Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

Wednesday, July 17, 2013


Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

   As usual, I was perusing Liveauctioneers  yesterday,  and naturally did an initial search for toys. Toys don't always come up, so I then press "sold" and 200,000++ listings come up. However, yesterday, some live auctions that were to occur today came up. One of these auctions was from Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. What caught my attention were several things. First, there was a nice diversity of different toys. Secondly, the photography was excellent, and third, here was a new auctioneer that I could ask for assistance.

  So I found Leslie Hindman Auctioneers through a search, did a little research, and  soon found an e-mail address connecting directly to the CEO - Leslie S. Hindman. So I wrote to Leslie and asked her if it would be alright to call her by here first name, as well as asking for permission. That was earlier yesterday. When I checked my e-mail today, I had already received a reply- The message was short and I was given the go ahead.  Not only that, but Leslie had sent a copy of my e-mail, and I also had a reply from Cassandra Mead from the Marketing and Graphic Design Department. Cassandra sent me a high resolution company  logo to use as a watermark on all photos, and asked if I needed any photographs. I said that I would be able to screen-capture them from their website. 
What professionalism! Fast mail replies, asking if I needed photographs,and a high-resolution company logo!

 "For three decades, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has been an industry leader combining a local recognition as the Midwest’s leading fine art auctioneers with a global reach of buyers. Founded in 1982, sold to Sotheby’s in 1997 and reopened in 2003, Leslie Hindman has remained a constant force behind high profile auctions of everything from contemporary paintings and fine jewelry to French furniture and rare books and manuscripts and always maintains a practice of achieving the highest prices while maintaining the highest levels of integrity and customer service. 

In 1982, Leslie Hindman founded her eponymous auction house in Chicago, Illinois, and within a few years it grew to be the largest auction house in the Midwest and the fifth largest in the country. The company conducted many significant and highly publicized auctions, including memorabilia from the historic Comiskey Park, the Chicago Stadium, the Schwinn Family Bicycle Collection, as well as the personal property from such renowned estates as Arthur Rubloff, Mrs. Robert R. McCormick, the Potter Palmer families, and Dole heiress Elizabeth F. Cheney.

In 1991, Leslie received international recognition for the discovery of a previously unknown still life by Vincent van Gogh. The painting sold for $1.43 million and the resulting publicity brought Leslie Hindman Auctioneers to the forefront of the world auction scene. As a result of her firm’s outstanding reputation, it was acquired by Sotheby’s in 1997.

 Leslie Hindman Auctioneers reopened in 2003 and in 2010 announced the opening of a new auction facility in Naples, Florida.  Both locations hold regularly scheduled auctions featuring paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture, furniture and decorative arts, fine jewelry and timepieces, vintage couture and accessories, and fine books and manuscripts. An exceptional team of specialists – allied with a worldwide network of consultants and representatives – effectively appraise and market property leading to outstanding prices realized. Furthermore, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers provides a full range of services for trust and estate professionals. 

Since reopening, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has handled property from the estates of Leo S. Guthman, Mrs. Jacob Baur (Bertha Baur), Rose Movius Palmer, Melville N. Rothchild, Sally Fairweather, Helen C. Tunison, Frank J. and Mary Mackey Jr., and Dr. Reid I. Martin among others. Additionally, Leslie Hindman Auctioneers has handled the Kenan Heise collection of books and manuscripts, property from the Akron Art Museum, The Art Institute of Chicago, The Milwaukee Art Museum, the Scottish Rite Bodies: Valley of Chicago, the Kmart art collection, the Kemper Insurance Companies corporate art collection, sports memorabilia from the legendary Ernie Harwell, music and movie memorabilia from Eric “Mancow” Muller, and the John Drury collection of A.C. Gilbert Erector Sets and Mysto Magic Sets."*


*/www.lesliehindman.com/about/company/

  There's a photo of Leslie on the same page that I obtained the company overview. When I looked at Leslie's photo and when her company was founded (1982), I was slightly surprised. Leslie is a young woman and to have started the company in 1982 tells lots about her determination and character.

 You can visit the fine website and read more about the company and Leslie. S Hindman. AS for the website, it's excellent. Toys are not their primary sales, and if you like to see superb photography and have interests in many other antiques or collectibles, this is a fine place to visit.You'll also be able to read about some interesting subjects. 




The manufacturer's name was not given on the above toy, but it might be a Gong toy. 

If you look closely or magnify this image above, you'll see a small Dalmation dog next to the driver. 


When you enlarge any of these images, there is a great amount of detail that you can see. 
That's an attribute to the fine professional photography at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers location.
Andy Gump, by the way was a famous character from a comic strip family. The cartoons were very popular and lasted from 1917-1959.


The detail in that wagon is fantastic. 


I had to screen-capture a set of smaller photos from the site, and them place then together. The reason is that the site has a great software that allows you to see magnified parts of the listed item, and to move around. I didn't set the magnification to the highest, as I would have had to screen-capture too many images. If you magnify this image in the slide-view mode of Blogger, you might be able to see the original tires and their embossed lettering. If not, go to the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers and see for yourself.  If you know your toys or any other area that you might be interested in, having this magnification feature would help you to authenticate this toy as not only original, but having the oiriginal tires.


Magnify this image, and you'll see  a small figure just behind the rear funnel.


The series of three mechanical banks  is just fabulous.   When triggered, the man will roll his eyes, and his hand (with a coin on it) will move to his mouth, where he will swallow the coin. Every cast iron company or cast iron hardware company that made toys, also made cast iron mechanical banks. As far as toys go, the cast iron banks are highly prized and have received very high final bids at auction.


Here's a nice pair of old metal boiler cars. I would think that these are from the late 19th or early 20th century, and would have actually worked. I don't know much about these fine toys, but they were very popular and still are, especially in Great Britain.






Leslie Hindman Auctioneers also publishes both the real fine-paper catalogue, as well as the Net version. I found this out when I went torecheck something at their site. I've added 3 pages from the catalogue. However, you may not be able to read the print here, but can most easily do so when you view this post in the slide-view mode to look at the photos under larger magnification. Also, you can  visit the website. 

  For my first post on Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, I must certainly say that it was a great experience.  As I was looking through the many different areas and listings at the website, I came across something very unique and interesting. I should have written down the name of these toys or entertainment items ,but I didn't. I'll have to return and do my homework!

 These items are hand-painted distorted drawings that you would have trouble interpreting if you see them. However, when you place the drawing close to a highly-polished mirrored cylinder, the drawing magically appears as a "normal" drawing that can be easily recognized. That was certainly interesting! I never stop learning or being amazed at what websites and auction houses have!

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always, 
have a great part of the day, 
wherever you may be. 

Stacey
(toysearcher@gmail.com)

No comments: