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Carnival Glass Bowl Realizes $10,600 At Horst Auctioneers
AAN Current News
Unusual Aqua Opal Color Variation Provided Rarity FRIDAY MAY 26, 2017 • VOL. 48, NO. 21
Western Bottles Soar At American Bottle Auctions Sale A Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters bottle, made circa 1866-75, the early variant number one and in a color that is highly desirable to collectors, and an E. G. Lyons & Co. Mfgrs. (San Francisco) very early Western bitters bottle, made circa 1868-71, in near-perfect condition, one of only a handful known, each sold for identical prices of $35,650. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium. They were the top lots in Auction #63, a two-part online and catalog auction held Feb. 10 to 18 and March 3 to 11 by American Bottle Auctions, based The E. G. Lyons & Co. Mfgrs. (San Francisco) very early Western bitters bottle, circa 1868-71, in near-perfect condition, one of only a handful known, sold for $35,650. in Sacramento, Calif. “Auction 63 was quite possibly the top Western glass auction ever presented,” said Jeff Wichmann of American Bottle Auctions. “We were hoping to gross $300,000 to $400,000 but ended up selling 359 bottles for $489,733.” Headlining the sale were two fine collections – the Vince Madruga collection of Western bitters and This Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters bottle, circa 186675, the early variant number one, in a color that is desirable to collectors, sold for $35,650. medicines and the John O’Neill collection of mostly early San Francisco bottles, whiskeys, and sodas. Madruga amassed his collection over a 50-year span, and his bitters include many of the top Western examples known. O’Neill’s collection had rare one-of-a-kinds. “The Lacour’s bottles went crazy, but so many bottles just went way above and beyond what we thought they’d do,” said Wichmann. “That same Lacour’s bottle five or ten years ago might have only brought half of what we sold it for. Western bottles are hot right now. Virtually all the best bottles sold for new record prices. Even Lacour’s bottles with some minor damage set records.” Wichmann said condition is still a major determinant in how well a bottle will perform at
auction. “Damage is really hurting some pieces, sometimes dramatically,” he said. “But in general, a good condition bottle will do very well.” The auction attracted 399 bidders, who posted a total of 162 winning bids. “It was a complete success by any measure,” continued Wichmann. The Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters bottle was able to set a record price mainly due to its color, which was unique and highly desirable to collectors. “The Lacour’s generally speaking really aren’t even that rare,” Wichmann said, “but they come in a bevy of colors, and anything but amber can bring big bucks. This one’s condition was exceptional, too, with just a tiny flaw.” The E. G. Lyons & Co. Western bitters bottle had a lot going for it, including a backwards “N” in the name, a highly desirable forest green color, scarcity (one of possibly less than ten known), condition (near perfect, filled with thousands of tiny bubbles and as crude as can be), and age (one of the earliest Western bitters made. “It was the best bottle in the sale,” according to Wichmann. Other Lacour’s bottles that did well included a Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters in a bright grass green color ($15,525); a Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters in a yellow green color ($24,150); and a Lacour’s Sarsapariphere Western bitters in a greenish amber color ($14,950). A Dr. Henley’s “Eye Opener” medicine bottle, made in 1873, changed hands for $20,125. The bottle was a magnet for collectors, as there are only four aqua variants known, with this being the only example with color – an
On May 3, a rare Northwood carnival glass fruit bowl was sold by Horst Auctioneers in Ephrata, Pa. The unusual aqua opal color set the piece apart, as opposed to its “peacock at the fountain” pattern. Many of the over 350 bidders in atten- This Northwood aqua opal carnival glass fruit bowl sold for $10,600. dance were shocked as the price escalated and occasionally other days throughout eventually ended up selling for a the week. For additional information, call whopping $10,600. Horst Auctioneers holds weekly T. Brent Horst at 717-738-3080, auctions on Wednesdays as well as email at sale@horstauction.com, or auctions on most Saturdays and visit www.horstauction.com.
The Met Reunites Caravaggio’s Last Two Paintings In New Exhibition The “Martyrdom of Saint Ursula,” the last documented painting by the great Caravaggio (1571–1610), is on exceptional loan from the Banca Intesa Sanpaolo in Naples and being presented with another of the artist’s final works, The Met’s “The Denial of Saint Peter,” created in the last months of his life. These two extraordinary paintings have Caravaggio’s (Michelangelo Merisi) (Italian, Milan or Caravaggio not been shown 1571-1610 Porto Ercole) “The Martyrdom of Saint Ursula,” together since 2004, in 1610, is an oil-on-canvas. Courtesy of the Intesa Sanpaolo an exhibition in collection, Palazzo Zevallos Stigliano, Naples. London and Naples devoted to the artist’s late work. late style, in which the emphasis is “Caravaggio’s Last Two Paintings” less on the naturalistic depiction of will offer a rare opportunity to see the figures and more on their these pictures side-by-side and to psychological presence. Continued on page 4 examine the novelty of Caravaggio’s
Historical Workshops Will Be Held At Eastfield Village on page 2
Important Alamo Document Brings $137,500 In Heritage’s Texana Sale on page 2
Memorial Day Weekend Sale Set For Cackleberry Farm Antique Mall on page 6
DuPont Donates Significant Artwork To Local Museums on page 10
MutualArt Launches New Private Sales Service on page 13
In This Issue
Continued on page 2
The Dr. Henley’s Eye Opener medicine bottle, circa 1873, in an electric yellow color that represents a departure from the usual four aqua variants known, sold for $20,125.
Caravaggio’s (Michelangelo Merisi) (Italian, Milan or Caravaggio 1571-1610 Porto Ercole) “The Denial of Saint Peter,” 1610, is an oil-on-canvas. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, gift of Herman and Lila Shickman, and purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace gift, 1997.
SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 7 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7
FEATURED EVENT: Eastfield Village Conference - June 23 and 24 in East Nassau, New York- Page 2
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 15