Course Set for Annual Maritime Auction at Kaminski’s

USA (SANEPR.com) July 25, 2008 -- Kaminski Auctions, one of Massachusetts’ premier antiques and fine art auction houses, announces their August Maritime Auction. The auction takes place under the large tent at Kaminski Auctions on Saturday and Sunday August 10 and 11, 2008. Bidding commences at 10:00 AM on Saturday and at 12:00 noon on Sunday. Preview periods occur Friday from 10 AM - 6 PM and Saturday from 8 – 10:30 AM. The auction features live online bidding through eBay Live auctions, and the complete catalog is available online in advance of the sale. Kaminski Auctions is located at 564 Cabot Street, Beverly MA. For more information visit www.KaminskiAuctions.com or call 978-927-2223.

Now an annual tradition, day one of this two-day auction features a vast array of nautical antiques and a spectacular collection of vintage ship models. A general fine art and antiques estate auction follows on day two.

Anchoring the sale is a painting of a French ironclad turret ship (est. $14/18,000) by artist Charles Leduc. Leduc, a French artist working in the mid/late 19th Century, earned the illustrious title of “Peintre Officiel de La Marine” (Official Painter of the Navy). The painting, which measures 31 x 59 inches, is signed by the artist and housed in its original gilded frame.

Also offered is a circa 1900 Steinway & Sons Grand Piano (est. $18/25,000). The piano, a Model O accompanied by a bench, was reconditioned through Steinway in Minneapolis, MN. Designed by Henry Ziegler, the Model O was conceived as a more space-conscious version of a traditional grand piano, making it a popular instrument for the home setting.


A formidable fleet of model ships also crosses the auction block. A model of J.P. Morgan’s private steam yacht “Corsair IV” (est. $8/10,000) sports a planked mahogany deck and six detailed lifeboats. A museum quality model of the presidential steam yacht “Mayflower” (est. $5/8,000) is mounted in a mahogany display case with brass trim and marquetry inlay.

A beacon light with a Fresnel lens (est. $6/9,000) is sure to shine at the auction. The beacon is identical to one on the “Lightship Nantucket”, which marks the hazardous shoals on the shores of its namesake island.

Furniture highlights include a circa 1780 Philadelphia Chippendale walnut flat top (est. $15/25,000). The piece boasts a shell carving, fluted quarter columns and four cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet. It also features a number of secret compartments, obscured from view when examining the façade.

Two rare sea captain’s desks are also offered. An 18th Century Chippendale slant lid captain’s desk (est. $18/2,800) features a star inlay on the lid and solid cherry construction. Another fine example is a circa 1810 Federal period captain’s desk (est. $15/2,500) with a hinged fold-down case.

“Our annual maritime auction is our most highly anticipated event of the summer,” comments Frank Kaminski, owner of Kaminski Auctions. “It’s a unique pleasure to offer such fine mementos of Massachusetts’ rich maritime history.”