Date: Fri 16-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Slosberg

Full Text:

Canes Sherlock Would Have Loved At Slosberg

with 3 cuts

By Rita Easton

PHILADELPHIA, PENN. -- Barry S. Slosberg, Inc. held a February 14 event

featuring two simultaneous auctions under the same roof, generating an

atmosphere of festive excitement.

Fifteen hundred attendees held 600 bidding paddles, competing for 924

catalogued lots and additional "a" and "b" lots. In addition to a group of

firearms, of particular interest to collectors was a group of scrimshawed

items consigned from a New Jersey church, formerly assembled by a now-deceased

minister who was a major collector. The in-depth interest extended to

historical material on whaling communities and art works.

Fetching a combined total of over $7,300, a collection of unusual novelty and

figural canes, including two gun canes, two sword canes, and one flashlight

cane, ranged from $30 to $850. The high figure went to a bamboo cane with a

silver handle and English markings. The handle separated to reveal a

percussion barrel inside, which shot four bullets simultaneously. From the

center of the barrel extended a dagger.

"If you couldn't hit 'em with four bullets you could stab 'em to death," said

Slosberg, whose auctioneering talents have a touch of the stand-up-comic.

"And then there was a regular old stag handle cane, on a wooden shaft with

silver fittings around it. But the cane separated so you could put a bullet in

there," continued the auctioneer, "in a size they don't make any more, and you

put it back together again. It had a little trigger. You pulled out the end

where the bottom of the cane is, which revealed the barrel, and this was a

really long rifle that you could shoot somebody with. Neat item. Seven hundred

twenty five dollars."

Starring with the highest bid of the day, an early Eighteenth Century

Chippendale mahogany kas, having raised panel double doors, 6 by 6« feet,

missing a center section panel within and three of the four locking interior

mechanisms and with the front feet replaced at the bottom portions, went to a

major dealer at $9,900.

An ivory whaling sailboat of whalebone, carved in the Azores in the 1950's or

1960's, approximately 28 by 28 inches, brought $1,000; two uncarved sperm

whale's teeth, uncarved, eight inches and nine inches long, partially cleaned,

realized $1,500; and scrimshaw pieces ranged between $75 for a 3« inch lot to

$1,200 for larger examples, all between 40 and 50 years old.

An English walnut Tudor tavern table with a single drawer, dated 1768 in the

apron inlay which was not original to the piece, reached $1,250; and the

outstanding buy of the day, despite a crack in the sounding board, was a

Steinway model 1 grand piano, 7'2" long, made of rosewood in 1867, having

replaced legs, selling at $2,900.

A circa 1910 Edison phonograph with 22 records, model #250, in a mahogany

cabinet, needing work, went out at $500; a six by nine foot Sarouk rug brought

$4,100, while a second Sarouk of the same size in lesser condition was

purchased at $1,100; an oak serpentine glass curio cabinet with acanthus

carving sold at $1,275; a Dresden porcelain oval bread bowl, possibly circa

1910, made $260; a Federal style banded mahogany two part breakfront with

butler's drawer and bubble glass doors, circa 1950's, reached $2,000; and a

rare Louis XIV bronze base center table with marble top, signed A. Seluca,

garnered $6,000.

A mahogany Hepplewhite style serpentine front sideboard with bellflower and

line inlay, circa 1950's, reached $1,000; three floral serving pieces in

sterling silver, made by Kirk Stieff, realized $300 for the lot; a set of

three Kirk Stieff 9« inch sterling silver serving spoons reached $275; a large

mosaic mural of Ezekiel by Nicolas D'Ascenzo achieved $3,000; a five-piece

Gorham sterling silver urn form coffee set reached $650; and a late Victorian

mahogany curio cabinet in need of work, with lattice work and applied scrolls

went out at $900.

From a group of late Nineteenth Century carved Chinese furniture, a four

legged stand sold at $500; and a heavily carved armchair fetched $1,000. Five

Kirk & Sons repousse serving forks in a sterling silver crossed the block at

$500; Kirk Stieff "Rose" sterling flatware for 14, in a fitted case, having

seven pieces per setting plus serving pieces for a total of 105 pieces,

escalated to $2,500. The lot weighed 98 troy ounces plus knives.

An 1834 "Death" sampler, a record of the deaths in the Worthington family, a

prominent Bucks County family, was sold for $1,500; the buyer was a

Worthington.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.