1996 TOP TEN
1996 was a steady growth year in the antique business. My top 10 story list is a combination of record setting prices and events indicative of underlying trends, with a little fun and woe mixed in.
10. Hi Ho Silver! - A French rococo tureen made in 1733 by Thomas Germain exceeded by three times the world record auction price for any piece of silver, bringing more than $10,000,000, at a New York sale this past November. "It is one of the great works of art, a great rarity, with a fascinating history," said Daniel Alcouffe, head curator of the Louvre. Made for English born adventurer, Henry Janssen, this sale reinforced the trend that strong "provenance" can dramatically influence price.
9. I want my mummy! - Reported in the Boston Globe and the October issue of the Maine Antique Digest, is the story of a dilapidated 3000 year old mummy traded back and forth until it landed up in as a display piece in a Wiscasset, Maine antique shop. Egyptian officials demanded its return until the shop owner offered it to them for $20,000. They balked at the price. US Customs Service placed an impoundment order on the mummy, saying it can remain on display but must not be removed from the shop. "If this man keeps the mummy, I hope there is a curse on him," Zahi Hawass, governor general of Egypt's Giza Pyramids, said. The shop owner reported that, since the news broke, "Business is up. The shop traffic is tremendous, and the phone just keeps ringing!" So much for curses.
8. Choson dynasty(early 17th century) jar sells for $8,417,500! - Price levels for fine Asian antiques continued their dramatic ascent exemplified by an October sale at Christie's in New York. A dragon-decorated 19" tall jar more than doubled the world record for a Korean work artifact and established a new high for any Asian work of art. Asian investors have been chasing high stakes French impressionist paintings in recent years. Look for them to steer closer to home.
7. "The First Lady of American Antiques," passes on at 89.- Alice Winchester, editor of the most important magazine concerning antiques for 34 years and author of several classic antique references, was eulogized by Laura Beach of Antiques and Arts Weekly as, "A gracious, articulate woman whose restraint and modesty belied her sustained record of accomplishment and enduring contribution. Winchester elevated the study of antiques while awakening popular interest in the field. Under her tenure, readership of The Magazine Antiques grew from 5,000 to 65,000."
6. Rare Park Royal gutty golf ball outdistances all others - November, 1996, several months after the most important figure to enter the sport of golf since Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods arrived on the scene, a hexagonal dimpled hard rubber ball from the late 19th century, was driven to a world record price of $35,000. Golf is in for 97.
5. Toy Robot fetches $42,500 at auction - It's only about 45 years old. It looks like a tiny office file cabinet with monkey wrench arms and a tin can head. Still, "Machine Man" brought the highest price ever for a single toy robot at a November sale dedicated solely to toy robots. For those looking to invest big bucks in this crazy market, remember what "Robot" from Lost in Space said, "Danger! Danger!"
4. Folk Art Museum unloads treasures for treasure - Five "Impressionist" works from the collection of Vermont's picturesque Shelburne Museum broke three records selling for a total of $31,197,500 in November. "The sale makes possible new acquisitions, and leaves on view the greatest Impressionist works for all to come and see," trustee John Wilmerding said. Impressionist works are on display at many museums. When it comes to Cigar Store Indians, weathervanes, graphic old signs, painted carousel horses, and ship's figureheads, nobody does it better than Shelburne. Don't lose focus, Mr. Wilmerding.
3. Baseball card hits another home-run! - A pristine 1910 Honus Wagner tobacco card with a unique "Piedmont" tobacco back added to its legend September, 1996, when it sold at Christie's East in New York, setting a record price for any sporting collectible. The card's story begins with Honus himself. The Pittsburgh Pirate shortstop did not want his image linked to tobacco and successfully sued American Tobacco stopping production of his card. As a result, only about thirty-five T-206 Wagner cards are known today. The finest of those, a card advertising Piedmont tobacco instead of the normal Caporal tobacco back, sold at Sotheby's in 1991 to Hockey Star, Wayne Gretsky and partner Bruce McNall, then owner of the Los Angeles Kings, for a whopping $451,000. McNall subsequently went bankrupt and Gretsky purchased his interest in the card. Enter, a few years later, Wal-mart, working with a promotion house, who reportedly paid Gretsky $500,000 for his 2.5" collectible. It would be used in a hugely successful promotion. The "Win the Word's Most Valuable Card" contest wound up on the Larry King Weekend TV show with Larry picking the winner. Patricia Gibbs, 41, a window clerk from Hollywood, Florida was quickly contacted by a Christie's representative shortly after her name was announced. She agreed to auction her prize. To Patricia's joy, Honus's hitting streak was far from over. The greatest baseball card of all time broke it's own record, selling for an incredible $640,500!
2. Antiques Go On-line - Old things are now being bought and sold in new ways. In the internetdealers can distribute descriptions and sharp color photographs of their antiques, world-wide, for a small monthly charge. From twenty dollar ice cream scoops to a two-million dollar offering-price for 1776 broadside of Colonial Congress's July ratified, Declaration of Independence, marketing on the information highway is no longer a futuristic concept. It's here.
1. Jackie-Ohh! - Three consecutive nights on the Larry King show. $34.5 million dollars-a grand total auction sum 7.5 times Sotheby's high estimate. A humidor exceeded its pre-sale estimate by 200 times, bringing a half million dollars. Jackie's fake pearls brought $211,500. Now we know why John-John was pulling on them in the Life magazine photo. "Give me!" he was saying. Antiques and the people associated with them are big news. Lets begin by dispelling a myth about the Jackie O' sale. "This will never happen again," a reporter said. "It's a testament to the greatness of the lady." Rubbish. The sale simply brought to light a new facet in the business. As demand for antiques continues to outgrow supply, the market adjusts by re-defining what an antique is, and opening new inventory. I define antique as "anything old with class," so you won't overlook valuable pieces made in the 20th century. Now, it seems the item itself need not have class, it merely has to have been associated someone, like the late President or First Lady, who had it. Rather than scoffing at such trends, it is better to live with them and anticipate emerging markets.
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