The Specialists of the South to hold estate auction Jan. 31
The many antique and collectible items gathered over the course of 70+ years by a St. Louis, Mo., woman and her Florida daughter, both of whom are deceased, will be sold at a public auction scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, by The Specialists of the South, Inc., in the firm’s gallery at 544 East 6th Street in Panama City.
The collections were begun by Helen McLintock Jenkins, who lived her entire life in St. Louis. She began collecting antiques and collectibles in many categories starting in the 1930s, before antiquing was even in vogue and before “picking” was even a coined word. But pick she did, not just in St. Louis, but also Chicago, Cape Cod, Mass. (her favorite haunt) and other destinations.
Upon Mrs. Jenkins’ death in the 1980s, her massive estate was divided up equally between her two daughters, one of whom still resides in St. Louis (with half the collection). The other portion went to Mary Katherine Chandeysson, who added to her half with items gathered over the years, some of them from overseas. She and her husband moved to Florida in 1989. She died in August.
Now, everything that Mrs. Chandeysson collected, plus all that she inherited from her mother, will be sold to the public, giving collectors a rare chance to own pieces that are fresh to the market and unseen outside the family for decades. For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be taken.
The auction will feature a broad and eclectic mix of merchandise, to include a pair of late 19th century blue cut to clear Bohemian cobalt lusters, a French antique provincial grandfather clock, a French vitrine (ornately decorated display cabinet) with painted panels and ormolu, an early 20th century Victorian ladies’ writing desk with needlepoint footrest, an Eastlake wall-mounted hall mirror and cloisonné ginger jars.
Mrs. Chandeysson was a dedicated equestrian, so there will also be many horse-themed items, such as a MoBo jumping horse, Breyer toy horses, metal and ceramic horse figurines, two Wilton commemorative items from the St. Louis National Charity Horse Show (one a clock, the other a 14-inch charger), a Royal Doulton figurine titled The Huntsman, and three vintage hand-colored after engravings, all with sporting or hunt themes.
Furniture items will feature a mahogany Federal-style dining table, china cabinet, buffet, serpentine five-drawer chest and a pair of demi-lune-tables; plus a vintage maple rocker, a pine dry sink and pine blanket chest, a wash stand with side pull-out towel bar, an early 20th century Victorian mahogany corner chair with needlepoint seat and a lovely marquetry table.
Collectibles expected to do well will include a Victorian coal scuttle, a vintage tricycle horse, marbles, decoys, Britains, Ltd. metal toy soldiers (Mounties and guards), vintage dolls (including Armand Marseille, Skookum, Black, miniature frozen Charlottes and a small German bisque baby), small collectible cars and motorcycles, a small brass signal cannon and a book containing 20 American etchings, published in 1887 in a limited-edition (#15/350).
The auction will also contain English ceramics, to include an early 20th century Lord Nelson Staffordshire pitcher and a pair of early 20th century Lord Nelson cranberry glass pitchers. Also sold will be a Cybis seated girl with jewel box, a Boehm fawn, a French porcelain desk set and a pair of circa 1940-1960 Van Briggle vases with stylized iris decoration.
The Specialists of the South, Inc., has been serving the Panama City community for over 30 years. The firm specializes in a broad range of services, to include estate auctions, furniture refurbishing, interior decoration, personal property appraisals and business liquidation services. It has been named the Small Business of the Month by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce.
To learn more, or to register for the January 31st auction, visit www.SpecialistsoftheSouth.com or www.PanamaCityAuctions.com.