Happily,we returned to the gracious Bertoia Auction House (www.bertoiaauctions.com) to attend Part ll of the singularly impressive Max Berry Collection of toys and banks. Part l was dazzling in its depth and range of mechanical banks and fine examples of vintage toys. Five months later, Part ll is no less astonishing. Here are a few highlights:
Lot # 549 Chinaman in a Rowboat (est $60,000-$75,000) Hammer price $80,000.
Lot # 546 Springing Cat Mechanical Bank (est $18,000- $20,000) Hammer price $31,000.
Lot #519 Two men on a Three Wheeler, French, ( est $4,500-$6,500) Hammer price $7,000.
Lot # 514 Girl on a Velocipede, Stevens & Brown, (est $2,000-$2,500) Hammer price $700.
Lot # 742 Zig Zag Mechanical Bank (est $125,000-$175,000) Hammer price $170,000.
Detail, Lot# 742
Lot # 1024 Freedman's Bank Mechanical Bank (est $150,000-$200,000) Hammer price $190,000.
Lot # 630 Mikado Mechanical Bank, circa 1886 (est 80,000-$90,000) Hammer price $75,000.
Auctioneer extraordinaire, Tim Luke, bringing it home!