The Josiah Bartlett Auction, June 1989

The Josiah Bartlett Auction, June 1989

Martin Willis Auctioneer New Hampshire Cross Roads feature on an auction at the homestead of Josiah Bartlett, the second signer of The Declaration of Independence, the founder of The New Hampshire Medical Society and New Hampshire’s first Governor. The Auction was held in Kingston, New Hampshire on June 24, 1989. There were several thousand attendees from all over the world including dozens of descendants of Bartlett. Many auction records in one day. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vl4OW8YWD9M

World Record $2 million Tlingit Helmet Sold at Fairfield Auction

May 18th, 2008 Fairfield Auction established a world record for a Native American object with a final sales price of $2.185 million for this very early and rare helmet. The Tlingit people reside along the Northwest Coast of North America and their art is considered among the finest of all tribal cultures. This particular helmet probably dates to the 18th century and is possibly the best example extant.

Gallery owner Jack DeStories discovered the helmet during a regular appraisal event. The owner, who brought the carved spruce helmet “just to find out what it was” had it on a shelf for some thirty years, never knowing its importance, was understandably astonished at the results. The sale was reported by several television stations and over sixty newspapers world-wide and placed Fairfield Auction along with Sotheby’s, Christies and Bonhams as the only auction houses in North America to surpass $2 million on a single antique object. httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvIpy2DnqGw