the discovery of his account book at the library of the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia. A find of great historical importance, Head’s account book is the earliest and most complete to have survived from any cabinetmaker working in British North America or in Great Britain. It chronicles the commerce, crafts, and

AAN Current News lifestyles of early Philadelphia’s entire community: its shopkeeping, cabinetmaking, chairmaking, clockmaking, glazing, metalworking, needleworking, property development, agriculture, botany, livestock, transport, foodstuffs, hardware, fabrics, furnishings, household wares, clothing, building materials, and export trade. Jay Robert Stiefel, historian of Colonial Philadelphia society and

on page 3

Continued on page 2

Melvin Arion’s Semiannual York Antiques Show Set For Feb. 1, 2, And 3 The Original 172nd Semiannual York Antiques Show and Sale is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Feb. 1, 2, and 3, at Memorial Hall East, located within the York Fairgrounds Convention and Expo Center in downtown York, Pa. This popular event will feature 96 carefully screened exhibitors offering a truly impressive and outstanding variety of antiques. According to show manager Melvin L. Arion, the merchandise will run the full gamut, including 18th and 19th century period American and English furniture, American country pieces in original paint, early china and glassware, 18th and 19th century silver, Chinese Export porcelain, antique toys, Oriental carpets, pewter, estate jewelry, quilts, English samplers, other textiles, early kitchen and fireplace accessories, Navajo rugs, Pueblo pottery, baskets, and Native American artifacts, historic American militaria, and much more. Arion does an exceptional job of making sure the scope of merchandise offered is as broad as possible so nearly any visitor can find a “new” treasure. In addition, all major credit cards will be accepted. Because of York’s small turnover, visitors have the opportunity to really get to know the dealers from whom they’re buying. This time, there are no new exhibitors, the show having been filled by returning participants.

Syracuse Rocks At Salt City Antiques Show

Emporium Dealer Gives Back To Community on page 5

Morphy’s Auction Led By A Half-MillionDollar Rolex “Paul Newman” Watch on page 9

Visitors to the 172nd York Antiques Show can expect to see a wide selection of antique and semi-antique Oriental carpets like this lovely example, ranging from prayer rug size to full room size in a kaleidoscope of colors. Visiting this show, considered by many to be one of the premier antiquing events in the midAtlantic region, is the perfect antidote to the mid-winter blahs and cabin fever. Show hours both Friday and Saturday are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The building is smoke-free. Food will be available. Admission is $10 per person, $9 with this article or an ad. For more information, call Arion at 302-542-3286 or during the show only at 717-718-1097.

Johannes Spitler Chest Up For Auction on page 10

In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 4 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 6 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 6

FEATURED AUCTION: Wilson’s Auctioneers and Appraisers - January 16 in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania - Page 5

AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 15


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