Date: Fri 04-Sep-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Cottone-Auction-MtMorris-NY

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Wiles, Pleissner Works At Cottone Auction

By Rita Easton

MT MORRIS, N.Y. -- The June 26 auction held by Cottone at Peter's Party

Complex reaped the highest gross to date for the auction house: $600,000.

Three hundred and ten lots, including fine estate merchandise from St

Catharines, Ontario, were offered to the approximately 500 attendees.

A New York dealer won a 12 by 14 inch oil on canvas signed by Irving Wiles,

(American, 1861-1948), for $68,750, the high bid of the day. The subject was a

woman seated at a writing table. Wiles was the son of local Perry artist

Lemuel Maynard Wiles (American, 1826-1905).

A second New York dealer purchased an oil on canvas rendering of a farmhouse

in Rindge, N.H., painted by Ogden Pleissner, at $27,500; a Henry Parker oil on

canvas with a scene of pastoral views and water, a bridge, and grassland, made

$8,250; and an American primitive portrait of a small child, standing, wearing

a full-skirted dress and pantaloons, minor restoration, sold at $6,270.

Stimulating a buzz of local interest, the auction of a quarter-plate

handtinted daguerreotype of Caroline Parker coincided with a Seneca Falls

visit by First Lady Hillary Clinton, who spoke on women's rights. The Iroquois

Indians were known to live by an enlightened philosophy with respect to

women's rights, considered a birthright. Parker was a member of the Iroquois

tribe and was featured in the daguerreotype standing next to a small table

wearing full Iroquois dress.

The Parker family was also distinguished by Eli Parker, brother to Caroline,

who was an aide to General Grant. The Iroquois Indian called Red Jacket was

also related to the Parkers. A private buyer in the Rochester area purchased

the daguerreotype at $41,250.

Fourteen Gardner photos, "Scenes in Indian Country," sold as seven lots,

resulted in dueling bidders, the two finally dividing the lots between

themselves almost evenly. One buyer was from Virginia, the other was on the

phone from South Dakota. The total realized $44,000. A Lewis daguerreotype

camera, signed "W.W.H. Lewis, New York, 716," with parts missing, reached

$8,800.

A signed Handel lamp, #6874, with a bird motif on the shade, went for $16,500;

a blue Bakelite Emerson radio fetched $7,700; and a George Jones majolica

bowl, 11 inches in diameter with a witty jester supporting the bowl from

undernest, lying on his back with hands and feet extended, reached $13,000.

A signed John Wood Philadelphia clock, circa 1770, sold at $19,250; an inlaid

Italian cherry desk, with serpentine front and sides, circa 1780, with some

loss of inlay, was purchased at $11,550; a Timby solar shelf clock reached

$6,270; a Daum Nancy 21-inch-high vase went out at $2,310; and an Acoma bowl,

decorated with elegant and complex swirls, brought $1,540.

A Punch and Judy bank was driven by intense bidding to $12,650; a period

American bellflower inlaid Pembroke table achieved $31,900, going to a

Philadelphia buyer; an E. Tracy continuous arm Windsor chair, with one

replaced stretcher, made $11,550; a decorated stoneware bank in the form of a

spotted dog reached $3,850; a quilt signed "Mary Mowbray, 1812," garnered

$3,960; and a green ceramic lamp base signed Teco, standing 15 inches high,

sold at $4,950.

Prices quoted reflect a required ten percent premium.