Morphy Auctions' January, 2018 Sale to Feature Important Collections of Indian Artifacts, California Related Advertising, Gold Quartz Jewelry, and Pocket Watches.
LAS VEGAS (PRWEB) December 29, 2017 -- Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collections, is pleased to announce this can’t miss sale to be held on Friday, January 26, 2018 starting at noon EST. January is a fantastic time to visit Las Vegas, and this sale is perfectly timed to fit into a mid-winter getaway to this popular travel destination. All items in this sale are on display in Mophy’s Las Vegas gallery and are available for preview now.
Native American cultural materials and armaments are two highlight categories in this comprehensive sale. These extraordinary treasures and artifacts, made by hand with the finest attention to detail and craftsmanship, demonstrate the perfect intersection of elegant form and function. Lot #17, a rare hide Prairie tobacco bag, is estimated at $10,000-20,000. This circa 1860 example is detailed with beaded contour floral motifs and tab drops with cut-outs, and retains traces of its early and original paint. And lot #6, a Santee Sioux hide scout shirt, is estimated at $10,000-15,000. This rarity dating from the 1880’s features fringe and quill work in floral patterns on both the front and back panels.
It’s time to get a handle on this event’s selection of museum quality hand weapons. Lot #5, a circa 1860 Eastern plains or Western Great Lakes gun stock club, is estimated at $30,000-50,000. This handsomely decorated example has a pierced triangular base, recessed grip, and an exaggerated steel blade set into the crook. The blade is pierced twice and inlaid with the words "Little Hill" in brass. Lot #12, a Cheyenne pipe tomahawk with a beaded drop, is estimated at $30,000-50,000. Its shaft is accented with brass tacks and a heavily beaded leather drop with fringe. The reverse side of the drop is lined with red calico fabric. And lot #16, an important late 19th century Southern Plains pictorial pipe tomahawk, is estimated at $20,000-35,000. This artifact, with provenance to the Marvin L. Lince collection, has a beautiful file branded hardwood haft with brass tack decorations and a carved mouth-piece. The blade is fantastically engraved with a morning star - a southern flames element - and a battle scene depicting two warriors in combat, possibly a Pawnee and Cheyenne brave.
Antique advertising materials relating to America’s western expansion and all things gold-rush related are well represented in this sale. Finely curated selections of “Go West” themed materials are on offer, including signs, posters, paintings, and other ephemeral categories. A 14k opportunity here is lot #66, a circa 1870 Everts, Wilson & Co. double sided wooden painted sign offering “gold dust bought.” Estimated at $50,000-100,000, this magnificent piece of history and folk art has provenance to the Oakland CA Museum and is pictured in Jann Garvis’ Roar of the Monitors. And lot #55, a small Wells Fargo & Co. wooden strong box with its original leather handles, is estimated at $10,000 - $20,000. This petite treat, circa 1880, retains its original green paint and off-white lettering. Its interior is stamped "Manufactured by J.Y. Ayer 3740 Seventeenth St. S.F. Cal."
Collectors are certain to appreciate the rock star selections of antique gold quartz jewelry and accessories offered through this event. A gem in its own right is lot #162, a women’s solid gold and gold quartz pin, estimated at $2,000-4,000. This circa 1860’s showstopper features stippled gold detailing, a center oval inlaid with equal parts black and grey gold quartz, and ends highlighted with period black enamel designs.
Three presentation canes are also walk off favorites in the gold quartz category. The first is lot #237, a gold quartz example dated 1866. It is decorated with a 14k knob inlaid with beautiful oval quartz panels and a top quartz panel and estimated at $20,000-30,000. The second is a gold quartz presentation cane dated 1869. This rarity, decorated with an engraved 14k knob topped with a beautiful quartz panel, is estimated at $10,000-15,000. And the third is lot #160, an ebony walking stick with a 14k gold and gold quartz handle, estimated at $5,000-10,000. This circa 1860 treasure is engraved "To Captain W. Baker Ship Swallow F.H. Allen" and features alternating floral panels on its handle.
