Global Auction Blog

MATHESONS’ AA AUCTION
Melbourne, FL
Sale April 4,5, 2009

Over 150 lots of fine art to include many paintings acquired in the 1990s at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and phase II of the deaccession of the Old School Square Museum plus 150 Victorian spoon warmers will cross the block April 4,5

(Melbourne, FL) Over 700 lots of fresh to the market art and antiques from six estates will be offered by Mathesons’ AA Auction in Melbourne, FL on April 4,5. The sale will be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com

One of the many highlights of the sale will be the important collection of silver plate spoon warmers from the Weinkle estate of Melbourne. The collection features over 150 Victorian late 19th century figural silver plate spoon warmers that were essential to the well run Victorian household where kitchens were often far from the dining room. The spoon warmers were filled with boiling water to bring serving spoons to the right temperature for serving hot food. Most of the items came from the silver vaults on Portobello Road in London. The figures depict several variations of the popular nautilus as well as fish, shoes, cannons, lions, tortoises, swans, shells and many more.

Also highlighted will be a fine art collection amassed in the early 1990s primarily at Sotheby’s and Christie’s as well as a large deaccession from the Old School Square Museum in Delray Beach, FL. The collection consists of over 150 lots of such works as the two 1817 portraits of Haitian royalty as children by Xavier Gazul, a student of Goya, the floral oil “Chardons Bleus” by Jean Leon Jansem (French born 1920), acquired at Sotheby’s in 1991 for $33,000, a maritime scene by Frank Vining Smith (American 1879-1967), a harbor scene by John Whorf (American 1903-1959) and silk screen by Raul Dufy (French 1897-1953). A list of eighty-eight artists represented in the sale, including Chagall, Gruppe, Picasso, Dali and Calder, is posted on the website at http://www.mathesonsaaaucion.com/.

In addition there will be an original bronze by Cyrus Dallin (American 1861-1944) entitled “The Protest,” a pair of 22in high 19th century bronzes with marble bases by H. Moreau, a 28in 19th century figural bronze clock on marble plinth “Le Meale Carpentier Font de Bronze,” an important 32in marble bust by Professor Petrelli, a suite of eight signed and numbered prints by Victor Vasarely (French/Hingarian 1908-1997) “Homage to the Hexagon,” a 19in high 16th century bronze Thai Buddha as well as ten estate oriental rugs including one palace size and a number of fine silver pieces to include Tiffany.

The sale will begin at 11:00AM Saturday April 4 and will continue at 12:00 NOON Sunday April 5. Preview will be Friday April 3 from 11:00AM to 6:00PM and two hours prior to auction time on each sale day. Matheson’s AA Auction is located at 600 E. New Haven Avenue in Melbourne, FL 32901. Seating can be reserved by phone, (321) 768-6668 or by email at aaauctions@earthlink.net. Bidders can follow the auction in real time and bid online through LiveAuctioneers.com. Bidders can also leave bids or arrange to bid by phone by contacting the Gallery. Ten additional phone lines will be run for the sale.

Selected portions of the catalog are available for viewing on the Matheson’s AA Auction website at http://www.mathesonsaaauction.com/ and at http://www.liveaucitoneers.com/. The auction will be called by 33 year veteran auctioneer and auction co-owner Lloyd J. Matheson, Jr. Phone and absentee bids are welcomed. For more information call auction owners Lloyd or Jan Matheson or Auction Manager Carey Lucas (321) 768-6668.

written by:

Fred Taylor

http://www.furnituredetective.com/

800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Large floral oil by Jean Jansem, 51 X 35in, acquired in 1991 at Sotheby’s.

Selection from the 150 Victorian spoon warmers of the Weinkle collection.

Original bronze by Cyrus Dallin, “The Protest.”

28in high 19th century bronze figural clock on marble plinth, “Le Maele
Carpentier Font de Bronze.”

Important marble bust, 32in high, by Professor Petrilli

Popularity: 27% [?]

