Date: Fri 04-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Tradewind-Easton

Full Text:

Record Tradewinds Auction

(with 5cuts)

By Rita Easton

DANVERS, MASS. -- Henry Taron's Tradewinds Auctions, known for specialty

events featuring rare canes, held an April 24 sale, the 13th since the gallery

was established in 1993.

The business and life partnership of Nancy and Henry Taron ended on December

1, 1998 when Mrs. Taron died in a car accident.

Nancy Taron was the founder of Tradewinds Auctions, and had been married to

Henry Taron for 43 years. She left two sons and a daughter. The April auction

was dedicated to her.

Eighty-five bidders attended the event, which was held at the King's Grant

Inn, with further bidding competition on five phones from buyers in New

Zealand, Canada, Germany, and England, and absentee bids from Argentina, and

Brazil. One hundred ninety-one lots were offered, with all but two sold, for a

gross of $308,688. Categories included decorative, historical, figural, folk

art, nautical, musical, and canes for the gadget-minded, in all price ranges.

Leading with the starring price of $10,175, a superb carved ivory cane with a

full-bodied lobster handle generated spirited bidding.

Very strong prices resulted in several record-breaking sums -- a circa 1870

Remington small dog-head gun cane curio set a world record at $6,875, breaking

the old mark of $6,490, which was set at Tradewinds in January of 1996. The

lot depicted a long-eared hound on the gutta percha handle, which was 1‹

inches high and 2« inches to the side, with a quarter-inch nickel silver

collar.

Entirely intact with some minor dings and age cracks, any Remington

identifying marks have worn off, but gallery proprietor Henry Taron guaranteed

it to be a Remington gun cane. Six and one-half inches down the shaft, it may

be unscrewed to insert a 22-caliber cartridge. A round trigger near the collar

fires the piece. All mechanics were working.

A silver fold-out Masonic ball cane reached a record-breaking $4,125, and a

1687 English ivory pique cane sold at $5,280, another record-breaker.

Strong prices were realized for a carved ivory cane depicting a London street

walker at $7,810; and for the musically inclined, an ivory inlaid harmonica

cane that could be played went out at $8,800.

A sterling silver Tiffany cane, with a 3‹-inch-long "L" handle, fetched

$5,500. Skillfully chased on one side with a coaching scene consisting of four

horses and five riders atop a large coach, the opposite side had raised

initials in script: "F.A.B.," for the original owner. The slightly blown out

smooth silver collar was inscribed "Tiffany and Co., Sterling," with the "T"

mark which was used between 1891 and 1902.

An ivory and silver Tiffany cane, circa 1890's, reached $2,420. The elephant

ivory handle was 1‹ inches high and 1« inches in diameter, and was carved with

scrolls and leaves, with a smooth top.

A solid gold cane with gold quartz inlay, circa 1850's, sold at $4,620. The

"L" handle was three inches long and 2Ô inches high. Slightly oval in shape,

with oval discs of smoothly polished gold quartz at each end of the "L," each

measured about two-thirds inches long and were nicely flecked with bits of raw

gold. The top was inscribed "T.T.S. to F. T. P." in fancy script.

Prices quoted above reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.