Thrift Store Find, Mercedes, Three Graces Chandelier Highlight Witherell’s Catalogue Auction

Running online September 16 to 30, Witherell’s catalogue auction stands out with a 1964 Mercedes, an early Thiebaud landscape, a Herzog discovered in a thrift store, a “Three Graces” chandelier and a pair of gold scales, among the highlighted items.

With 149,000 miles on it, the 1964 230 SL Mercedes has an estimated value of $20,000 to $30,000.

“Collecting cars is a growing field,” said Brian Witherell, ‘Antiques Roadshow’ appraiser and Witherell’s chief operating officer. “There is a broad base of car collectors, so we are always pleased to auction interesting cars.

“This car is in very good condition having had a single owner since 1985.”

A framed watercolor by American artist Wayne Thiebaud, possibly depicting the Sacramento River Delta, is signed and dated “Thiebaud 58”.

Valued at $3,000 to $5,000, the early work is 14″ x 21” by sight and 23.5” x 30” overall.

Known for his landscapes and prominence in the Dusseldorf school before coming to America, a Hermann Herzog 1874 landscape found in a Northern California thrift store is one of the more additions to the upcoming auction.

Valued at $2,000 to $4,000, the painting was bought in a Woodland, Calif. thrift store on “Half-price day” for $2.50.

Labeled “Moonlight scene Austria” and stamped verso, “Muller Paris”, is 16.25” by 12.62” oil on board, 21” by 16.75” with frame.

An 1870 Three Graces chandelier attributed to Cornelius and Baker, Philadelphia, is expected to do well at $3,000 to 5,000.

The bronze, five-arm chandelier is adorned with the three allegorical figures on the stem, “Art, Science, and Industry”, that represent the Victorian love of symbolism.

They are surmounted by three Baroque-style, female busts and have etched shades with ruffled edges

A similar chandelier was on the cover of a catalogue by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the exhibition “19th Century America, Furniture and Other Decorative Arts” that ran April 16- September 7, 1970.

The chandelier also was pictured with description number 135 of the exhibition and comes from the estate of the late Earl and Rae Klima, owners of Klima’s Antiques in Sutter Creek, Calif. for more than 30 years.

A pair of 19th century gold scales bear a partial sticker “Wells… From Sacra” and are marked “LAVERS N.Y. FULTON ST. 33”.

Valued at $1,000 to $2,000, they are accompanied by a separate paper note that says “Yankee Jim, the namesake of the famous town of Yankee Jim near Foresthill, used these scales in his business with the early miners.”

Also from the estate of the Earl and Ray Klima, they stand 27.5” high, 22” wide and 10.5” deep and have a wooden base with drawers.

Founded in 1969, Witherell’s does appraisals and auctions of objects of value—from decorative arts and design to antiques and fine art.

Witherell’s places items globally through private sales, online auctions and the annual Witherell’s Old West Antiques Show in May.