Old Town Auctions' June 11-12 Spring Treasure Hunt features toys, antique advertising, more Old Town Auctions is planning a fun-filled June 11-12 weekend of bidding, buying and socializing the way it used to be done in the 1980s & 90s - at the Grand Venice Hotel, Hagerstown, Md.
Pegasus sign and a United Motors sign. Several appealing flange signs, a Sauer’s Regulator clock, a lighthouse-shape store display, and a Mephisto Drill Bits store display with a devil mascot complete the category
The fun continues on Saturday with a selection of “techno” art. “This is not really what you’d call ‘outsider’ art,” said Protos, who gave the new and little-known category its name. “These are extremely ingenious artworks made by Catskills artist Steve Heller. There’s a 5ft. 6in.-tall chrome robot with wrenches for fingers, and a fantastic wood table that has upright car taillights integrated into its design to serve as the base.”
A perfect companion grouping to the techno art is the array of naïve automotive and fantasy paintings by New England artist Tom Cibort. “Some of the paintings are inspired by early 20th-century race poster designs, while others are from Tom’s own imagination,” said Protos, who cited as an example the poster of cowboy star Tom Mix lassoing a Picasso-style bull from the wheel of his sleek Cord convertible.
Saturday’s sale will also feature desirable Bakelite and Catalin radios, including a rare Lone Ranger Bakelite radio in excellent working condition. This session will also have a large assortment of black Americana, including toys, banks, advertising, souvenirs, chalkware, hard plastic F&F ware, figural items and more.
Sunday’s auction will be headlined by an impressive collection of exonumia (medallic art). Old Town is fortunate to have been entrusted with an extraordinary collection of medallic art that spans much of the 19th through early 20th century. Many of these medals, medallions and awards are Art Deco or Art Nouveau in style and, in many cases, represent achievements in transportation, technology, art, science or events such as World’s Fairs, historical occasions or invention.
The Sunday session includes World War II and Nazi items, uniforms and hats from a variety of service and transportation fields, and photographic and mourning jewelry. Another extensive collection to be offered encompasses kitchenalia in its many forms, from tableware and crocks to early electrical items. The roster also features a set of 1970s/’80s Disney store figures from the Disney Store at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, including Romanesque Mickey and Minnie Mouse statues.
In addition to live bidding at the auction venue, Old Town accepts phone bids (call in advance to reserve a line) and both traditional and Internet-assisted absentee bids.
For additional information call 301-416-2854 or e-mail sales@oldtownauctions.com. To view the fully illustrated auction catalog or to leave absentee bids online, log on to www.OldTownAuctions.com or www.AuctionZip.com. Complete information about the auction and hotel discounts is available online at www.OldTownAuctions.com.
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Mephisto Drill Bits store display with devil character. Old Town Auctions image.
