The Richard C. Stevens Collection May 22, 2010 - RSL Auction ...

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j j American merican Clockwork lockwork Toys oys Louis Hertz, the pioneering collector, prolifi c researcher and renowned author of books about antique toys and banks, reserved a place of honor for his discussion of the American clockwork toy industry. He affi rmed that these miniaturized, automated “Slices of Life” represented the highest level of achievement in design and function in the 19th century. Ironically, in the period, few children ever had the chance to enjoy their novel and amusing charms because they were very expensive. Ives Blakeslee circulated a list of their wares at the Centennial Exhibit in Philadelphia. The prices ranged from $2.00 to $5.00, an enormous sum of money for 1876. Jerome Secor’s “Freedman’s Bank” was even more expensive, a whopping $7.50. The clockwork toy industry emerged in Connecticut where clock-making had fl ourished since the mid 18th century. Clock manufacturers such as Seth Thomas could provide an abundant supply of inexpensive brass mechanisms to toy designers as a perfect drive engine for their fanciful and intricate creations. George Brown, Stevens & Brown, Jerome Secor, Automatic Toy Works, Ives-Blakeslee and Merriam Mfg. were among the most prominent players in the Connecticut toy industry. The Ives Brothers, possibly because of their association with Secor, produced the most realistically elaborate clockwork toys. They often chose to pictorialize their subjects as observed from everyday life. Roosters pecking at their feet (127), children see-sawing up and down (123) and a myriad of self-walking and dancing fi gures to name just a few. Ives also produced a line of toys depicting African-American subjects at their daily toil. Included in this sale are the Preacher at his Pulpit (124 & 126), a “Women’s Rights” activist believed to be a characterization of real-life suffragist Sojourner Truth (129), “Uncle Tom” the Fiddler (122), “Aunt Chloe” the Washerwoman (117), a Nurse Maid and Her Ward (130) and a pair of Sparring Pugilists (118). Rounding out this offering of rare toys is the highly prized “Banjo Player” (131) by Jerome Secor. The production standards and quality of these clockwork toys was of such a high caliber, that, oftentimes, they still operate as well as they did when they were brand new. 31 j j
Lot 117 The Washer Woman a.k.a. “Aunt Chloe” Made by Ives, Blakeslee Bridgeport, Connecticut – Circa 1875 Ives earliest production of clockwork toys were presented on painted pedestals, often embellished with fancy stencil decorations. Here, we fi nd a washerwoman furiously scrubbing her laundry by hand. Material: Wood, tin and papier-mâché Condition: Excellent Plus One of only 5 or 6 known specimens Estimate: $12,000 - $18,000 32
Page 2 and 3: ABSENTEE BID FORM I would like to l
Page 4 and 5: RSL AUCTIONS P.O. Box 635 Oldwick,
Page 6 and 7: 1. RSL Auctions acts as an agent fo
Page 8 and 9: Lot 2 King Midas An extremely scarc
Page 10 and 11: Lot 9 Frowning Face (Hanging) Ameri
Page 12 and 13: Lot 19 Young Boy Depositing Coin An
Page 14 and 15: Lot 28 Rabbit Standing A truly fant
Page 16 and 17: Lot 41 Scotty Seated - Large Scarce
Page 18 and 19: Lot 48 Puss N’ Boots with Staff A
Page 20 and 21: Lot 54 Black Boy Smoking a Cigar Ge
Page 22 and 23: Lot 61 U. S. Exposition Bank An ext
Page 24 and 25: j Silverplated ilverplated Banks an
Page 26 and 27: Lot 85 Apple Bank Kyser and Rex - C
Page 28 and 29: Lot 90 Cupola Bank - Medium J. & E.
Page 30 and 31: Lot 104 Crown Bank - Large J. & E.
Page 32 and 33: Lot 110 Eagle Bank United States -
Page 36 and 37: Lot 118 The Boxers a.k.a. Sparring
Page 38 and 39: Lot 122 “Uncle Tom” The Fiddler
Page 40 and 41: Lot 127 Pecking Roosters Made by Iv
Page 42 and 43: Lot 130 The Old Nurse Made by Ives,
Page 44 and 45: Lot 132 The Hook Behind Ives, Blake
Page 47 and 48: Lot 134 Oversized Dog Cart George B
Page 49 and 50: Lot 141 Horse and Rider Platform To
Page 51 and 52: Lot 147 Royal Circus Trapeze Van Hu
Page 53 and 54: Lot 155 “Hygeia” Ice Wagon Ives
Page 55 and 56: Lot 161 Kenton Fire Pumper Kenton,
Page 57 and 58: j AAmerican AAmerican merican Bell
Page 59 and 60: Lot 170 Ives Boy and Girl Scale Bri
Page 61 and 62: Lot 176 Alphonse & Gaston Automobil
Page 63 and 64: Lot 182 Hubley Chrysler Airfl ow wi
Page 65 and 66: Lot 189 Open Touring Car Windup H.
Page 67 and 68: Lot 193 Clown on Tricycle Chased by
Page 69 and 70: Lot 200 Ideal Bicycle Riders Produc
Page 71 and 72: Lot 204 Atlas Bank Unknown Manufact
Page 73 and 74: Lot 206 Boys Stealing Watermelons M
Page 75 and 76: Lot 213 Bird on Roof Bank Made by t
Page 77: Lot 218 The Bread Winners Bank Base
Page 80 and 81: Lot 223 Butting Goat Manufactured b
Page 83 and 84: Lot 226 Dinah Bank Produced by John
Page 85 and 86:
Lot 231 Circus Ticket Collector Man
Page 87 and 88:
Lot 235 Dentist Bank Made by J. & E
Page 89 and 90:
Lot 237 Darktown Battery- Assembled
Page 91 and 92:
Lot 244 Elephant Howdah (Man Pops O
Page 93 and 94:
Lot 249 Frog Bank (Two Frogs) Assem
Page 95 and 96:
Lot 255 Humpty Dumpty Bank Manufact
Page 97 and 98:
Lot 260 Hall’s Excelsior Bank - W
Page 99 and 100:
Lot 266 I Always ‘Spise a Mule, J
Page 101 and 102:
Lot 271 Franciscan Monk Alms Box Pr
Page 103 and 104:
Lot 276 Jolly N. - Blue Jacket Made
Page 105 and 106:
Lot 281 Jonah and the Whale Made by
Page 107 and 108:
Lot 284 Leap Frog Bank Shepard Hard
Page 109 and 110:
Lot 289 Magician Bank Made by J. &
Page 111 and 112:
Lot 291 Little Hi-Hat Probably Syde
Page 113 and 114:
110 Lot 297 Monkey and Coconut Bank
Page 115 and 116:
Lot 299 Monkey Bank Made by Hubley
Page 117 and 118:
Lot 305 Octagonal Fort Bank Unknown
Page 119 and 120:
116 Lot 311 Owl Turns Head - White
Page 121 and 122:
118 Lot 313 Organ Grinder and Perfo
Page 123 and 124:
Lot 319 Peg-Leg Beggar Made by the
Page 125 and 126:
Lot 326 Pump and Bucket Unknown Man
Page 127 and 128:
Lot 332 Shoot the Chute Assembled B
Page 129 and 130:
Lot 336 Squirrel and Tree Stump Mec
Page 131 and 132:
Lot 341 Trick Donkey Bank Probably
Page 133 and 134:
Lot 345 Toad on Stump Made by the J
Page 135 and 136:
Lot 351 Trick Dog, Solid Base, Rare
Page 137:
Lot 359 World’s Fair Bank Made by
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The Richard C. Stevens Collection May 22, 2010 - RSL Auction ...

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