Date: Fri 27-Nov-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Miller

Full Text:

Purchase The Story At Miller

By Rita Easton

NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME -- A historic Lamoine estate was the subject of an

October 24 auction held by Jerry Miller & Company at Neighborhood House,

following a two-hour preview. The estate belonged to two sea captains, Captain

Hodkins and Captain Holt, who were members of the same family. Three hundred

fifty lots were offered to an audience of 200, most of whom were there to

compete for several historic paper lots.

A 1878 midshipman's journal realized the top price of the day, $6,200, going

to a dealer. The 300-page record was handwritten aboard the U.S.S.

Constitution as it sailed to the Paris Centennial Exhibition. It contained a

full description of passage through two gales during the crossing and several

accounts of the crew being arrested for drunken behavior at the Paris

exhibition. The lot was in pristine condition.

Personal letters written by the captain of the Constitution while on voyage

garnered $360.

"Furniture was very light," said Jerry Miller, "with most of the focus on the

journal."

As a result, good buys were to be had. A William Corey of Portland, Me.,

double rope bed was purchased at $325; a round, marble top mahogany Victorian

table, 28 inches in diameter, with a splayed center support, sold at $400.

A Victorian hall tree in mahogany, with typical hatrack, realized $600; and a

Victorian brown dress made $255. Miller described the antique dress market as

one that is currently in a buy-and-hold strategy.

"I think they're collecting them for the future, when none of them are left,

and they'll be historically important. They buy them and then don't sell them,

although there's one woman up here who buys them for the movies. Period

films."

A 24-inch long mounted half-ship model rang up $150; a walnut bed crossed the

block at $345; a blue and white geometric design jacquard coverlet fetched

$270; a handsome gold headed cane achieved $120; a one drawer and mirror

shaving stand reached $170; and a toy model of an early two-seater car, with a

perfectly squared roof, standing on high, thin, tires, brought nostalgia and

$100.

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