Annual Thanksgiving Auction Highlights

Kaminski Auctions Annual Thanksgiving auction was held Saturday and Sunday the 26^th and 27^th of November after the Thanksgiving holiday.   Each year regular customers bring visiting family and friends from far and wide to the sale. Both auction days and preview days were extremely well attended with over 100 people in attendance on Saturday and spirited bidding from the audience both days.  

The top lot of the sale was an Edouard Leon Cortes (French, 1882-1969) Parisian scene that sold for $15,000. A Leonard Baskin (American 1922-2000) bronze entitled ‘Prophet: Homage to Rico Lebrun’ signed and dated by the artist in 1977, brought a bidding war between two phone bidders and a customer in the audience. The phone bidder was eventually the winner at a hammer price of $11,000.

The stunning painting of a harem beauty, by Paul Alexander Svedomsky (1849-1904), which was featured in the presale advertising, sold to a phone bidder in California for $10,000.  Another Russian painting by Alexandre Altmann (Russian 1885-1950), an oil on canvas, still life of flowers sold for $6,000.

Continental items sold very well in the sale and included an outstanding early 19^th century, French, Louis XVI mahogany cabinet signed  “Befort Jeune.” having ormolu decoration and a coral marble top. The piece was from a Beverly Hills private collection and sold for $9250.00 A French Rococo gilt wood console table from the same collector, with a white marble top and carved male and female busts on the legs sold for $4000.00.  A lovely 18^th century Flemish tapestry, wool with silk in vey good condition sold for $7000, while a huge 19^th century French Aubusson rug from the “Howards Neck” estate in Piedmont, Virginia sold for $4,000.

Of interest to the many pottery collectors was a Rookwood vase by Kataro Shirayamadani (Japanese/American, 1865-1948).  The piece was decorated with a cornflower still life, signed and dated on the base 1901. It was an example of the artist’s best work, and sold for $4750.

The surprise of the sale was the competition for an 18th century document dated 1779 on the front and 1780 on verso signed by Elbridge Gerry and Simon Willard, the famous clock maker.

Elbridge Gerry was born in Marblehead, MA in 1744 and studied at Harvard.  He was the fifth vice president of the United States, under James Madison and was a founding father, having signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.  The document was estimate at $200-$300 but spirited bidding from the Internet and phones brought the hammer price to $1800.

From a private collector in Boston, MA.  a Robert Spear Dunning still life of a watermelon , oil on board and signed, sold for $3500.00 ,while a painting by the Canadian artist Eric Riordon ( Canadian, 1906-1948) entitled “Woodland Timber Pass” sold far above it’s auction estimate of $800-$1200 to a phone bidder for $2700.00.

Just in time for Christmas a 20^th century Austrian hand carved nativity scene attributed to Gobagon, including a barn and seventeen figures enjoyed much competition from the floor, internet and phones.  The set brought $2500.

A fine selection of Tiffany and estate jewelry in the sale brought good prices. A beautiful platinum and diamond bow pin with approximately 50 European cut diamonds sold for $2600., while a platinum pear shaped diamond ring 9dwt.  sold for  $2100.00.  An important Italian ruby jewelry suite in 18kt gold including a necklace, bracelet, ring and earrings with the approximate gold weight of 1.0 oz. sold for $2100.00

All the furniture lots that were deacessioned from a North Shore historical society sold well, in particular was an 18^th century, mahogany two drawer stand with acanthus carving in the manner of Duncan Phyfe, that was estimated at $400-$600 and sold for $1300.00 to a bidder in the audience.

The second day of the sale was devoted to rugs and once again there was a large audience in attendance.  It was encouraging to see rugs selling so well once again; perhaps it is a sign that the customers are a bit more confident in the economy. The top lot of the rug sale was a 19^th century Persian Serapi 10’2” x 12 ‘that sold for $3500.

Kaminski Auctions New Year’s sale is scheduled for the evenings of December 28^th and 29^th starting at 5:00pm at their auction gallery at 117 Elliot Street, Rte 62, Beverly, and MA.  Preview hours are Monday, December 26^th noon -5pm, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday December 27^th, 28th, and 29^th 10:00am-5:00pm. For more information please call 978-927-2223.

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