From The Trulia Real Estate Blog

Almost 1500 home buyers gathered in Midtown Manhattan yesterday to scoop up 375 foreclosed homes in an auction by the Real Estate Disposition Corporation.   For home buyers looking for low prices, this was the place to be. One example reported by the New York Times: a seven-bedroom, five-bathroom home in Roselle, N.J., with an estimated value of $565,000 and a starting bid of $129,000. (Final sale price: $245,000.)

Purchasing the homes was pretty simple.  Buyers had to put a minimum 5% of the purchase price down on the spot with $5000 coming from a cashier’s check (the rest could be from a personal account).  Mortgage brokers were on hand to help finance the winning bids for people not paying in full.

In a survey by Trulia last May, 69% US adults reported that they though there were negative aspects of purchasing a foreclosed property. Safe to assume that none of these people were there.

Popularity: 28% [?]

Prescott James/Central Plain Herald-LeaderAuctioneer Gilbert Gauthier pushes for higher bids at St-Claude’s fundraising auction on March 7. The auction was held to raise money for the new St. Claude-Haywood Wellness Centre that will house many health services under one roof.

 

From The Central Plains Leader in Portage la Prairie Manitoba

 

ST. CLAUDE — St. Claude-area residents are all on board a campaign train to build a wellness centre in the community.

On March 7, the town was host to a fundraising auction that raised $90,000 to help pay for the new facility.

“We are hoping to start construction on the centre by this fall,” explained Dr. Gisele Viens who currently works at the St. Claude Health Centre and was heavily involved in the execution of the fundraiser.

According to Viens, the community of St. Claude has been fundraising for the centre since April 2008, and so far more than half of the funds needed for the $815,000 facility have been raised. The project itself has been in the planning stages since 2004 and the funding for the rest of total funding for $1.7 million project will come from the federal govenrment.

Viens explained this particular fundraising event was exceptional due to the fact the items up for bid were donated by a variety of sources. Viens said that demonstrates the level of support the St. Claude-Haywood Wellness Centre has from the community.

“The auction items came from everywhere. They came from the people and businesses in St. Claude. We also received items from the surrounding area, including some items that came all the way from Winnipeg from organizations that try to help smaller communities,” explained Viens.

Among the auction items were artwork, antiques, an entire suite of bathroom fixtures, a custom-made utility trailer, and collectable sports items including a Chicago Black Hawks jersey signed by Jonathon Toews.

Suzie Fay, health committee president of the St. Claude Development Corp. (CDC), said the event was a tremendous success.

“I’m really pleased with the turnout. We have 400 chairs at the recreation centre, and there appeared to be more people than chairs present. It is very obvious that the community is supporting the wellness centre project in a huge way,” she said.

Fay observed many of the items up for auction sold for a very good price, more than their dollar value, and she couldn’t believe how successful the whole event was.

“The new wellness centre will mean all our health-care services will be centralized in one location, so really it means patients won’t have to drive between the current clinic and the hospital when they need x-rays or other test done,” Fay said.

 

St. Claude firefighters also got involved in the event by volunteering to be drink servers and bid spotters. According to fire chief Dave Chappellaz, the emergency services in St. Claude provided 15 volunteers to assist in the event and Chappellaz was amazed with how the event turned out.

“This event is great, I can’t believe how many people came out and there are people here from all over,” stated Chappellaz, adding volunteering at the event was the fire department’s way of contributing to the centre without stretching its confined budget.

“We are often in the community looking for funds for the fire department because we are a volunteer organization. So by volunteering here, we are able to contribute to the wellness centre without donating money,” he explained.

The blueprints for the 692-square-metre wheelchair accessible centre were revealed April 8. The new facility will be connected to the current physician clinic, and will house offices for physicians and other health-care staff. It will also house a massage therapist, a fitness centre, a public health nurse, and space for any visiting health-care professionals such as mental health workers.

The CDC hopes construction on the wellness centre will start in September. However, that depends on the fundraising, Fay has said.

Popularity: 28% [?]

‘Let our family help your family’
Auctioneering runs in the Kral family

By Geri McShane | Albert Lea Tribune

Published Sunday, March 1, 2009

For the Kral family, auctioneering is a family affair.

Greg Kral had worked for an auctioneer before deciding to go on his own last winter. And when he did that, his whole family decided to get into the act.

