A rare micro-mosaic panel depicting Castel Sant’ Angelo by Vatican artisan Cesare Roccheggiani sold to a phone bidder for a sale price of $32,400, making it one of the top sellers at Eldred’s annual spring Americana and Paintings auction. The sale, which took place April 8 and 9, included lots from a wide range of collecting areas including early American glass, folk art, firearms, period furniture and more.

Other than the micro-mosaic, most of the sale’s top lots were in the paintings category. Highlights include two works by Ralph E. Cahoon, Jr., one a quintessential scene of sailors, mermaids and a hot air balloon, which brought $30,000, and the other a portrait titled “Island Queen” depicting a mermaid holding an umbrella, which sold for $21,600. An Anne Packard view of Cape Cod Bay sold for $19,200 and a small coastal scene by A.T. Bricher brought $13,200, both more than doubling their pre-sale estimates. A lot of four works after Thomas Cole that depicted the stages of life sold for $13,200, and Jonas Lie painting of birch trees along the coast netted $10,800, both lots also selling over estimate.

Highlights from other categories include an Art Deco platinum and diamond bracelet and a Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. gold and enamel bangle bracelet, both of which sold for $12,000, a Gorham Martelé sterling silver pitcher, which brought $10,000, a Colt Model 1860 revolver, which sold for $5,400, a Liverpool pitcher with New Bedford-themed decoration, which went for $3,750, and a Canada goose weather vane by noted decoy carver A.E. Crowell, which sold for $3,600.

The sale’s first session opened with a 138-lot Cape Cod collection of Sandwich and other early glass. The total collection sold for about $5,000 over pre-sale estimates, with the majority of successful bids coming from the floor. Top sellers included a blown 2-mold decanter that brought $3,000 and a free-blown liquor bottle with blob seal dated 1763 that sold for $4,200. “This was a moderate collection and it was nice to see it so well received, particularly the bottles”, said Bill Bourne, company Vice President and head of the Americana department.

“We had a nice full crowd for the glass, but it was really great to see that we still had a good-size crowd at the end of the day,” Bourne continued. More than 500 people registered for the sale, either as floor, phone, absentee or successful online bidders. Online sales accounted for about 25 percent of the sale total.

“While furniture was spotty, which is typical of today’s market, Chinese Export seemed closer to old levels,” Bourne also remarked. The sale included about 35 lots of moderately priced Export porcelain, much of which sold within estimate. Top furniture lots include a pair of 19th Century Irish card tables, which sold over estimate for $4,200, and Queen Anne highboy, which brought $5,700, just under its $6,000/9,000 pre-sale estimate.

This was the first Americana auction Eldred’s has conducted since the passing of its longtime president, Robert C. Eldred, Jr., in late January of this year. For decades Bob Eldred was a mainstay in the auction galleries during previews, regaling customers with jokes and stories, even after his retirement in 2014. “Obviously my father was missed,” said Joshua Eldred, the firm’s president, “but I think he would be pleased with the results we’ve had so far this year and the exciting developments we have coming for the company these next few months.”

Eldred’s next auction is the Spring Asian Art Auction, being held April 29 and 30 at the company’s main facility, located 1483 Route 6A, in East Dennis, Massachusetts. Interested bidders can visit www.eldreds.com for a complete sale listing and to register to bid via phone, absentee bid or online. Those wishing to bid live in the audience may register at the offices the day of the auction.

The Robert C. Eldred Co., located at 1483 Route 6A in East Dennis, Massachusetts, is New England's oldest established antiques and fine arts auction house, now in its third generation of ownership by the Eldred and Schofield families. The firm holds approximately 25 auctions per year encompassing Americana, paintings, Asian art, European decorative art, maritime antiques and collectibles. It was recently named one of the top worldwide auction houses by Art + Auction. For more information please call (508) 385-3116 or email info@eldreds.com.