(Aurelia, Ia.) – A rare Wave Crest egg crate mold hinged box sold for $8,600 at the sale of The Brinkman Collection held May 24-25 at the recently opened Aurelia Community Center. Over the course of many years, Mary Brinkman and her late husband Jim amassed a huge collection of European and American art glass; china; miniature kerosene lamps; vintage lamps; period furniture; and more.
The sale was conducted by Woody Auction of Douglass, Ks. By the end of the event, over 900 lots had changed hands. “We had nearly 400 registered bidders — including Internet, on-site and absentee — and that was very strong for us,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction. “We had around 200 people in the room Saturday and about half that many on Sunday. And 60 people sent in absentee bids.”
It was only the third function held at the new Aurelia Community Center, completed this spring. “I would like to hold more auctions there,” remarked Mr. Woody. “Everything is state-of-the-art, right down to the heating and cooling system, which is so efficient they expect the utility bills will be under $100 per month. It was the perfect venue for this sale – wonderful antiques in a modern-day structure.”
Internet bidding was facilitated through Proxibid.com, based in Omaha. Neb. “Many of the lots exceeded expectations, while some things sold for less than what I thought,” observed Mr. Woody. “But overall, it was a great sale. The Brinkmans owned so much wonderful merchandise. They specialized in Victorian glass and china, and furnished their home with an eclectic mix of very nice furniture styles.”
The Wave Crest egg crate (signed, with banner mark, 6-3/4” x 7”) was the top lot of the art glass category. The piece had light blue tones, a portrait of a young lady on it, perfect gold stencil highlights and tapestry décor, and original lining. The top lot of the sale overall was a three-piece walnut bedroom suite (circa 1880s), with wash stand, dresser with mirror and full-size bed; it drew a top bid of $12,000.
Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted exclude a buyer’s premium.
A rare miniature 9-inch cut glass rainbow-colored oil lamp with tulip-shaped shade and crosscut diamond motif crossed the block at $8,300; an unmarked Wave Crest swirl mold hinged jewel box with salmon and blue colors and “Fish” scenic décor (4-1/2” x 6”) hit $8,000; and a 10-inch Mt. Washington Royal Flemish vase, multi-colored with gold highlights and griffin-and-dragon motif, realized $5,600.
A 6-inch Alexandrite Jack-in-the-Puplit rose bowl shaped vase, with a diamond quilted design and perfect color, achieved $5,100; a signed Wave Crest (banner mark) glove box with embossed daisy mold, cobalt blue and light blue with large floral décor and perfect original lining, rose to $5,000; and a 7-inch signed Quezal Jack-in-the-Pulpit shaped vase with green pulled feather design reached $4,200.
On Sunday, two 16-inch sapphire blue art glass vases with enamel bird, branch and leaf décor hammered for $2,100; a 4-1/2” x 6” signed Kelva crown mold pink mottled hinged jewel box with blue floral decor made $2,000; a 5-inch Royal Bayreuth figural milk pitcher (red Santa Claus) commanded $1,850; and a 25-inch solid cranberry three-piece banquet lamp with heavy enamel décor hit $1,800.
Back to Saturday, a beautiful 15-inch cranberry Moser pedestal-handled ewer with extensive gold leaf and enamel insect décor and three-dimensional bird soared to $3,800; a 6-1/2” x 8-1/2” signed Nakara “Bishop’s Hat” mold hinged box with blue and cream tones and white enamel beaded highlights reached $3,700; and a 7-inch Crown Milano swirl mold vase with “Guba” duck décor went for $3,600.
Furniture sold at the Saturday session included a 70” x 45” Victorian walnut flat-front library cabinet with burl walnut panels and three wooden shelves ($3,600); a massive 75” x 55” oak bow front four-pillar china cabinet with leaded glass, mirror back and carved columns ($3,800); and a 65-1/2” x 49” oak flat-front library cabinet with carved twist columns and carved floral highlights ($3,200).
A beautiful 10-1/2” Mt. Washington decorated Burmese vase with “Guba” duck and cattail motif changed hands for $3,500; a 7-1/2” x 7” signed Wave Crest (banner mark) egg crate mold hinged box (“Collars & Cuffs”) with a scene of a robin found a new owner for $3,300; and a 7-1/2” mother-of-pearl dimple vase with flowers and acorn pattern and in gorgeous purple and pink colors made $3,000.
A 9-3/4” x 9-1/4” Webb Burmese double fairy lamp epergne with gilt metal frame holding two signed Clarke bases with Burmese stem and three vases rose to $2,800; a 17-inch blue opalescent swirl kerosene Mary Gregory lamp with a scene of a woman fishing and floral décor shade hit $2,300; and a 12-3/4” unmarked Nakara six-sided vase with night-time sailboat scenic décor gaveled for $2,100.
A 14-1/2” gray figural porcelain miniature lamp with registry mark (“Beady-Eyed Bat”), standing on a floral base with blue satin melon rib shade, one of only three known to exist, was a bargain at $2,000 (“I really thought it would sell for much more,” said Mr. Woody); and a 3-1/2” a 7-1/2” C.F. Monroe crystal round hinged dresser box with white enamel tapestry décor sold for $1,800.
A great pair of 9” x 9-1/2” blue sapphire Mary Gregory pedestal vases featuring a scene of a boy courting a girl were a good deal at $1,600 for the pair; a 6-inch English cameo biscuit jar with silver plate lid and bail and floral overlay topped out at $1,600; and a 17-1/2” raisin-colored satin pedestal handled ewer, the finest Mary Gregory piece ever offered by Woody Auction, sold for $1,300.
Woody Auction’s next big sale will be held Friday and Saturday, August 1-2, at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo. Offered will be the estate of Jim and Francis Miller, dedicated collectors of American Brilliant Cut Glass. Over 900 lots will be sold. A preview will be held on Friday, August 1, from noon to the start of sale (4:00 p.m.). The Saturday session will start at 9:30 a.m.
For more information about Woody Auction and its calendar of upcoming events, you may click on www.woodyauction.com. Watch the website for pictures and details as the August 1-2 sale dates approach. Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignmments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (316) 747-2694. Or, e-mail to [email protected].