Morphy Auctions December 11 to 13 Winter Sale of 2,900 lots of antique toys, banks, trains and antique advertising, enhanced by the warmth of superior-quality Austrian art-glass lamps and the cheerful colors of vintage Bakelite.

More than 20 Austrian art-glass lamps from the single-owner collection will be auctioned, including a superb figural Peacock lamp whose draped bronze base dramatically replicates a peacock’s showy tail feathers with inset jewels. Adding to its magnificence is a Mont Joye enameled-glass shade with quintessential Art Nouveau butterfly-and-dragonfly motif. Estimated at $6,000 to $8,000, the 18-inch stunner is in excellent working order, as are all of the lamps from this collection.

From the same consignor comes a collection of more than 150 rare and exquisite Bakelite bracelets, necklaces and brooches. A googly-eyed jack-o’-lantern scarecrow brooch with pumpkin head and painted-wood body trimmed with original “ragged” hemp hands and feet, is described by the owner as “my best piece of Bakelite”. Known to collectors as the “Pumpkin Man,” it is expected to fetch $5,000-$7,000.

In other categories, more than 400 lots of antique advertising and general store items will be offered in the sale. A top lot is an oval Yuengling Brewery reverse-on-glass sign promoting porter and ale, estimated at $5,000 to $7,500. Tobacco pocket tins include a crossover favorite: the Taxi Crimp Cut tin, which could fetch $3,500 to $5,000.

The Winter event includes 150 mechanical banks, with a J. & E. Stevens Horse Race bank estimated at $25,000 to $35,000. An array of still banks, and more than 100 pieces of figural cast iron - primarily desirable examples of figural doorstops - also will be offered.

More than 100 German tin wind-up toys will be available, including limos and other autos, 15 penny toys, a large Bing ocean liner with original box, a circa-1930 boxed Marx “Red the Ice Man” ($2,000 to $4,000), and a fine early Doll et Cie. Ferris wheel ($1,500 to $2,500). Among the 100+ tin character toys are many coveted examples of Disney and Popeye animated stars, including a Linemar Juggling Popeye & Olive Oyl tin wind-up estimated at $2,000 to $3,000. Morphy’s will also sell 300 graded Star Wars action figures on their original cards, and a colorful selection of antique and vintage marbles.

More than 200 lots of cast-iron automotive toys will be sold, as well. A pristine Say It With Flowers motorcycle van comes with its original box and provenance from the Perelman Museum. Morphy Auctions’ general manager, Tom Sage Jr., described the motorcycle as “the nicest, cleanest cast-iron toy I have ever seen - it’s dead mint.” Estimate: $30,000 to -$50,000.

Morphy Auctions will hold its Winter 2008 sale December 11 to 13 at the Adamstown Antique Gallery, 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, Pennsylvania (on the Adamstown antique strip). All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through eBay Live Auctions. For additional information, call 717-335-3435 or visit www.morphyauctions.com.

Posted: 11|23|08 at 11:07 am. Filed under: US News.