Greg and his son, Spencer, now 16, attended auctioneering school last February in Mankato. There were students from 13 states, Greg said, and during the weeklong school, they focused on not only how to speak the language of auctioneering, but also on the business aspect of engineering.

“Spencer won the Best New Auctioneer Award,” Greg said.

He was almost the youngest student there; there was a teen from Colorado who was a few months younger than Spencer, Greg said.

“I didn’t really think he’d do it,” said Greg’s wife, Karen, of Spencer going to auctioneer school. “We said, ‘You should try this’ and he said, ‘OK,’ and away he went.”

“I bet Spencer sold everything in the house practicing,” said his sister, Molly.

Greg’s wife Karen and his daughter, Miranda, attended an appraisal workshop for real estate and personal property at the auctioneering school.

Since completing the training, the Krals have helped other auctioneers at auctions and have done some entirely on their own. Winter is the quietest time of year for them, but auctions can keep them busy in the spring, summer and fall.

The whole family works at auctions. While Greg and Spencer auction off the items, Miranda works the ring, shouting “yep” as a bid comes in. Molly clerks.

Karen’s daughter Alexa has helped Molly clerk.

“I hadn’t been to an auction before, but it was fun,” Alexa said.

“We love it,” added Miranda. “It’s cool to work together.

“We’re more passionate about it than like it,” she said.

“The kids would drop anything to go,” Greg said.

“It’s a social event,” said Karen. “We all like people.”

Greg and Karen actually met at an auction where Greg was helping out. “I always liked to go to auctions with my brother,” she said.

Greg said the community has offered the new family business great support. And in turn, the family gives the best it’s got.

“Our motto is, ‘Let our family help your family,’” he said.

When someone calls the Krals about an auction, Greg and Karen will meet with them and see what items they wish to auction. “I take pictures and get descriptions and put the pictures on our Web site,” Karen said.

Then they advertise the auction and familiarize the rest of the family with what’s ahead.

“It’s most important for us to make our clients happy,” Greg said.

“Some of them are selling their lives,” Karen added. “We have to be considerate of their belongings.”

A few days before the event, they make sure everything is lined up and ready to go. If it’s a real estate auction, they arrange some open houses and sometimes do some private showings.

“We just try to be there for the client,” Greg said.

Auctioneering can be a tough business to start up, Greg said. “Many of them have been in business for years, or even generations. That’s why we stick together as a family.”

Outside the auctioneering business, they all do other things. Greg farms. Karen is a hairstylist at Dinah’s Style in Albert Lea. Miranda is a stylist at Classic Reflections in Northbridge Mall. Molly is a student at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Spencer is a sophomore at Glenville-Emmons High School. Alexa is a student at the Area Learning Center and is a certified nursing assistant. Her brother, Tyler, works at Wal-Mart and is a student in the welding program at Riverland Community College. Tyler hasn’t worked an auction yet, but said he can’t wait to.

“It’s not something we have to do,” Miranda said. “It’s something we like to do together.”

Added Spencer, “Besides the farm, it’s something we can do together.”

Molly said she likes the fact that people now look at the family as an auction company and not just farmers.

For Spencer, the fun is in saying “sold.”

“I like auctioneering and working to get somebody to bid when they don’t really want to anymore,” he said.

Miranda said she loves working the ring and keeping people bidding. She tells people, “Why say no when it feels so good to say yes?”

The family admits to having butterflies before an auction, but it all goes away once the bidding starts.

“We’re just having a blast doing it,” said Miranda.

“We couldn’t do it without everybody working together,” Greg said. “It’s the coolest thing.”

Popularity: 28% [?]

A Blizzard that rolled through North Dakota on Wednesday caused a postponement of their AgIron 51 Consignment sale, but the crowd certainly showed up on Friday. With the recent snow most farmers had nothing else to do. The high temperature for the day was about 20F or -8 C

Steffes Auctioneers also have another AgIron coming up this week at their facility in Litchfield Minnesota.

Here are some prices and photos.

