Date: Fri 16-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Slawnski

Full Text:

Quietly Victorian Tester Bed At Slawinski

By Rita Easton

FELTON, CALIF. -- A California estates auction took place at Slawinski Auction

Company on February 15. Jack Destories of the gallery estimated 500 potential

buyers attended the preview and auction.

Four hundred eighty seven lots were offered for a gross of slightly under

$400,000. The entire contents of a 4,000-square-foot historic Victorian

Pacific Grove estate were among the offerings, the owners well-known

collectors. Prices quoted do not reflect the ten percent buyer's premium

charged.

A pristine, quietly Victorian mahogany full tester bed, circa 1850, having an

elaborately pierced carved crest and gently rippling side rails and footboard

in an otherwise straight-lined piece, in a "near-queen" size, went to an

out-of-state member of the trade for the starring bid of the day, $13,500.

A 1924 four-door Dodge touring car, the pampered toy of a loving collector, in

working condition, realized $9,000; a Regency library table, circa 1820,

estimated at $1,5/2,500, was the subject of escalated bidding between a Los

Angeles phone bidder and a contender on the floor, finally going to the phone

bidder at $4,000.

A pair of laminated rosewood side chairs by Belter in the "Rosalie" pattern,

covered in cut velvet, brought $2,400; and a men's Patek Philippe 18 karat

gold wristwatch reached $3,000.

Eight leaves extended a fancy oak 54-inch square dining table into a banquet

table, which attracted a final bid of $4,250; a Victorian oak hall bench with

carved griffins achieved $3,500; a monumental French pier mirror, 9'5" high,

circa 1865, sold at $3,750; a watercolor by Copley Fielding, dated 1831,

depicting trees by a lakeside with mountains in the distance, was purchased by

the trade at $1,750; and a large watercolor by San Jose painter A.D.M. Cooper,

of an Indian encampment scene, came close to an auction record for a Cooper,

going to a collector at $5,500.

Despite a repair and a $1,015 estimate, a 25-inch high French figural swinger

clock, circa 1890, went out at $2,250; an Edwardian jewelry box/casket, signed

by the Glasgow maker and dated 1907, with hidden drawers and compartments,

made $1,300; a pair of demilune silver chests, circa 1920, marked "made

exclusively for Gorham," went at $1,800.

A collection of over 50 firearms from the Pacific Grove estate ranged from

under $100 to $1,400. The high figure went for a Winchester Model #1873, known

as "the gun that won the West," said Destories.

A very fine Victorian rosewood secretary, circa 1850, was privately purchased

at $3,750. After the auction, the buyer of the top lot, the full tester

Victorian bed, offered $4,750 to the buyer of the secretary for the coveted

piece, but it was "no sale."