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

Cool Collectibles Heat Up Selkirk’s Summer Eclectic Auction

Watch for a heat wave in St. Louis’ Central West End on Saturday, July 16th, as the Eclectic Auction sparks excitement and action at Selkirk Auctioneer and Appraisers. Throughout the preview week starting July 10th, customers will step into the auction gallery to cool off and engage in hot bidding on the variety of items ranging from antique and mid-century furniture to collectibles, jewelry, and artwork spanning three centuries. Many items are fresh-to-market from private estates in the St. Louis area’s most affluent communities as well as Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Game table to sell in July 16 Selkirk Auction (St. Louis, MO)
Game table to sell in July 16 Selkirk Auction (St. Louis, MO)
“A full year now after our inaugural auction in St. Louis, we are pleased to offer our largest auction yet,” said Jeff Jeffers, CEO of Selkirk Auctioneers and Appraisers. “It has been truly a pleasure and labor of love for our family and staff to help keep St. Louis at the forefront as a premier auction city by building on the Selkirk brand, an important auction name started in 1830.”

“We are thrilled to see our consignment specialists so busy assisting clients with single items to full estates ” said Sarah B. Cunningham, Director of the St. Louis office. “The demand for our appraisal and auction services is strong and we are delighted to host our ever- popular walk-in appraisal days each month. Serving the needs of both new and established consignors is our goal and we look forward to continuing to bring high quality to each sale.”

Wedgwood Collection
Collectors have taken notice of the exceptional W.C. and Mary Whitlow Wedgwood collection introduced at Selkirk’s recent Gallery Auction. As discerning members of the Wedgwood Society, the Whitlows of Fulton, Missouri, traveled across the United States and Europe acquiring significant and varied examples over five decades. Selkirk’s May auction offered significant multiples such as an 18th century Wedgwood and Bentley basalt lidded urn and variegated agate lidded vase, which sold for $3,720 and $3,360 respectively. A late 18th century medallion portrait of George Washington as Caesar brought $2,000. In the upcoming July 16th auction, a pair of mid 19th century Wedgwood basalt vases stamped “Wedgwood TWS,” with an estimate of $700 to $900, will be among the 55 plus lots from this significant collection.

Native American, Tribal and Western
Contrasting this European influence, a large selection of Native American and Western items, including beaded moccasins, peace pipe, and baby bonnets, several kachina dolls, silver and turquoise jewelry, saddles, saddle bag, holster and chaps. The selection of Peace medal necklaces includes a 19th century example constructed of nautilus shells and trade beads with medallion depicting peace pipe, tomahawk, handshake, and phrase Peace and Friendship, estimated at $300 to $500. The 1862 Abraham Lincoln Presidential Peace Medal, estimated at $500 to $700, is attached to a silk and velvet presentation collar and depicts a frieze of the former president on one side and allegory of peace on the opposite side. Other artifacts and accessories include stone and wood carvings, pottery, arrowheads and tools.

Fine Art
The American and European oil paintings and watercolors to sell encompasses works by artists including Oscar Thalinger, P. Criscuolo, Edouard Louis Dubufe and Wallace Nutting. “Florida Highwaymen Waterway” by George Buckner (American, 1943-2002) depicts white cranes in a luminous sunset along a waterway with palm trees in a gold metal gilt frame. The oil on canvas is signed lower right and is estimated at $1,500 to $2,500. A group of etchings in colors with drypoint and aquatint by Louis Icart (French, 1888-1950) depicts the beauty and whimsy of early 20th century France. Signed in pencil lower right and embossed with a windmill stamp, each is estimated at $300 to $500. Contrasting these more traditional scenes is the contemporary “Balance of Life” by world peace artist and philosopher, Andrea Smith (American, B. 1965). Her two watercolors are matted and framed together under plexiglass, and estimated at $1,500 to $2,500. A very handsome pair of horse and jockey oil portraits after John Frederick Herring, Sr. (19TH CENTURY) feature the jockeys, one in green and one in blue silks, mounted on racehorses. Both portraits are signed indistinctly on the lower left, one inscribed Bendigo. They are estimated at $1,200 to $1,800.

Decorative Art
Buyers looking for distinctive pieces to lend flair and authenticity to decor will find bronze works spanning time, and scale. “No Time to Dally,” a powerfully detailed bronze by Ken Payne (American, 1938-2012) is a highlight of the selection of eleven bronze figures to be sold. Signed and dated ’89, and numbered 36/45, the 23.35 inch bronze depicts a cowboy on horseback wrangling a stag, on an original revolving wooden base. It is estimated at $2,000 to $3,000. The 19th century bronze by Evgeni Alexandrovich (Eugene) Lanceray (Russian – French, 1848 – 1886) is a bearded laborer carrying a barrel, mounted on a marble base, is signed “E. NAHCEPE” and with the foundry mark H. Wtahre ($750 to $1,500). The near life-size figures of a woman reading to a young child in her lap will lend serenity to a family garden, library or park. This bronze figure group with lovely two-toned green patina is 46 inches high, 46 inches wide and 45 inches deep and estimated at $1,000- $3,000.