Now would be a perfect time to consider the 50 lots of fine antique pocket watches available through this sale. Lot #325, a fine circa 1899 Waltham 18K gold quartz hunting case pocket watch decorated with eight inlaid alternating panels of gold quartz and agate surrounding eight different California mineral specimens, is estimated at $40,000-60,000. It is detailed with a white enamel single sunk dial with roman numerals and blued steel hands and includes a wonderful 15” long buckle-link pocket watch chain with five double sided inlays of gold quartz. Lot #322, an extremely rare, circa 1890’s 18k rose gold California gold quartz Waltham hunting case pocket watch, is estimated at $15,000-30,000. Its cover is beautifully decorated with eight inlaid panels of gold quartz with alternating shades of pink and white surrounding a hand engraved relief of a California bear in yellow gold. Its reverse simply glows with a wonderful but subtle hand engraved border. And lot #205, a 14k Elgin National Watch Co. hunting case pocket watch decorated with multi-color gold flowers, leaves, and a realistic depiction of a California mountain lion, is estimated at $6,000-10,000. This c. 1889 masterpiece features a stunning fancy porcelain-enamel dial in incredible condition and gold filigree hands, and includes an eye-catching 15” long, six linked gold quartz chain in rose gold.
This sale rounds out with a refreshing blend of outstanding antique back bar bottles, taxidermy, gold nuggets, silver, and other mostly 19th century themed western finds. A sterling example here is lot #141, an 1889 Silverton railroad pass issued by Otto Mears. It depicts a vignette of the Colorado countryside as a small train runs through it. This hot ticket is estimated at $7,000-10,000. The Silverton Railroads served the Silverton mining communities in Colorado around the turn of the 19th century. These passes were issued by Otto Mears to only a select few patrons of his railroad, and it allowed them to ride the rails compliments of Otto himself. And lot #67, an extremely rare pair of forged iron Republica Mexicana round rowel spurs from circa 1850 are estimated at $6,000-9,000. Getting right to the point, these spectacular spurs feature a rattlesnake shank with 2-3/4" diameter early clock gear filigreed flower pattern rowels and small swinging buttons and rollers.
According to Dan Morphy, Morphy Auctions’ President, "We are excited to welcome both new and repeat customers to our January 2018 Gold Rush, Western, and Native American Sales Event in Las Vegas. The selections of gold quartz accessories, watches, and jewelry in this sale are the finest I can ever recall. These items are simply spectacular and photos alone cannot do them justice or capture the magical way the light plays off the stones and gold ore. For example, the Waltham 18k gold and gold quartz hunting case pocket watch is just extraordinary in person. We welcome you to visit our gallery in Las Vegas to view these rarities in person, or of course check them out online anytime at morphyauctions.com.”
About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collectibles, is headquartered in Denver, PA. The company also has a satellite office in Las Vegas, NV. A full-service auction house, Morphy’s presents over 35 premier auctions annually. The company’s three-part mission includes ensuring consignor satisfaction with every auction, offering world-class customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty, and providing relentless buyer support to create confidence for all clients seeking a trustworthy purchasing experience.
Morphy’s team of specialists includes the nation's finest and most recognized experts in popular collecting categories including advertising; firearms; fine automobiles, automobilia and petroliana; coin-operated machines; antiques, fine, and decorative art; dolls, bears, toys, and trains; cast iron; coins; marbles; jewelry and wrist watches. Morphy Auctions is owned by President and Founder Dan Morphy, himself a lifelong and passionate collector of antiques, banks, and numerous other categories. Morphy's has been in business since 2004 and has grown from two to over 65 employees in over a decade.
Morphy Auctions is located at 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, PA 17517. We can be reached by phone at 877-968-8880 and by email at info(at)morphyauctions(dot)com. Our auction gallery is open seven days a week: Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm. Our Las Vegas facility is located at 4520 Arville Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103 and is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm. For more information on Morphy's, please visit http://www.MorphyAuctions.com.
Sarah Stoltzfus, Director of Marketing, Morphy Auctions, http://www.morphyauctions.com, +1 717-335-4606, [email protected]
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