2003 JD 8420, MFWD, deluxe cab, powershift, 4 hyd., 42 gal. pump, 3 pt., quick hitch, 1000 PTO, HID lights, buddy seat, return flow, front/rear weights, 380/90R50 press steel duals, 2,734 hrs.  102,500$

2004 JD 7920, MFWD, IVT, 4 hyd., Case drain and hookups, 8 front weights, 380/90R50 hub duals, 380/85R34 fronts with fenders, 3 pt., quick hitch, big 1000 PTO, foot throttle, left hand reverse, active seat, xenon light pkg., Greenstar ready, 4,007 hrs.  74,000$

2004 JD 7920, MFWD, IVT, 4 hyd., 8 front weights, 380/90R50 hub duals, 3880/85R34 fronts with fenders, 3 pt., quick hitch, foot throttle, left hand reverse, big 1000 PTO, active seat, Greenstar ready, 3,200 hrs., S/N1020  78,000$

2008 JD 9770 STS, deluxe controls, premium cab, Contourmaster, hi-torque feederhouse, GreenStar yield & moisture, fine cut chopper, hi-cap unload auger, hi-cap cylinder lift, extended wear pkg., 800-65-32 singles, HD adj. rear axle, 760 eng. hrs., 550 sep. hrs., S/N725646  183,000$

2006 JD 9760 STS, Contourmaster, Touchset concave adj., Premier cab, deluxe header controls, high cap. unload, fine cut chopper, 800/65R32 tires, approx. 1,350-1400 sep. hrs., S/NH09760S717316  136,000$

2005 JD 9760 STS, Contourmaster, deluxe controls, Greenstar Y&M, high unload pkg., fine cut chopper, heavy duty lift cyl., heavy duty adj. rear axle, 520/85/38 straddle duals, RWD, 1,678 sep. hrs., 2,277 engine hrs., S/N711504 111,000$

Click to Enlarge the photos. They were taken by standing on top of the snow banks !

             

             

Popularity: 34% [?]

From Dan Davidson at the DTN Production Blog

On Thursday this week I attended the winter consignment auction held at Michael Wegener Implement in Cornlea, Neb. Probably near 1500 pieces of equipment were for sale and I estimated there were 600 to 800 buyers, observers or sellers on hand. The morning started out cool and wet with rain and snow which than turned to cold and windy and buy the end of the day I was chilled all the way through.

It was interesting to see how the auction went. I was there as an observer and a seller, but not a buyer this year. I regret that I did not buy a few items because the prices were going for much lower than I expected. For example two sturdy metal shop tables sold for $75 apiece. There as a like-new saddle tank system with two 300 gallon tanks that sold for $50 (I want to buy two new tanks and have to pay $450).

I felt it was a buyers’ market and prices were not as high as a year or two ago when the farm economy was ramping up with the biofuels industry. There was also a lack of exuberance in the bidding process. It was a hard to get buyers to start bidding and when they did, the auctioneering team tried to cajole them into paying more what the equipment was worth and usually without much success.

I am not a machinery jockey and it was hard to know what equipment is really worth since I do not track this industry. However I always look at the local editions of Tractor House and Fastline to see what machinery costs, dream about what I would like to buy and discover that retail-priced equipment is pretty pricey. But prices at auctions usually reflect the true market value of an item at a given moment in time - not the retail price that we sellers hope to get. There were some great buys for guys who had the cash and the bidding wasn’t too competitive.

Some of the surprising buys!

There was an early model Kinze 12-row wide planter with row cleaners and good planter units that sold for $1150. The row cleaners were worth at least $100 apiece. A JD 7200 12-row narrow front fold with all the bells and whistles sold for $10,250. Older JD 7000 series planters were selling for about $200 a row.

Several JD 8000 series tractors sold in the 50,000 range and with tracks for about $60,000. JD 40 and 50 series tractors brought between $20,000 and $30,000. There were several JD 3010 and 3020 tractors with loaders that went from $4500 to $5000 and 4000 series tractors were bringing around $8000. A salvage 8430 sold for $2500 and I asked a salvage yard if they bought it and they said no because there no longer is a good market for those parts.

