Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Ant

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Bernard

Full Text:

Frank H. Boos Gallery Emile Bernard Oil

By Rita Easton

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICH. -- Fine paintings, furniture, and decorative arts were

the subject of a three-session auction at Frank H. Boos Gallery on February

10-12.

Among the standing-room-only audience were 350 holding bidding numbers

competing for the 1,151 lots offered. The single instance of a departure from

fine home furnishings was the top lot, a 1994 Cadillac Sedan deVille, going at

$14,500.

A 34 by 46 inch oil on canvas after Emile Bernard (French, 1868-1941) reached

$11,000, selling to a dealer. The still life has had a recent history of

rising and falling appraisals.

"To give some background on that because it's an interesting story, the lot

had been in an Atlanta, Ga., estate, handled by a Michigan bank," said Frank

Boos. "It was appraised for $70,000, then sent to Sotheby's for auction. They

attempted to have it authenticated by a committee. The experts could not

authenticate it, saying it was worth about $1,000, and it was returned. The

estate presented it to us for auction, and we stated it was `after' Bernard,

with a $1,5/2,500 estimate. So at $11,000, plus 15 percent, someone - more

than one someone - thought it was right."

Earlier this year, a local resident purchased an oil on canvas at a nearby tag

sale for $100, which the seller deemed a fair price for the frame, altogether

discounting the painting. The buyer consigned the country scene, which

measured 16 by 24 inches, to Boos, who put a $3/5,000 estimate on the lot. The

painting, by Olive Parker Black (American, 1868-1948), sold at $6,750 to the

astonishment of the consignor.

An American Renaissance walnut and marble mounted three-piece bedroom set was

purchased by a private local collector at $8,000, the high estimate; a

117-piece set of Tiffany & Company sterling silver flatware in the "Audubon"

pattern, approximately 202 troy ounces, estimated at $5/7,000, surpassed the

estimate at $9,000; and an American Arts and Crafts copper and mica table

lamp, attributed to Dirk Van Erp, 14 inches, $8/12,000, brought $7,500.

Lithographs and a watercolor by Romare Bearden (American, 1914-1988) were

"very hot," according to Boos, with "The Lantern" bringing $2,000, and

"Carolina Morning" hammering down at $2,900, and "Louisiana Serenade" selling

at $3,300, all colored lithographs. The watercolor on paper by the same

artist, 19Â¬ by 26Â¬ inches, estimated at $6,5/7,500, reached $9,500.

A rare Steuben aurene vase was offered, unsigned by Steuben but signed by the

New York retailer, "Haviland & Co.," as opposed to factory signed. The 9Â« inch

high piece (est $3/5,000) brought $3,000. A Nineteenth Century Japanese helmet

and neck piece, 17 inches high, rang up $800; a Merry Makers tin lithograph

windup Mouse Band, manufactured by Marks, made in the early 1930s, achieved

$1,400; and a collection of perfume bottles ranged from $150 to $2,200, the

highest price realized for an example of Lalique. A collection of Russian

silver, gilt, cloisonne and enamel ranged from $650 for a spoon to $5,000 for

a Faberge cigarette case.

Prices quoted do not reflect a 15 percent premium.

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

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