The RSL Auction Company is very pleased to announce its adoption of a new auction format that shall henceforward be known as the “Crème de la Crème Auction”. This phrase originated in France perhaps three centuries ago. Its earliest use stems from culinary references related to cheese produced with the finest creams. In modern parlance, the phrase has simply come to mean the ‘very best’, whether in reference to people or things. As the phrase implies, these auctions will be extremely small with only the very best quality offerings on the market.
Our first crème de la crème sale will take place this summer on Saturday, August 21st at our auction facility in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey. The sale will showcase 300 stellar pieces that will include architectural still banks, dynamic themed spelter still banks, figural still banks, tin and cast iron mechanical banks, bell toys, cast iron animal drawn toys, European tinplate planes, trains, automobiles and novelty toys, rare examples of American tin and mechanical toys and several prized pieces of folk art. In the future, we will plan to create one crème de la crème sale every summer.
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LOT 307:
Jonah and the Whale Iron Mechanical Bank
more...
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Sold for: $16,000
Start price:
$
7,000
Estimated price :
$14,000 - $18,000
Buyer's Premium: 27.5%
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Jonah and the Whale Iron Mechanical Bank
The Shepard Hardware Company Buffalo, NY - Circa Late 1880's. The parable of Jonah and the Whale plays out in three discrete chapters: disobedience to God while in his service, repentance for the misdeed, and ultimately, forgiveness by God. Remarkably, all three of these narrative elements are present in this small toy bank. Jonah has disobeyed God's instruction to travel to Nineveh. Angered by his behavior, God sends a storm that makes the seas choppy. In an effort to appease God and save the boat from ruin, the crew jettison Jonah overboard. This is the very action we witness when playing with the Jonah Bank. Luckily for Jonah, he is retracted from the whale's gaping and gobbling mouth. Only the penny is swallowed, thereby suffering the plight that Jonah would ordinarily suffer. This represents a very superlative example of the Jonah and the Whale Bank.
