“That old rag. If I saw it in the garbage, I wouldn’t bother to take it out,” said Old Lyme, Conn., textile specialist Stephen Huber in regard to an Eighteenth Century Boston schoolgirl sampler that sold at Thomaston Place Auction this past Saturday, August 22. “Well maybe I would,” conceded Huber with the sparkle in his eye that he is so well known for, accompanied by a chuckle and his wry smile.

Huber would become the main contender for the lot just a couple hours later and was in on the fast and furious action all the way from the opening bid of $10,000 to his final bid of $465,750, including premium. Auctioneer Kaja Veilleux related prior to selling the lot, it had been brought into the gallery during a free appraisal day and was casually transported in a brown paper bag.

Originally estimated at $40/60,000, the consignors, a middle-aged couple seated near the front of the gallery, seemed stunned with the price realized. Veilleux broke the tension in the room after the lot hammered down by requesting, “Anyone that might have a similar piece, package it up in a brown paper bag and bring it to the gallery. I’ll be happy to sell it for you.”

A complete review of the auction will appear in a future issue. ⁄SS