MILITARIA, ART, SILVER & PERIOD FURNITURE TO LEAD WHITE’S ECLECTIC SEPTEMBER 15TH AUCTION

Middleboro, MA. White’s Auctions’ September 15, 2015 sale offers a fine selection of WWII German pieces, early and contemporary art works, period furniture, fine sterling silver and jewelry.

Of special significance is an historic Herend porcelain vase presented to Adolf Hitler in October 1937 by Admiral Miklos Horthy, Regent of Hungary. This was part of a large dinner service especially commissioned by Horthy from the Herend Porcelain factory in Hungary for presentation to Adolph Hitler. The rather unassuming 5” tall “Bow Pot” vase is decorated with colorful floral sprays and butterflies on white ground in Herend’s Queen Victoria pattern. It sits on gilded four lion paw feet resting on a square base. The base is signed with the maker’s stamp Herend/Ungarn/Handgemalt 6402, the Arms of Admiral Miklos Horthy Regent of Hungry and the German Eagle bearing a wreathed swastika.

The vase is all that remains of that dinner service as the remaining pieces were destroyed by occupying American and French troops after Hitler’s elaborate Berchtesgaden home (“Eagle’s Nest”), Berghof, in the Barvarian Alps was captured on May 5, 1945. The homes of Hitler and his generals were bombed by the British 617 Squadron a few days earlier. The vase surprisingly survived the total devastation of the raids as well as the burning by SS troops to prevent its capture. It was "liberated" by Corporal Donald K. McGovern, US Army 3rd Infantry Division. Arriving while the compound remains were still smoldering, Mc Govern eyed the vase sitting on Hitler’s desk. He sent it back to his home in Oregon and it sat is his widow’s china cabinet for 55 years before it was identified in 2000. It not only survived the War but remains today in pristine condition.

The lot will be sold with a notorized letter of provenance from Mc Govern’s wife as well as a letter from the Herend factory verifying its authenticity. A set of souvenir photo postcards of the compound, photos of Admiral Horthy and Hitler and “The Memoirs” of Admiral Horthy will be included in the lot as well.

Other WWII German pieces included in the sale a NSKK Marine chained dagger, presentation SA dagger, early Youth Knife, arm band, Luftwaffe sword, Krieg’s flag and documented clipped Adolf Hitler signature. Offered as well is an original Bearer’s Torch from the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

Closer to home, a wonderful early 1910/20 Salesman’s Sample 48” canoe in red paint, will pass to the highest bidder. There are no stencils on the piece but the elderly consignor recounted that it came from a great uncle who worked at Old Town Canoe Company in Old Town Maine. It could also be by the Carleton Canoe Company (also in New Town) and acquired by Old Town in 1920. Records indicated the only about 7% of canoes were in bright red and the “heart” shaped deck is typical of early Carlton canoes. Later model decks were in the Old Town shape.

Art works range from 18th century Dutch and Italian portraits to contemporary Surrealist and Metaphysical pieces to include two works by Russian artist (born 1943) Mihail Chemiakin. Chemiakin was admitted to a special high school art academy in Leningrad but was expelled for failing to conform to Socialist Realist norms and was subjected to compulsory treatment in a mental institution. This was the standard way of dealing with ideological dissidents at that time. In 1971 he was exiled from the USSR. After some time in France, he came to New York City in 1981. Post Communist Russia now exhibits his works and has installed 3 monuments in Russia, including to the “Victims of Political Repressions” in St. Petersburg.

Another interesting contemporary artist, Pedro Friedeberg (born 1936, New York, Texas, Italy and Mexico) is well known for abstract painting, sculpture and furniture making in fantasy themes. A famous piece of the artist is his hand/foot sculpture. The piece in this auction is a carved and gilded sculpture of a moon and hand. Six hand written letters to his personal friend with colorful, fanciful drawings will also be offered individually. Three pieces of stoneware bottle vases by a contemporary of these two artists, Italian artist Bruno Gambone, will also be sold.

A nice selection of period furniture and clocks includes an 18th c Pennsylvania walnut corner cupboard, an 18th c Chippendale walnut drop leaf dining table attributable to William Savery (1721-1787), clocks including ca 1900 J. J. Elliot ornately carved, 9 tube, triple chime and strike tall case clock, American and English 19th century tall clocks and a ca 1912 Chelsea “Tambour No 1” brass case mantle clock.

A wide selection of approximately 60 plus lots of sterling silver, (including Francis 1st and other flatware sets), silver coins, over twenty gold coins and jewelry will be sold. Jewelry includes several gold and diamond pieces as well as silver and gold Native American pieces.

Rounding out this eclectic sale include vintage Rothchilds Chateau Lafite wine, Gibson Les Paul electric guitar, mid 19th century Sioux raw hide and beaded doll, vintage 1960’s/70’s Triumph motorcycle (for restoration), an English Victorian games compendium with ivory pieces, early maps, early toys, Japanese Cloisonne and prints, Chinese porcelain, autographs, Lionel ship’s binnacle and more.

AUCTION LOCATION: The auction to be held on Tuesday September 15, 2015 at 6PM at the Middleboro Lodge of Elks, 24 High Street, Middleboro, Preview on Sunday September 13th 3-6PM, Monday September 14th 12-6pm and Tuesday September 15th from 3PM to auction start. Please call John White (508-947-9281) or Kathryn Black (508-269-9275) with any questions. Please arrange your absentee and phone bid requests in advance with Kathryn (508) 269-9275. Phone bids will be accepted based on availability and timeliness. View www.whitesauctions.com and www.auctionzip.com (ID#7546) often for photos and updates.

Bid Live at www.invaluable.com, www.auctionzip.com and www.Ebaylive.com.