Early Amer. toys, trains & firefighting vehicles raced past estimates at Noel Barrett's May 21 sale Trains made a strong showing at Noel Barrett’s May 21 ‘Something for Everyone’ auction, with a Lionel 408E standard gauge set topping out at $35,395.82.
Several highly desirable American painted-tin toys were offered in the May 21 auction. Two of the best were attic finds. Discovered in California, a Fallows 1886 (patented) Buffalo Hunter, whose design includes a pair of rocking buffalo on a wheeled base, surpassed its $2,000-$3,000 estimate to realize $7,670. A George Brown horse-drawn omnibus stenciled “Broadway & Central Park” was a fresh find from a Long Island home. It had a smooth ride all the way to its above-estimate $12,980 destination.
A third 19th-century American toy highlight in the sale was the Hull & Stafford “America” clockwork locomotive that came directly from the collection of Disney animator and train collector extraordinaire Ward Kimball (1914-2002). Made of stenciled tin and wood with cast-iron wheels, it was one of only two toy trains retained by Betty Kimball (1912-2010) when her husband’s incomparable collection was consigned to Barrett’s in 2004 and 2005. “The Hull & Stafford ‘America’ was always one of Betty’s favorites,” Barrett noted. Estimated at $3,000-$4,000, the charming, primitively styled red and yellow locomotive was a crowd favorite. It ended its bidding run at $11,800.
Other standouts included a set of McLoughlin paper litho on wood Brownie ninepins $7,670 (est. 2,000-$3,000) and an Erzgebirge painted-wood village consisting of 12 structures and numerous accessories, all housed in a bentwood box, $5,310 (est. $700-$1,000). An antique Parisian perfumery came to the auction podium stocked with a multitude of miniatures that included various fragrances in glass bottles, powders, soaps and pomades arranged on mirror-topped counters and on vanity shelves. The deluxe emporium was also accompanied by a shop attendant: a well-dressed, bisque-head doll outfitted in fashionable turn of the 20th century attire. Estimated at $2,000-$3,000, it clinched a winning bid of $4,425.
Noel Barrett’s May 21 auction included 714 lots and grossed $559,243, inclusive of 18% buyer’s premium. Barrett’s next sale is planned for the weekend of Nov. 19, 2011, and will feature the private collection of Tennessee antiques dealer Bill Powell. “Mr. Powell’s amazing offerings have been the highlight of many a high-profile antique show over the past 30 years,” said Barrett. “The quality and rarity in his collection is going to astound everyone. That we promise.”
To contact Noel Barrett, call 215-297-5109 or email toys@noelbarrett.com. Visit Barrett’s website at www.noelbarrett.com.
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CAPTION FOR IMAGE AT TOP:
19th-century Hull & Stafford “America” clockwork locomotive, painted and stenciled tin and wood, ex Ward Kimball collection, sold for $11,800. Noel Barrett Auctions image.
