It was standing room only at the Deforest Comfort Inn Convention Center where Wayne Yoder conducted a sale on February 9. On the auction block were the complete occupational shaving mugs, stoneware and art pottery collections of Jeffery Skou. Many states were represented with attendees from Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Tennessee, Iowa, New York and Missouri, not to mention Wisconsin. Many out of state people were also bidding over the phone.
It did not take long for an ambulance occupational mug, which is one of only two known, to set a new world record price of $29,000, beating the previous auction record of $22,500. Then, just an hour and a half later, that new occupational mug record was broken when a one-of-a-kind aeronaut mug flew to $45,000, driven by some competitive bidding.
Other mug highlights included a fireman fighting fire that realized $2,800, a hardware storefront at $3,500, a railroad roundabout fetched $7,500 and dump truck went to $4,500.
Many mugs were unusual, and the prices reflected their uniqueness: an early red automobile brought $3,700, a mattress maker went to $6,000, a confectionary vendor, $2,250, a photographic fireman, $5,500, railroad handcar, $3,500, ship captain, $6,000, and man with clock, $2,750.
A total of 162 mugs were sold throughout the auction, along with 24 stoneware pieces, which included a Fort Edward Deer crock for $6,000, a Geddes Bird jug at $3,750, a Berger 8-gallon churn went to $1,025 and a Roberts churn at $900.
The art pottery section featured a total of 208 pieces. Among these were a Louselsa Weller Indian vase, $3,700; 10-inch Wisteria vase, $1,000; and a Knifewood squirrels vase, $1,600.
Coppertone pieces included a double fish vase that sold for $3,700, fish and frog round vase that brought $1,400, and a 5¾-inch frog that went to $800.
A signed Glendale Bluebird vase reached $1,700. Other pieces were a Glendale Chicks, $1,100; a 10-inch sunflower vase, $1,600; and a smaller sunflower vase, $700.
Roseville was rosy with a panel nudes vase going for $1,050, a falline vase fetched $600, a Weller Parrot figurine brought $775, and a blue pine cone basket realized $825.
Wayne Yoder charges no buyer’s premium so prices given are hammer price.
For more information, 920-787-5549, 920-295-2644 or wyoderauction.com .
