October 2010

Local Experts Weigh in on Preeminent Examples of Maine Antique Investments

“Maine has an extremely deep and diverse material culture history. In order to avoid being limited to one object or category, I will say that my favorite antique is the next one!”
–Chris Considine, Foreside Antiques, Falmouth

“My idea of a wonderful Maine antique would be a Gus Wilson elder decoy – the best!”
–Maureen Jason, Maureen Jason Antiques, Wicasset

“I think Maine and folk art are nearly synonymous with William Matthew Prior [from Bath] paintings heading the list. And although quasi-antique, [ones from] Doris Stauble [now deceased, from Wicasset] have to be appreciated for what they are – unique, very special folk art, and very collected and made in Maine.”
–Shirley Chambers, Stauble & Chambers Antiques, Wicasset

“I think a Maine painting by the Bangor Born artist Waldo Pierce [1884-1970] is quintessential Maine: Double Rainbow, 1948. Also, the wood engravings of Downeast printmaker, Carrol Thayer Berry, 1886-1978, are so Maine, [like] Cape Elizabeth Light – Maine Coast, c. 1940.”
–Serge L. Liros, Liros Gallery, Blue Hill

“My opinion, which is a very humble one since I am not a powerful dealer, but I have been living in Maine for 30 years and specialized in garden furniture, [is that] there is nothing like finding a primitive hand-made [artifact] by a local person that needed a little table, a small cupboard, a whirl-a-gig or a homemade toy for [his or her] kids, living in the woods of Maine in the 1920s, 30s, or 40s. [The piece was made] and painted with what was available, and today is a treasure to find such pieces.”
–Joni Lima, Iron Renaissance, Damariscotta

“So the quintessential antique for Maine derives from the following story: Two years ago (at an auction in Kezar Falls), my wife purchased a pile of prints for about $150.  Included were several signed and numbered prints by Vera Andress and Prang (chromolithographs) that the Philadelphia Print Shop valued at over $1000 each.  We were happy. Additionally, there was a 1700s engraving in the pile that we saved to frame ourselves, as we like it and it matched our collection profile (we collect a lot of prints and engravings as we just like them).

While she was preparing the engraving so she could reframe it, she noticed a signature on the back of the engraving backing paper.  She asked  me (before throwing the backing out) if the signature ‘H. Melville’ meant anything.  I responded that ‘if it were Herman Melville (of Moby Dick and Billy Budd fame) possibly it could have significant value.’  Well (you guessed it) it appears to be from Herman Melville’s collection of prints, and if so (and when finally authenticated), the value is about $100,000 as Melville autographs/signatures have more value than say a Benjamin Franklin (there are less Melville’s).

So, we think the best Maine antique is one that you get as part of the Maine Antique bidding and auction process.  Like Forrest Gump, we feel that ‘life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get!’

Hope you find this interesting.  Us, we continue to go to all the local auctions we can as many of the items we purchase are absolutely fascinating as collectors items, and possible financial items of value for sale.

PS:  We come to Maine every summer to go to auctions, and we live in Texas in the winter (where we sell Maine auction items).  If you think this is an interesting story, I will tell you about my Maine purchased Confederate Flag that is now back in Texas and about to be purchased by the Birmingham, Alabama chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy ( it is Colonel Edmund Winchester Rucker’s battle flag captured at the battle of Nashville in 1864 by a Maine Infantry Regiment – probably a more cool story than the Melville one above”
–Joseph and Denise Jensen, Mainely Americana Antiques, Denmark

“Well, without a doubt, [the one collection item I consider to be the Holy Grail of Maine antiques] is a well carved Penobscot Indian Root Burl Totem Club.”
–David W. Brown, David W. Brown Antiques, Lewiston

“To reduce Maine Antiques to one category, let alone a quintessential object, is a great challenge. My blood races at the sight of 17^th and 18^th century furniture, sailor-made artifacts, marine paintings by the great artists who painted Maine from Fitz Henry Lane to Eric Hudson, Maine vernacular painted furniture, Portland Schoolgirl needlework and decorated academy boxes, early redware by John Alt and Thomas Kendrick, the list is ever expanding…it is difficult to compare the joy of holding the wonderful sculpture of a newly discovered decoy, an Eider Drake by a Monhegan carver or Gus Wilson or an Old Squaw from Chebeague Island by Oscar Bibber, with just about anything.

Rufus Porter; inventor (airships, etc.), muralist, miniature artist, musician, writer, publisher (Scientific American), teacher, visionary. Porter was a Renaissance man of his day and his creations stand the test of time, whether the object be a mural, a miniature portrait, an inclinometer, a copy of the book Curious Arts. I believe my personal Holy Grail exists in seeing a painted mural by Porter, or one of his contemporaries, that is wondrously new to me.”
–Donald Heller, Heller Washam Antiques, Portland