Antiques & Auction News 041919

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COMPLIMENTARY COPY

The Grist Mill To Celebrate Coming Of Spring

FRIDAY APRIL 19, 2019 • VOL. 50, NO. 16

Rare Machine Man Robot Commands $86,100 At Morphy’s Toy And Doll Auction Cast-Iron Mechanical Banks, Many With Prestigious Provenance, Attract Strong Bidding An imposing lithographedtin visitor from both the future and times past, a Masudaya Machine Man robot claimed the top position in Morphy Auctions’ March 13 and 14 toy auction, selling for $86,100. Big, boxy and 15 inches tall, the late 1950s/early 1960s Masudaya’s “Machine Man” tin-litho battery-operated robot from the Gang of Five series, near mint, one of the finest examples known and consigned by the original owner, realized $86,100.

Japanese production is one of few known examples of its type from the fabled “Gang of Five” robot series. “We were not surprised that the Machine Man exceeded its high estimate,” said Morphy’s president Dan Morphy. “It’s in nearmint to mint condition, which is rare in itself for a 60-year-old robot, but on top of that, it has only had one owner. The person who consigned it to our auction received the toy brand new as a Christmas present when he was 9 years old. It’s very unusual to come across a vintage toy as rare as this one that has remained with its original owner for its entire existence.” The robot had been entered in Morphy’s sale with expectations of selling for $50,000-$80,000. The battery-operated Machine Man robot was designed with a bump-and-go action, and when activated, its ears, eyes and mouth light up. “To many robot fans, a Machine Man in any condition would be the crown jewel of their collection, and to have the opportunity to buy one this nice is almost unheard of. Now it has become part Continued on page 2

A J. & E. Stevens “Magician” cast-iron mechanical bank, NM-plus condition, sold for $49,200.

Welcome spring. The Grist Mill Antiques Center is celebrating with a special sales display of Easter collectibles and flowers, vintage paper mache, wind-up toys, candy containers, antique postcards and bunnies to create a colorful collection. Vintage German paper mache eggs are a sweet collectible, and the Grist Mill has a large selection. The eggs traditionally are decorated in Easter scenes of children, chicks and flowers, then filled with treats, toys or presents and often presented to each child at breakfast or hidden on Easter morning. Displayed in baskets or perched on egg cups, paper mache eggs create a centerpiece that will charm guests. Wind-up toys abound. Bunnies can be found that dance, play a drum and eat a carrot. A panda bear and tin elephant ride bikes, a teddy bear dances, and a black bull spins its tail to charge in a circle. Other vintage toys on sale include tops, trucks, sand toys, trains, dolls, erector sets and more. An everything Easter sale will take place from Wednesday, April

AAN Current News

Winterthur Acquires Rare 1927 Rolls-Royce on page 2

17, to Tuesday, April 23. The Grist Mill features two floors, over 10,000 square-feet, of antiques and vintage items, furniture, china, collectibles, pottery and more. Sets of fine china, MCM dishes, art pottery, glassware, collectible dolls, lamps from every era, pyrex and retro kitchen items abound. Shop at the Grist Mill on eBay, where the co-op has over 500 exclusive items listed. They ship worldwide. Visit www.ebaystores. com/gristmillantiquescenter. The Grist Mill multi-dealer shop is located at 127 Hanover St. (Route 616) in Pemberton, N.J. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours on Wednesdays until 8 p.m. For more information, email theplace@gristmillantiques.com.

Spring Celebration In Cape May Features Gardens, Brunches, Crafts, Mysteries, Music And More

The Albert Hastings Pitkin Collection on page 15

Auctioneers Get Most Business From The Four “D’s” on page 16

Three-Plus Weeks Of Tours And Activities Mark 24th Annual Spring Celebration The nation’s first seaside resort bursts forth during Cape May, New Jersey’s, 24th annual Spring Celebration, presented by the MidAtlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities (MAC), from Friday, April 26, through Sunday, May 19. Spring Celebration is more than three weeks of tours, activities and events that celebrate the budding of spring. New this year will be garden tours of a selection of Cape May’s

private gardens. Learn how people dined during Victorian times while on tour of the Physick House Museum, featuring a new tour theme for 2019 titled “What’s For Dinner? Victorian Food and Foodways.” Explore Cape May’s role in helping African Americans escape slavery during the Underground Railroad Trolley Tour, co-sponsored by the Center for Community Arts (CCA) and MAC.

The Van Cortlandt House, Bronx: A Brief History on page 17

Continued on page 8

Aaron Zook Wheat Harvest Diorama Brings $12,100 At Witman Auction on page 20

In This Issue This Littco “Halloween Girl” figural cast-iron doorstop, one of four examples known, sold for $15,375.

This J. & E. Stevens “Owl Turns Head” castiron mechanical bank in very scarce white color variation sold for $22,140.

SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 Photo by Susan Krysiak/Courtesy of MAC

SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 6 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 9 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 9

FEATURED AUCTION: Results: Witman Auctioneers - March 8, 2019 in Manheim, PA - page 20

AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 14 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 15


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