There were also antique tractors on the lot. A Farmall H in running condition and fair shape sold for less than $600. JD 50 and 60s brought a couple thousand dollars, JD 720s and 730s brought over $4,000 and a JD 830 restored brought over $6,000. An Oliver 1900 with a 4 cylinder screaming Detroit brought $5200. There was also a Cleveland trencher with tracks and gas motor that sold for $1100 - and according the seller, it was in operating condition.

A one owner 1981 Case 2390 that had its engine and transmission overhauled last summer sold for $6250 and the cab, metal and paint were still in good condition and the seller was shocked. Someone stole this tractor. Another Case 5488 brought $12,500. Since I am not a red guy, I did not tractor the price of red tractors or combines.

A like new Peck 10-inch 65 foot auger with swing hopper sold for $1700 but it had a crank lift. Another Bazooka 10-inch 70 foot auger with hydraulic lift sold for $225 but it only had a smaller permanently placed hopper for unloading a gravity wagons.

There were four used 8-10 yard scrapers that sold in the $500 to $600 range.

Several New Holland 1475 sickle bar windrows sold for around $5000 while their predecessor, the 116 sold for $1000 to $2000. An older Hesston sold for $575. Several used V-rakes in good condition brought about $5000. I bought one last year for $4000 in a private sale so I thought I got a good deal.

A JD 567 baler with netwrap and over 15,000 bales on the monitor sold for $18,000 and had sheet metal damage. I bought one last November with 4000 bales on the monitor and in like new condition and paid $24,000 so I thought the $18,000 price was about right.

Several late model JD 9660 and 9760 STS combines (without heads) sold in the $135,000 to $145,000 range). Several 7720s and 6620s combines brought only $6000 or $7000 and often less than the corn heads that came with them.

A UFT 600-700 bushel 2-axle grain cart with hydraulic folding unloading auger and in excellent condition sold for $1850. A like new big Balzer grain cart (over 1000 bushels with a humongous unloading auger) sold for $33,000 (auctioneer said that cart costs $90,000 new). Several 200 bushel graving wagons sold in the $700 to $1000 range.

So there were good buys to be had at the auction if you had the cash and the need (and even if you didn’t have the need). If you were a seller, you went away disappointed.

Popularity: 27% [?]

 

 

CONTACT: DOUG EISELE

 

(513) 791-7717

 

 

EISELE GALLERY OF FINE ART

 

Sale March 7 – April 18, 2009

 

Cincinnati, OH

 

A large cache of original works by Cincinnati artist T. C. Lindsay recently discovered in family attic.

 

 

(Cincinnati, OH) The estate of a descendant of Cincinnati artist Thomas Corwin Lindsay (1839-1907) recently discovered close to eighty original works by Lindsay that had been stored in the attic of a family residence for over 70 years. The renowned Cincinnati landscape, portrait and animal painter was active throughout the region from 1858 to 1905. The bulk of the collection has been acquired by Cincinnati antiques and art dealer Wooden Nickel Antiques owned locally by Mike and Patty Williams and Tim Miller. Wooden Nickel has an established, long standing reputation nationwide as a reliable dealer of true antiques and art. The owners of Wooden Nickel Antiques said they are pleased to have this unique opportunity to offer the works of an artist so important to the Cincinnati community in the setting of a local gallery, Eisele Gallery of Fine Art.

 

 

Eisele Gallery owner and restoration specialist Douglas Eisele noted that it is unusual to find such a large collection of previously unknown works by a noted artist like Lindsay, especially one so prominent in a local area like Cincinnati. Eisele is very familiar with Lindsay’s work, having sold a number of pieces in his Gallery in recent years.

 

 

The recently discovered 100 % fresh to the market works include country scenes from surrounding Ohio and Kentucky with depictions of farmers, their families and their animals as well as historic sites. Margaret Klein, the Gallery Director at Eisele Gallery, is researching the paintings to identify locales, artifacts and people featured in the works.

 

 

Eisele described the condition of the collection as “attic found.” Under Eisele’s direction Old World Restorations has begun cleaning and stabilizing works as required. Some will have minor retouching and a few were unstretched and have been put in stretchers. The collection also includes a few works that are unfinished. Eisele described them as a great study in the construction of Lindsay’s works. Many of the paintings are unsigned but will be accompanied by a letter of authenticity and stamp from the estate verifying the provenance.

