COMPLIMENTARY COPY
“Birds Of A Feather: Wildfowl Decoys At Shelburne Museum” Published By Skira Rizzoli FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 2017 • VOL. 48, NO. 36
Morphy Auctions To Hold Premier Antique Toy, Doll, And Figural Cast-Iron Sale Two-Day Event Will Include Over 1,700 Lots On Sept. 16 And 17 Morphy Auctions is pleased to announce an antique toy, doll, and figural cast-iron sales event to be held on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 16 and 17. Bidding will start promptly at 9 a.m. each day. All lots from this event are on display in Morphy’s Denver, Pa., auction gallery and available for This Kyser & Rex Roller Skating mechanical bank is estimated at preview. Morphy’s is $25,000-$35,000. known for its leadership with still and mechanical banks, and collectors will find items of interest among the 450-plus lots on offer. It’s off to the races with lot #306, a Kyser & Rex Roller Skating mechanical bank. This bank is activated by placing a coin in the roof slot and pressing a lever. The skaters glide to the This Hubley “Say It With Flowers” Delivery Motorcycle is rear of the rink as the estimated at $25,000-$35,000. coin falls into the bank; the man then turns to present a wreath to the little girl. It is estimated at $25,000-$35,000. Lot #307, a rare raised letter example of
This Felix the Cat Frolic platform toy is estimated at $20,000-$40,000.
The J. M. Harper Red Riding Hood safe bank is estimated at $5,000-$7,000.
the American Sewing Machine bank, will needle collectors with its $15,000-$25,000 estimate. And certain to be the talk of the town is lot #375, a Shepard Hardware Stump Speaker mechanical bank in beautiful original working condition, estimated at $4,000-$6,000. Also of note here are two mechanical rarities from J. & E. Stevens. The first, lot #245, is a circa 1880s red and tan barrel version of the company’s Germania Exchange bank. It features a goat holding a beer mug and standing on top of a Continued on page 2
Bird decoys were used in North America for sport until the advent of hunting regulations in the early 20th century. After The Lacey Act of 1900 and subsequent Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, while still used to hunt, decoys also started to be collected and prized as masterpieces of American folk art. The unparalleled collection of 1,400 wildfowl decoys at Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vt., was established with a 1952 gift of more than 400 superior examples from Joel Barber, a New York City architect, artist, and carver. Barber’s groundbreaking 1934 book “Wild Fowl Decoys” was the first to identify the importance of bird decoys as a uniquely American art form. Since then, Shelburne Museum’s decoy collection has grown to become among the finest and most comprehensive in the country. Newly researched essays address the history of Shelburne’s
AAN Current News
Cleveland Antiquarian Book And Paper Show Slated on page 6
collection and the origins of bird decoys, as well as provide groundbreaking insights into their physical construction. The book is accompanied by new photography of 250 of the most historically important and artistically carved decoys in the museum’s collection. Decoy carvers featured in “Birds of a Feather” are Charles Osgood, Lem and Steve Ward, John Blair, Bill Bowman, Nathan Cobb Jr., Lee Dudley, James T. Holly, Nathan Horner, Albert Laing, Joseph Lincoln, A. Elmer Crowell, and
The Fairy Tale That Wasn’t: Collecting The 1981 Royal Wedding on page 10
Continued on page 4
It’s Christmas In August For JR’s Auctioneering
Art Glass Collection At Woody Auction Set For Sept. 9 on page 16
Modern Design From Mid-Century And Beyond Featured At Briggs Auction These three large early dolls sold for a total of $1,175. JR’s Auctioneering of Collegville, Pa., held a sale on Aug. 12 in Frederick, Pa., totaling $54,000. There were 180 registered bidders. Rain was threatening, but it held off during the auction. A variety of antique and v i n t a g e Christmas material sold, along with country primitives, antique dolls and toys, and numerous collectibles. A tray lot of vintage figural Christmas tree decorations went for $1,100. Three early dolls totaled $1,175, and an This tray lot of vintage antique paint- $1,100.
An assortment of papier mache Santas and Santa candy containers ranged from $225 to $500 each.
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decorated blacksmith trade sign sold for $800. Over 20 vintage collectible sand pails ranged from $70 to $210 each, and an assortment of Continued on page 4
Interior Designers Flock To August Scott Antique Market And Leave With Unique Finds on page 20
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 figural Christmas tree decorations sold for
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 8
FEATURED AUCTION: Woody Auction - Sept. 9 in Douglass, Kansas - Page 16
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 9 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 23