COMPLIMENTARY COPY
What’s In Your Attic? By Deirdre Pook Magarelli
FRIDAY OCTOBER 20, 2017 • VOL. 48, NO. 42
Rare Corkscrews Come In Many Shapes Collectible corkscrews are many and varied. In fact, a Romanian corkscrew museum has over 25,000 different corkscrews, the largest collection in the world. Most corkscrew users are familiar with simple common straight pull “T” types but dread to use them on frequently used modern day plastic and composite corks. There are three broad variations of the simple straight pull “T” corkscrew. Mechanicals These corkscrews incorporate a lever or other form of mechanical advantage, requiring less effort to draw the cork. Mechanical designs mainly trace back to the golden age of industrial invention between 1850 and World War I. In the most recent online CollectorsCorkscrews.com auction, held in April, perhaps the most surprising mechanical corkscrew sold was a simple French rack and pinion style corkscrew, which was granted a French patent in 1889 because it could be cheaply manufactured from sheet metal. It looks cheap and flimsy, which is no doubt why so few survived, but only three marked examples are known. So, even with a distorted corkscrew shaft, it was strongly bid up to $5,600. Pockets Typically smaller corkscrews,
A French rack and pinion style corkscrew, which was granted a French patent in 1889 because it could be cheaply manufactured from sheet metal, even with a distorted corkscrew shaft, sold for $5,600.
where the sharp tip of the corkscrew is protected so it could be carried in the pocket, hence a “pocket corkscrew,” they are collectible. The most desirable pocket corkscrews date back to the 18th and 19th centuries when gentleman might carry one made of silver or more precious materials. The early pocket corkscrews were straight pulls as the corks were looser, but more recently most pocket corkscrews incorporate a lever for mechanical advantage, the ubiquitous waiter’s friend. In the recent sale, there were numerous silver pockets, but a particularly attractive example combined a silver protective sheath with a beautifully inlaid ivory hanThe Golden Knight is a popular corkscrew, particularly dle. It was marked on the with American collectors. This example with with origi- sheath base “SP” for the famous late 18th century nal label on the base sold for $2,225. English cutler Samuel Pemberton. Although the screw had a shortened tip, this piece still sold for $1,300. Many corkscrews cross over into two classifications. For example, there are numerous pocket corkscrews in a figural form. The most famous are the German folding pockets from around 1900. The folding handle often took the risqué form of ladies’ legs in a range of colThis silver pocket corkscrew combines a silver protective orful stockings combined sheath with a beautifully inlaid ivory handle. It is marked with bare legs. A rarer and on the sheath base “SP” for the famous late 18th centu- usually more expensive figry English cutler Samuel Pemberton. Although the screw ural design is stamped had a shortened tip, it still sold for $1,300. Continued on page 2
Every year, the crew of appraisers and movers at Pook & Pook Inc. goes in and out of hundreds of houses. Crew members have cleaned out houses filled with cats, been met by consignors in the buff, and even cataloged the contents of one house where the body still had not been found. After decades in the business, very little surprises the crew, until recently. Several weeks ago, movers were out at a little nondescript home in Berks County to pack up a few boxes of material for one of our upcoming online-only decorative arts auctions. This wasn’t a lavish estate flush with period antiques and art. It was just a house. While there, one of the appraisers, James Pook, noticed a tin in the attic he thought looked kind of unusual, so he put it on the truck just before leaving. Once back at the gallery, the movers unpacked the truck, inventoried everything, and went home. A week or so later, James was cataloging the material from that pickup and noticed the tin he had grabbed wasn’t in great condition and not really worth anything. He also noticed, however, that the container felt heavier than it should, so he popped the top to peek inside.
AAN Current News
PSA/DNA Authenticates Jackie Robinson’s Color BarrierBreaking Contract on page 2
Inside, he found a bunch of moldy old yarn. He started to close the tin back up with the intention of just tossing it when something made him pause. He opened it back up and pulled out the yarn. Under the layer of yarn and thread he found the rest of the tin was filled with silver certificates, silver dollars, and bundles of pristine bills. The entire staff made guesses at the value. Some said $20,000, while some guessed as high as $100,000. The heir to the estate was immediately called, and we set up a time to drop off the find. Shortly after returning the cash, the happy consignor called to thank us and to report the total was over $150,000.
Results From Locati’s Online Sale A Regina Music Box Realized $3,100 Locati LLC, of Maple Glen, Pa. presented its September Online sale from Sept. 5 to 18. Over 700 lots were offered, including silver, furniture, fine art, Asian items, and much more. Locati starts each sale on the first Monday of the month, and the bidding period is always two weeks. “We like to offer sales in a predictable time table A capodimonte porcelain figural group sold for $1,800. so that regular bidders stay in our loop,” said Michael last day of bidding. For information and bidding on upcoming sales, Locati, co-owner. Locati also offers a preview of visit www.locatillc.com. See more photos on page 4 all lots on the Saturday before the
Treasures In Your Attic? on page 3
Harry Potter First Edition Sets World Records At Heritage Auctions on page 4
Scandinavian Landscapes At The Wadsworth Atheneum on page 6
“Wedgwood: A Story Of Creation And Innovation” on page 12
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 A Regina music box sold for $3,100.
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 7 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7
FEATURED AUCTION: Morphy Auctions - October 21 and 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada - Page 14
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 19