New edition of popular price guide available

"Warman's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide, 35th Edition," edited by Ellen T. Schroy is now available from Krause Publications.

The 640-page volume includes up-to-date values and background information on more than 500 categories of antiques and collectibles, with nearly 600 photographs, from the 1700s to the present.

It sells for $18.95 and can be found in bookstores or ordered from the publisher, 1- 800-258-0929 or www.krausebooks.com.

Phone joust brings $66,125 for Hepplewhite wing chair

CAMBRIDGE, MASS. - Bidding opened at $10,000, and half a dozen bidders were in the chase at $40,000 when action started on a Boston Hepplewhite wing chair May 12 at CRN Auctions. At $46,000 the contest had narrowed to two phone bidders and one bidder in the room. After $50,000, two phone bidders jousted for the masterpiece.

Experts agreed it was a find, some saying perhaps the best example to appear on the market in the last 50 years. It is a match for the Howe wing chair on exhibit at the Sheppard parlor of the Museum of Fine Art, Boston. Most period American wing chairs were produced during the Queen Anne and Chippendale periods, and Federal-style wing chairs are far less common. The few examples that have surfaced have all had Boston sources, with secondary woods of either maple or birch in the upper frame and pine for tertiary elements. Mahogany was used in the exposed legs and stretchers.

Auction reports credit the successful bidder as saying, "The welcoming curvaceousness of this wing chair and its congener differ from the earlier stretcher base wing chairs. Its direct, un-degraded relationship with Hepplewhite plate 15, and refined construction indicate direct knowledge of what was 'au courant' in Britain in the late 1780s as well as first-rate training. This is the second wonderful chair that I have purchased at Carl Nordblom's auctions."

The chair incorporated exceptional design with excellent workmanship. Many boards were planed to different angles on each of their four sides to achieve the most refined configuration. Another indication of exceptional craftsmanship was that after two centuries of use, the frame of the chair remained remarkably tight.

Remington Gun Cane Heads Record Tradewinds Sale

DANVERS, MASS. - Tradewinds Antiques of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., April 28 cane auction attracted a national audience, many of whom were eyeing the top lot - a Remington gun cane with a ball and claw handle that triggered bidding to $16,240.

A Bruce Gammage of Rockland, Me., hammered all 202 lots to establish a new Tradewinds record of $365.

Nancy and Henry Taron founded Tradewinds Antiques as a firm specializing in canes. In 1993 they presented their first cane auction where most bidding was within the auction hall. But that has now been augmented by absentee and phone bidding across the nation and in Europe.

After Nancy's death in an auto accident, Henry continues the business by himself, assisted by his son Chris and daughter-in-law Barbara. Gammage, who has been affilatied with Tradewinds since the initial sale, continues calling the live auctions.

The firm has conducted 17 auctions, and all have focused specifically on canes and related materials. Tradewinds conducts both live and online auctions. The firm's next auction will be an online auction in late June. The company's Web site is www.tradewindsantiques.com. The firm's next live auction will be Sept. 29.

The auction and antiques market roundup is compiled from press releases and information provided by auction houses, dealers and trade publications.