 

 

Around 90 Lindsay works will be displayed in the Eisele Gallery for show and sale beginning March 7 through April 18, 10:00Am – 5:00PM. The opening will be preceded by an invitation only presale preview at the Gallery at 5729 Dragon Way, Cincinnati, OH 45227. Eisele has indicated the collection will be attractively priced.

 

 

For more information contact Wooden Nickel Antiques at (513) 241-2985, www.woodennickelantiques.net and Eisele Gallery of Fine Arts, (513) 791-7717, www.eiselefineart.com.

 

written by:

Fred Taylor

www.furnituredetective.com

800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS

Cow in front of Farmhouse and Barn, Oil on Canvas, 19 x 33in

Cows in Pasture, Oil on Canvas, 24 x 30in

Seated Figure, Oil on Canvas, 14 x 23

 

Farmer with Walking Stick, Oil on Canvas, 23 x 12½in

Woman leaning on Stone Wall, Oil on Canvas, 24 x 28in

Landscape with Horses in background, Oil on Canvas, 17 x 23

 

Popularity: 27% [?]

From Dan Davidson at the DTN  Production Blog

I restored an Allis tractor and it had a like-new top of the line loader but it brought a below value price and I was disappointed. No I was more than disappointed, I felt hurt that the tractor wasn’t appreciated and foolish for putting some much time and money into the restoration process.

We had an Allis Chamber 7020 diesel tractor that we auctioned last Thursday. It was a one-owner tractor with about 8000 hours and had spent most of its life as tillage and haying tractor. About five years ago we bought a new Allied Buhl 795 top of the line loader with bucket, grapple, pallet fork and bale fork and mounted it on the 7020 but never used it much.

Back in 2006 we put a JD 725 loader on a JD 4440 tractor and the Allis and loader were relegated to storage. We decided to sell it but then I started a restoration project and it sat in our shop in various states of renovation for over two years until I got motivated to finish it off and take it to the Wegener consignment auction in Cornlea, Neb.

Even before we retired the tractor for renovation we had the PowerShift rebuilt in 2006 for $4800. So the renovation included repainting the entire tractor including rims, a new cab kit and seat, four new tires, two new batteries, new block heater, all new filters and lubricants replacing and repairing all the lights, and making sure every gauge and electrical gadget worked. When I got all done assembling the tractor earlier this week and put a coat of wax on the vibrant Allis orange and cleaned the windows, it literally looked and smelled almost like a new tractor.

So what was the value of the tractor and loader? In my opinion the tractor and loader were worth $8,000 apiece. I thought it was truly valued at $16,000! I know that we paid $8,000 for the loader and it was still like new and the price of iron has only gone up in five years since we bought it. But I was dreaming that it would be valued at $18,000 or I would hit the jackpot at $20,000. But no cigar for this player!

In my opinion, the prices at the auction were running 15 to 20% below what I expected them to be. But with the economy in the doldrums and corn prices hovering just over the $3 mark, there is not much exuberance in the marketplace and it showed at the auction.

In the end the tractor and loader brought about $11,000, about $4,000 or $5,000 less than I wanted. But I was foolish because I probably expected too much for the tractor after I renovated it, foolish because I restored it in the first place and financed it out of my own pocket, and foolish because I did not buy it back and sell it privately.

While I was very proud of the work I did in restoring the tractor and happy with the results, I financed most of the restoration work out of my own pocket and contributed all the labor for free. I hoped to get a good price for it to pay off a bank note and then have enough left over to reimburse me for my expenses in parts and repairs.

After the sale was complete and I was in a state of disbelief, several farmers came up to me and told me I gave that tractor away and I should have bought it back. The buyer came up and said he felt he stole the tractor because it was in such great condition and even though he came to the auction with no plan to buy, he said he could not pass up this purchase.

So I am dealing with my loss and disappointment and trying to take away some lessons for this experience that I could put to use later. I have another tractor (MF 1130) I am restoring which included a major overhaul and new clutch, new tires and paint, etc. If I get that tractor done and take it to the same auction next August, I will again end up a loser. Maybe I will be smarter next time around.

Popularity: 28% [?]