Date: Fri 23-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

Mapes

Full Text:

Fifth And Final Auction Of Tyrrell Collection At Mapes

By Rita Easton

VESTAL, N.Y. -- The fifth and final Mapes auction of the seemingly endless

Iona Tyrrell collection of American Indian artifacts took place on March 5.

Ms. Tyrrell, a schoolteacher, was a collector in her own right, and also

inherited the collections of her parents and an uncle.

Auctioneer David Mapes noted "We've been working on auctioning this collection

since last September. Five complete auctions. The February auction grossed

$280,000 on just things from her house. It was the biggest estate we've ever

gotten with this number of quality items."

"Almost everything was pre-1900," he continued. "We had thousands of

arrowheads. Thousands."

In addition, an Ithaca collection of firearms and silver drew buyers with an

interest in these specialties. A capacity crowd of 250 attendees filled the

hall, competing with several museums and many phone bidders for the 538 lots.

A gross of $145,000 was realized, including premium.

Reaching the high bid of the auction, a fine pair of Continental pistols,

circa 1725, with 18« inch overall length, high engraved relief, silver and

ivory mounts and prolific wire inlays, went out at $3,900.

A dueling pistol by William Rigby (1827-1867) of Dublin, Ireland, tastefully

engraved, circa 1840, brought $2,400; a Japanese short sword (Hamidashi) with

sheath realized $425; and a handmade Italian Miquelet firearm lock, also known

as a Spanish lock, circa 1680, reached $350.

A magnificent, bright blue, beaded Indian poncho, edged generously with

fringe, oblong in shape with center slit, measuring approximately two by three

foot, sold at $3,700; a kachina doll was purchased at $3,200; an Indian vest,

beaded allover, with four blue and red geometric figures on the back which

were repeated on the front, all on a white beaded ground, made $2,600; and

Indian moccasins ranged from $2,200 to $250, with a pair of beaded moccasins

and leggings sold as a single lot at $1,200, and a pair of ceremonial

moccasins reaching $2,200.

Two pairs of children's Indian moccasins realized $1,200 and $1,300; a beaded

pipe bag with quill work fetched a $1,300 winning bid; and a large number of

Indian pipes were divided into eight lots.

"We had so many items we had to lot things together," said Mapes, "so that was

good for dealers." The pipe collection collectively brought $2,000.

Indian arrowheads mounted on cards, 18 to 20 to a display card, brought from

$300 to $140. "Between tray lots and box lots of arrowheads we had 40 items,

and the top lot there was $4." Mapes said, "Certainly the Indian items were

the most interesting."

Three spool cabinets were offered, bringing $975 for a six-drawer example,

$675 for a second six-drawer cabinet, and $525 for a four-drawer spool

cabinet.

An unsigned oil on canvas of a seaport achieved $1,800; a canvas painted by

Douglas Arthur Teed of a couple on horseback garnered $1,100; a pair of early

Nineteenth Century portraits of George and Martha Washington, oils on canvas

in poor condition went for $1,600; a collection of Staffordshire sugar bowls

divided into lots of four, five, and six, ranged from $200 to $500 per lot;

and a sterling silver Mexican-made tea and coffee set, a tray and five pieces,

brought $1,450.

An M-3 Leica camera reached $1,100; and a Rolliflex camera sold at $550. An 11

inch high carved folk art wooden spice box, dated 1897, inscribed "Newark, New

York," in natural wood and green paint, reached $625; an Empire round top

pedestal dining table sold at $850; and a mahogany tilt top tea table went for

$750.

Prices quoted reflect a ten percent buyers premium.