Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

ENTIRE CONTENTS OF HAPPY ENDINGS ANTIQUES IN AMENIA, N.Y., TO BE SOLD IN AN ON-SITE AUCTION SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 15th, BY TIM’S, INC.

(AMENIA, N.Y.) – The entire contents of Happy Endings Antiques – an upscale antiques and collectibles shop in Amenia, N.Y. — will be sold at an on-site auction slated for Saturday, Aug. 15, by Tim’s, Inc., of Bristol, Conn. The shop is located at 3330 Route 343 in Amenia, on the New York-Connecticut line in Duchess County, N.Y., just west of Sharon, Conn., and not far from Poughkeepsie.

hobby-horse-and-toys The sale will be a total liquidation of about 500 lots in a broad array of categories, to include country pieces, painted furniture, 20th Century modern (1900-1950), vintage toys, lighting, architectural antiques, advertising items and more. The items – all of which will have their price tags still attached – comprise the single-owner collection of the shop’s owner, Pamela Haft, a resident of Sharon, Conn.

“It looks like there won’t be a happy ending for Happy Endings Antiques,” Mrs. Haft said sadly. She opened the shop in February, but a combination of factors – chief among them the poor economy – are forcing her to close the business after less than six months of operation. But, she added, “Interior decorators, dealers and collectors who attend the sale can expect to get some truly wonderful bargains.”

Tim Chapulis of Tim’s, Inc., echoed that sentiment. “Bidders might want to plan on driving their trucks to this event,” he said. “This is not your average auction. Mrs. Haft is a discerning collector, and her shop reflects that good taste. There are three rooms, all beautifully decorated with hundreds of fine antique items and collectibles. It will all go to the highest bidder in one day. Good deals are assured.”

chippendale-desk Some of those good deals, in the furniture category, include a gorgeous drop-leaf Chippendale desk with four graduated drawers (circa 1780-1820); an old 12-drawer seed chest, rimmed in brass and with a rich patina; a mid-to-late 19th century cherry English high-back bench; and an English bookcase (circa 1880, from the Arts & Crafts period), with beveled glass doors, about 7 feet tall by 5 feet wide.

Other furniture pieces include an early 20th century five-drawer tiger mahogany chest, designed by Donald Deskey, the interior designer of Radio City Music Hall (circa 1920-1940); a beautiful black lacquered table designed by Alvar Allto, the renowned Finnish furniture designer of the 1930s; and a pair of Tibetan benches from the early 20th century, both meticulously painted with ornate decorations.

One piece of folk art certain to pique bidder interest is an unsigned scale model of a wooden red barn, tremendously detailed and crafted with wit and care in the early 20th century. Advertising items include a double-sided trade sign for a shoe repair shop (circa 1920) with only minor wear; and a three-piece figural advertisement for Blatz beer (circa 1910-1930), one figure each for cans, bottles and kegs.

folding-screen Decorative accessories include a mid-19th century French sewing box with all the pieces intact, made of burled walnut and with stunning and restored figural oil paintings on the box cover and inside (12 inches by 8 inches); a lovely 19th century four-panel folding screen, painted on leather; and a 19th century hobby horse on a sliding base, in excellent condition and with a leather saddle and harness.

Talk about a unique antique: an original oil painting on the head of an actual tambourine, made in the late 19th century. The painting depicts Mont Saint Michel in France, but the piece is English in origin. It is unsigned, but was executed by a schooled artist who knew something about technique. The grandest architectural antique in the sale will doubtless be a monumental pair of 7-foot garden columns.

Mrs. Haft first became interested in antiques in 1995 when she and her husband bought a home in Sharon, Conn., and furnished it with items bought from local antiques shops. “At first I bought mostly country pieces, folk art, fine art, painted furniture and 20th century modern,” she said. “At that time we also maintained a residence in Manhattan, but starting in 2002 we moved to Sharon full-time.”

english-bookcase Following her husband’s death several years ago, Mrs. Haft began selling some of her antiques out of booth space in malls like Kaufman’s in Great Barrington, Mass. (now closed). Then, about a year and a half ago, she took space at another shop in Amenia called Artisan Gallery Antiques. But when the owner of that business took ill and closed the shop, she decided to plow right in and and start her own business.

However, a continued deteriorating economy, and Amenia’s somewhat remote location, led to the painful recent decision to close the doors of Happy Endings Antiques. “I don’t regret a thing,” she said, “and I’m happy that everything I own will soon be owned by many other lucky collectors.”

The auction will begin promptly at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15. There will be a preview the hour before the sale (5-6 p.m.) or by appointment (call Mr. Chapulis for details, at 860-459-0964). Phone and absentee bids will be accepted, with prior arrangements and approval. There will be no online bidding component, but images of many of the lots may be viewed at www.timsauctions.com.

Happy Endings Antiques is in the ground-floor space of a freestanding building on Route 343, which is off Route 22 (a main north-south route that continues into upstate New York). Amenia is located about two hours by car from New York City. The town can be reached by taking Route 44 from Millbrook, N.Y. From the center of Amenia, turn onto Route 343 and go east toward Sharon. The shop is across the street from a Sears store.

Tim’s, Inc., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call Tim Chapulis at (860) 459-0964, or you can e-mail him at [email protected]. To learn more about the liquidation sale of Happy Endings Antiques, and to view hundreds of the items that will be sold, log on to www.timsauctions.com. The mailing address is Tim’s, Inc., 1185 Farmington Ave. Bristol, CT 06010.