Living Tastefully
  • Home
  • PAINTINGS
  • About
  • Passions-to-Pastry Blog
  • Contact
  • Recipes

RICHARD WRIGHT Auction

11/6/2009

0 Comments

 
Picture
   I had been acquainted with Richard Wright through various antique shows we both exhibited at over the past few years, although I never purchased anything from him.  He was also the doll expert on "Antiques Roadshow," which is where many people came to know him from.   He was quite a colorful character, although I never realized just how colorful until he passed away this past March.  Skinner auction house advertised the sale of the Richard Wright collection, and I wondered why he was parting with such extraorindary dolls and toys -- absolutely the best I had ever seen.  I didn't know he had passed away until I made a Google search.  There I found he had a sudden illness, and the Memorium I found online was fascinating.   I knew this would be a tremendous opportunity to acquire some rare toys. 

Auction day came in October, but not without problems.   The first item I was to bid on was a fantastic early German papier-mache goat pull toy with papier-mache boy rider which up until now we had only seen in an obscure museum in East Germany.   At the last minute I changed my contact telephone number so that my daughter would bid on my behalf, as I would be traveling to Iowa to be with my father during his upcoming surgery.  As luck would have it, Skinner called me at my original telephone numbers I had given them -- not my daughter.  When my cell phone rang it went straight to voice mail.  The message was they were trying to contact me to bid on the pull toy, but by the time I reached anyone at Skinner's the lot had already sold.   I was crushed!  Now I needed to be certain that the same thing didn't happen with the remaining four lots I was registered to bid on.  After several frantic phone calls I was on pins and needles, not knowing whether my daughter was now being contacted.   However, all went well from then on and I was successful on winning the next four lots.

The first item I won was the super rare German squeaker above.  The ugly man is beating the baby with a stick.  In addition to squeaking when the bellow mechanism is pressed, the right arm moves up and down.  It is an incredible piece.   I especially love the handwoven basket on his back in micro-mini delicate weave.   Andy and Becky Ourant, good friends of Richard Wright, were in charge of cataloging this auction, and Andy told me this piece had been in Richard's collection since the '80s, and he had actually purchased it from Becky at that time.  I feel very fortunate to have won it.

 



 

 
Picture
Next up were a set of three soldiers on horseback, ca. 1850s.   I am sharing this lot with Maria and Dieter, as we both wanted them.  I have kept the white horse for myself, and Maria and Dieter get the two in black.  For Erzgebirge collectors as we are, this lot is an absolute dream.   I couldn't tell until I received them that the entire bodies of the soliders are fashioned from Brotteig (bread dough), a technique which indicates very early toys.  The bodies of the horses are mostly of bread dough as well, except for the stick legs.  Absolute rarities, and the condition of the bread dough is wonderful!
Picture


The third lot was another very early papier-mache German squeak toy.  The dress and hairstyle indicate a ca. 1850s piece.

Picture
And as excited I am about all the other pieces, I was really thrilled to win this super rare German Halloween jester lantern, again a piece that has been in Richard's collection since the '80s.  The quality and detail on this latern is unbelievable.  It is made of a very heavy and thick papier-mache with Dresden trim around the cap and painted paper inserts for the eyes and mouth.  There is a little cloth collar around the neck with white mohair locks of hair peeping out in the back and on the sides.  Inside the lantern are the remnants of a white candle which had been burned many, many years ago.   It is truly amazing there was no damage done, inside or out, from the flames.   Andy told me Richard Wright pictured this lantern in one of his ads many years ago just as a "tease" -- he never ever intended to sell it.   I feel fortunate indeed to now have it a part of my collection.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    May 2015
    March 2015
    December 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    May 2012
    January 2012
    October 2011
    May 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    May 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    November 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    January 2008
    December 2007
    November 2007

    Susan's Page

    Welcome to Living Tastefully’s “Antique of the Week” page.  Our love of antiques is reflected in every aspect of our everyday lives.    We are passionate about collecting and also love functional antiques that can actually be used and not only admired.   Hopefully we can inspire you to incorporate antiques in your home and your life to add charm and beauty to your surroundings. 





    Categories

    All
    A Garden Urn
    Americana And Folk Art
    Animals On Wheels
    Antique Pastry Prints
    Anton Reiche Marzipan Molds
    Charming Sarreguemines
    Crockery Bowls
    Easter Erzgebirge
    Erzgebirge Soldiers
    Figural Coffeepots
    Frames
    French Mirror9f00eb67ba
    German Blue And White
    German Candy Containers
    German Mechanical Toys
    German Spice Chests
    German Squeak Toys
    Made In Amana Furniture
    Made In Amana Tinware
    Made In Amana Willow Baskets
    Majolica
    Needlework Tools
    Noahs Arks
    Ohio Stoneware
    Old Salem Toy Auction And A Visit To Remember
    Ready For Spring
    Skinners Auction
    Springerle Molds
    The Willow Tree
    Toys
    Trade Signs
    Tramp Art
    Tramp Art And Folk Art


    Links

    Antiques Diva
    Dresden Ornament


    RSS Feed




Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • PAINTINGS
  • About
  • Passions-to-Pastry Blog
  • Contact
  • Recipes