A large selection of other American and Continental decorative accessories includes fine rugs, silver, porcelain, and crystal, American Brilliant period glass, mid-century European ceramics, select bone carvings and Asian cloisonné.

Furniture
The gallery is filled with several collections and unique individual pieces of American and European furniture spanning the 18th through 20th centuries. Estimated at $2,000 – $4,000, a unique inlaid game table is generating strong interest. The Continental, Louis XVI 18th century table features a separately inlaid, decorated top centering a checkerboard to one side, felt lined to the other, as well as a backgammon board and decorative end boards with a single frieze drawer to each side and tapering vertically inlaid legs ending on brass casters. A 1968 Steinway Model M with walnut case in the Louis XV style and original soundboard, serial number 411314 is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

A collection of 19th century furniture includes a Continental bedroom set with foliate carving and putti crests, estimated at $800 to $1,200, and mirrored hall tree ($1,000 to $2,000); an American Victorian cabinet/cupboard with four arched glazed doors ($1,000 to $1,400) and circular pedestal table with elaborate scrolling, fruit and foliate carved ($1,000 to $2,000); and a German Regina Mahogany Cased Music Box with 20 playing discs ($1,000 to $2,000).

Fast forward to the 20th century, where excellent examples of mid-century furniture include a Red Zitan coffee table cut from a Narra tree felled by Col. John Wallace on Corregidor Islands, Philippines in 1947, estimated at $1,800 to $2,500; and a Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb occasional table with two round tiers of walnut centering three Klismos style legs ($800-1,200).

Sporting
Hunting and fishing enthusiasts will be enchanted by the history and craftsmanship associated with a wide selection of antique decoys and fishing lures, as well as vintage fly-fishing rods.

Duck decoys, including selections from a lifetime Missouri collection, include a pair of Dewitt Wakefield duck decoys. The painted wood drake and hen Bluebills are the work of the earliest of all recognized Wisconsin decoy carvers and estimated at $300-500 for the pair. Standing at 14 inches, the tack eye shore bird decoy will catch the collector’s eye. This beakless, primitive form bearing original tack eyes with later metal stand, is marked GHW to underside and is estimated at $250-500.

In the late 1890s, James Heddon launched a handmade lure into a Dowagiac, Mich., pond. The ripples are still expanding, as Heddon Lures is the oldest lure company still producing quality fishing products. Multiple groups of mid-20th century lures will be auctioned including a group of nine vintage Heddon fishing lures, estimated at $400 to $600.

Vintage and Antique Toys and Collectibles
Antique marbles evoke nostalgia and a valuable reminder to check old, stored boxes carefully for hidden treasures. A group of three 19th century marbles,comprised of a fine and large swirl form shooter and two ovid form shooters, is estimated at $200-400.

The selection of vintage and antique toys features trucks advertising America’s iconic brands in addition to John Deere and Ford tractors, Buddy L trucks, an antique horse pull-toy, Ives prewar standard gauge train set, Big Bang cannons, Weeden steam engines and doll carriages.

The collectibles to be offered include advertising signs and a lifetime collection of firefighting memorabilia comprised of 19 lots of helmets, toys, and more.

What is a mangle board? Also known as smoothing boards for linens, they were used as courtship or betrothal gifts. A lovely example to be auctioned is a continental, 19th century mangle board with geometric chip-carved compass stars and trim, and a carved horse handle with incised mane and tail (estimated at $400 to $800). From the same era, an American Richard C. Remmey American stoneware crock with brushed cobalt leaves and impressed signature is estimated at $150 to $250.

Political and Military
Election years bring out the bidders for presidential memorabilia. US Presidential autographs include a 1954 autographed studio portrait dedicated, inscribed and signed by Richard Nixon and is estimated at $1,000 to $3,000. Similar items offered include signed photos of Gerald Ford, and Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower.

The auction also include a large ensemble of military articles including British, Continental, African and WWII era uniform accouterments, medals, shoulder boards, sashes, bugles and more.

Event Details
Selkirk’s Summer Eclectic Auction full catalog may be browsed online at selkirkauctions.com. The Gallery is located at 4739 McPherson in the St. Louis Central West End. Extended preview hours will be held from July 10th through the auction on July 16th.

For upcoming auctions, Selkirk is inviting fine art, prints and multiples; silver and objets de vertu, jewelry and timepieces; firearms and militaria; and vintage couture and accessories. The Auction schedule includes: Fall Gallery Auction on September 24, 2016, Fall Eclectic Auction on October 22, 2016 and Winter Gallery Auction on December 10, 2016.