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GARTH FEATURES MADISON MUSEUM ITEMS W/3CUTS

SET 6/23 EWM

By Rita Easton

MADISON, OHIO - More than 3,000 items were hammered down during a four day

blockbuster sale held by Garth's Auctions on May 14, 15, 16, and 17. Each day

began with a two-hour preview before sale time. Jeff Jeffords of the gallery

estimated the crowd to number between 400 and 500 each day, with a slight

falling off on Friday, the second auction day.

This single-estate auction featured the collection of the late Dr Donald E.

Klingbeil and Berthe D. Klingbeil, sold on-site at their home (during the

first session) and from a nearby museum Dr Klingbeil created for the town. The

museum is called the Addison Kimball house; Kimball being one of the founding

fathers of Madison.

Klingbeil was a well-known local figure in Madison, having served as the fire

chief, then the mayor, at the same time he conducted a flourishing dentistry

practice. The auction grossed nearly $400,000.

Starring as the top lot, a wall-mounted, German-made music box, coin operated,

together with approximately 24 disks, sold privately at $6,710.

One hundred three early buggies, horse-drawn carriages, and sleighs were

offered at the second session, paint decorated and carved, in "well loved"

condition. The group was topped by a diminutive, carved European sleigh, circa

1700s, selling privately at $5,775, followed by a double buggy with a folding

seat, in bird's-eye maple, fetching $3,630. A third buggy, reportedly owned

originally by Addison Kimball, was restored by Dr Klingbeil, and was purchased

at the Garth Auction by the local historical society together with several

Madison citizens so that it would stay in the town, garnered $3,190. An early

milking delivery wagon made $2,530.

The third session offered antique furniture and accessories, with an early

country dry sink in walnut selling at $850; a punched and cut tin candle

holder, unusual in its form, with conical tin feet supporting a 14 inch high

and 12 inch wide three candle enclosed holder, with the fancy tin sides

forming an arched top going out at $1,430 to a private buyer. Forty pieces of

Royal Dalton dinnerware in the "Coaching Days" pattern reached $1,925.

A small, dainty spinning wheel in oak, with old dark patina, circa the last

half of the Nineteenth Century, approximately 30 inches high, realized $2,090.

The lot bore a label stating that it had been owned by the royal family in

England during the reign of Queen Victoria, and that it had been sold to

finance a war effort. It was bought by an American at the Garth auction who

sent it to a relative in New England. "The relative knew Mrs Klingbeil," said

Jeffords, "and gave it to her for the museum."

A large stone trough which has stood in front of the Addison House Museum for

many years was sold at $4,290; a walnut corner cupboard with arched top,

having cut out shelves over double cupboard doors, reached $2,200; and an

exceptionally large walnut corner cupboard from the Klingbeil library was sold

at $4,400, and could only be taken from the premises by removing a window to

pass the cupboard through, then refitting the window to the house.

Guns did well, with a Harper's Ferry converted rifle going out at $4,290, a

Sharp's Carbine reaching $2,860, and a rare German target rifle fetching

$2,200. A Criterion table top music box, plus records, made $4,510.

"The weather was fantastic. We had an enthusiastic crowd with a lot of new

auction goers who had a good time. We did too," Jeffords added.

Prices quoted reflect a ten percent buyer's premium.