Leo Legare Auctions

On Thursday, December 1, auctioneer Leo Legare will hold diverse sale of antiques, custom furniture, toys and jewelry at the Elks Lodge, Route 108, in Dover, NH, at 5 p.m. As with most estate sales, this one will feature a wide range of fine antiques, furniture, accessories and a few surprises.

“We have an interesting line-up of items up for sale. The categories that stand out in my mind are Civil War, silver and toys. The early coin silver hollowware is outstanding,” said Leo Legare, auctioneer. “We have some superb examples of American silver hollowware teapots, creamers, sugars, coffee pots and more from well-known Boston and Newburyport makers. Among the toys, a Boycraft pedal car in amazing condition is a highlight and the Overland Circus horse-drawn vehicles are in vibrant original paint are a rare find.”

The Civil War lots are a unique window on that period with a collection of documents and artifacts relating to Lt. Solomon H. Fountain of Wishawauka Indiana. He was killed on the battlefield in 1865 and the documents include his 1863 commission as First Lieutenant, a document for Fountain signed by O. P. Morton, governor of Indiana, a handwritten letter to his son by Captain John Pierce informing him of the death, a second letter written by Lieut. Colonel Jasper Packard detailing the circumstances of Fountain’s death, photos, a sword engraved “E. Plurubus Unum” engraved with eagle, an E. Whitney Civil War revolver, a large framed “Soldier’s Memorial” and more all related to the one soldier.

Among the many American silver lots is a covered sugar by Newburyport maker G. Greenleaf, a N. Harding & Co. Boston graceful creamer, a large coffee pot by J. B. Jones and a Muford & Wendell basket with a delicate handle is beautiful. The sale will also offer some stunning examples of English and European hollowware silver including a fabulous heavily embossed teapot with dolphin spout and a Fratelli Coppini Italian creamer and sugar set with dragon handles. There are also numerous silver goblets, mugs, cups, boxes, tongs, and silver serving pieces and lots of flatware.

Toys collectors and dealers will delight in the wide selection of antique and collectible toys in the sale ranging from an early tin wind up dancing man to eye-catching Boycraft pedal car. There are cast iron toys, Britain toy soldiers, dolls and many more interesting pieces from the 19th and early 20th century.

The sale will also feature some of the finest custom-made furniture ever crafted. Thesehandsome pieces represent the workmanship of the individual cabinetmakers and respected firms such as Margolis, Beacon Hill, Drexel and Paine Furniture. Each piece is finely fashioned based on classical designs including a set of 6 custom-carved Hepplewhite chairs, a Beacon Hill breakfront, highboys, desks, and beautiful inlaid Pembroke table by Margolis.

As with any estate auction there is a little bit of everything and in this sale, a lot of open salts. There are brilliantly colored Sandwich salts, lacey salts, Mercury copper lustre salts, Intaglio salts, Venetian salts and pottery salts. Other interesting items include a signed letter and signature of Booker T. Washington, Pima Indian basket, Nantucket swing handle basket, Daum Nancy vase, Grueby tulip tile and a Loetz silver overlay vase.
For a complete list of lots, photos or directions, visit legare-auctions.com or call (603) 595-9625.
The preview will open at 3 p.m., on the day of the sale and the hall is catered with plenty of free parking. There is a 15 percent buyers premium.