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VOL. 43, NO. 52 FRIDAY DECEMBER 28, 2012
Sand Turned To Gold In Latest Penn Event Rare Andrew Clemens Piece Was A Crowd Pleaser t’s the time of year, with a new year approaching, that we think about the ‘sands of time.’ Years ago, one man took sand and created unimaginable art pieces with it. Though he created hundreds of them, very few remain, and when an example shows up at auction, the prices are off the charts. No doubt this humble artist would be amazed! One such example sold recently in Iowa. The Rich Penn September Auction Event drew worldwide interest.
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Folk art, Andrew Clemens sand art, an inverted apothecary bottle with Eagle and US flag on one side and “Emily Nov 1, 1890” on the other. Iowa deaf-mute sand artist Clemens placed grains of colored sand in these jars - one grain at a time. A very rare example in excellent plus condition, 7.5 inches high. (Paul Brenner Iowa Collection.) Sold for $45,000.
And one of the featured items set a world auction record. The Andrew Clemens (1852-1894) sand jar, lot #984 generated a full bank of phone bidders competing with aggressive Internet and floor bidders. When the sand and dust settled, the 7.5-inch-tall piece of sand art hammered down to an East Coast bidder for $45,000. All reported prices are hammer prices and do not reflect the 10 percent to 20 percent buyer’s premium. Andrew Clemens was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and later lived in McGregor, Iowa, both on the Mississippi River. When very young he suffered from encephalitis and was rendered deaf. As a young man, Clemens developed a unique talent to create sand art in bottles and jars. He gathered colored rocks from along the great river and ground them into sand. To create his art he then placed presorted grains of the colored sand into small glass drug bottles using a fish hook. Pressure from the other sand grains alone held the artwork together. When Clemens completed a sand bottle he sealed the bottle with a stopper and wax. He created most of his work between 18801886 and is acknowledged as the inventor and possibly the sole practitioner of his art form. In his lifetime, it is thought that Clemens produced hundreds of his sand bot-
strong during the Saturday session. A rare Cherri-Bon syrup dispenser, in the form of a bright red cherry attracted considerable
Centennial Exposition in 1876 and/or the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago in 1893. The globe stitched up a winning bid of $2,300. Other country store pieces found committed bidders. The Johnson’s Peacemaker coffee bin, in excellent original conBy Cindy Smock Regennitter dition with its original chimney went to a delighted bidder For The McGregor Historical Museum, McGregor, Iowa. from KS, with a winning bid (Visit the Museum’s website, www.mcgregormuseum.org; or phone (563) 873-2221.) Every great artist and genius had a hometown, a place that nurtured their art until it of $2,200. The 96-drawer burst upon the world. Florence had its Michelangelo, Stratford-on-Avon had its hardware store nut and bolt Shakespeare, Salzburg had its Mozart and McGregor has its Andrew Clemens. Many cabinet sold to an online bidpeople, even right here in his backyard so to say, have no idea what an awe-inspiring der for the same $2,200 bid. Two of the advertising artist Andrew Clemens really was. He did something that no one has ever done, before or since. And he did it despite, or maybe even because of, his handicap of total deafness. pieces from the Addleman He was born in 1857 and grew up right here in McGregor, Iowa, one of six brothers, Drug Store came with a the son of a wagon maker. He was taught at Deaf School to work with wood and to “bot- unique story of survival. Both tom” cane chairs to make a living, but at the age of 12 his world changed. He was asked were painted wooden cigar signs, circa 1880. One was for (Continued on page 7) Tom Moore Cigars and the C l e m e n s ’ select pieces from the Jim interest and settled in on an $8,000 other for Henry George Cigars. w o r k Corcione Belding spool cabinet winning bid. Ice cream collectors Early in their lives, both had been r a n g e d collection. These diverse collec- dished up bids that drove the made into a table top and covered from boats tions made for an exciting auction. Manos Novelty Company heart- with oil cloth. They were protectshaped ice cream dipper up to a ed for a hundred years and their to flowers Highlights from the Saturday sestop bid of $4,000. great condition garnered bids of to flags sion included a clasInterest was strong on $2,000 and $1,900 respectively. and he sic circa 1890 country Unusual and unique items often creat- Apothecary s t o r e were scattered throughout the two ed custom bot- T r a d e tles with scenes of his Sign. The Motorized bicycle, Schwinn, Packard, client’s choosing. 42-inch1936, black/bronze, contemporary custom modifications w/66cc 2-cylinder engine, The most high leadcenter locking fork, red brick complex of ed glass tires, working carbide his designs light, custom brass fuel could take tank, old school seat, up to a handlebar clutch and year to comspeed controls, liketles. Few survive today. The more complex subjects of
the Clemens jar, the three generation Addleman Drug Store from Oberlin, Kansas, the Terry Brown collection of toy fire engines and
Andrew Clemens - Sand Master
plete. Lot #984 was, according to Rich Penn, “...an inverted apothecary or botanical jar. These jars were even more difficult to do since not only was this art applied backwards, it was also upside down. This jar shows a patriotic eagle in flight with the stars and stripes in the background. The inverse shows the date, Nov. 1, 1890 and the name Emily. It’s almost impossible to imagine these were created one grain of sand at a time.” Penn went on to say, “This intricate art form is virtually unique to Andrew Clemens. We’re thrilled to see this Iowa folk artist getting the growing interest and attention that he so richly deserves.” The two day auction included three featured collections; the Paul Brenner collect i o n , which included
Pickup truck, Ford F1, 1950, the first “Post War” new design for the Ford pickup. An early model in a very long line of iconic F series Ford trucks. It has 66,042 original miles, a new box, new tires, new fenders and new paint. 226-CI L-head six has just been gone over, not rebuilt. Truck was taken off frame & sandblasted. Ready to be put back to work in you business or just for cruising. Sold for $11,500.
new condition. Sold for $3,000.
drugg i s t mortar included a large jeweled center band and etched glass panels at the top and bottom. During the entire auction, the sign had light on the interior and spread a warm gold and red tone all around it. Even with restoration to the lower advertising panels, the sign still delivered a solid $12,500 winning bid. From leaded glass to unleaded gas, another top lot was the 1950 Ford F1 pickup. The first “Post War” new design for the Ford pickup was beautifully refurbished. It hauled off a top bid of $11,500. Soda fountain items are always strong at Penn’s auction and were
items as well. The coin-operated Potter’s spool cabinet was described as very rare. Indeed, there have been no auction records for one selling in at least the past 20 years. In superb original condition, with crisp and legible stenciling, that cabinet brought $6,000 and is destined for the Kalona Quilt & T e x t i l e Museum in Kalona, Iowa. Other spool cabinets also did well. A sixdrawer walnut J & P Coats and a 66-inch-tall, 48drawer Corticelli both finished at $2,400. Among the more unusual spool cabinet related pieces was the American Thread Co. display globe. The 36inch-tall globe had an intricate structure of spool threads, built in the same manner as a ship in a bottle, entirely inside the globe. The Holyoke, Massachusetts, company used the display at expositions. Probably the Philadelphia
day auction. A Salesman’s sample jail cell, with original patent papers and carrying case sold to a European buyer for $3,250. A motorized Schwinn 1936 Packard bicycle, with contemporary modifications charmed the bicycle lovers and rolled away with a $3,000 top bid. Lot #253, the alcohol fan, generCountry store Johnson’s Peacemaker Coffee bin, colorful lithograph on tin, roof lifts, complete with chimney that’s so often missing, all original in excellent condition, 24 inches high. Sold for $2,200.
ated curiosity and a number of questions. How did it work? It used an alcohol burner to drive a cooling fan! Quite a number of bidders must have known that answer, since the heated bidding delivered a cool $3,100 high bid! Soda items are always plentiful at Rich Penn Auctions. This event was no exception. A Coca-Cola Cleveland clock in superb working condition gathered up a top bid of $2,900, while a Coca-Cola Vendo 44 vending machine produced a (Continued on page 3)