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 317:
Chinaman in Boat Bank
more...
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Sold for: $50,000
Start price:
$
20,000
Estimated price :
$40,000 - $50,000
Buyer's Premium: 27.5%
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Chinaman in Boat Bank
Made by Charles Bailey. Cobalt, Ct. - Early 1880's. Perelman Toy Museum Collection. From the Haradin Family Collection. Charles Bailey made a magnificent quartet of finely detailed banks in lead before he went to work for the J. & E. Stevens Company. This foursome includes the Springing Cat, Baby Elephant, Chinaman in Boat and the elusive Darky Fisherman (only 2 known). The "Chinaman" is perhaps the most elaborate of these four pieces. It is certainly the prettiest to look at and it is definitely the most fun to play with. Examining the bank, we discover the chinaman seated in his rickety and rundown sampan boat. In front of him is a tray that reads "Cheap Labor Hotel - Dinner One Cent in Advance". The hotel doesn't trust him. That's why they ask for their payment in advance. The activating lever is actually his long braided queue. Pressing his ponytail carefully in causes his left hand to flip the coin into the bank and reveal his dinner of boiled rat upon a silver tray. On the prow, we find a seasick pussycat who wishes he had not gotten so drunk. Clearly, the design for the Chinaman in Boat was greatly influenced by the negative racist view of the Chinese known as the "Yellow Peril". This is truly one of the most important sociocultural toy banks ever created. Fantastic history of ownership.
