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WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$3,800 (13 bids, 11 bidders): Leonardo da Vinci follower, Antique $6,652 (22 bids, 12 bidders): Antique 14k Gold Cigarette Case,
Mona Lisa from Louvre, incredible quality. The most beautiful antique Chamberlin 1927 Historic Airplane Solo Flight. On May 22, 1919, the
Mona Lisa, probably from a Louvre painter, after the original by Leonardo New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig offered a $25,000 reward (equivalent
da Vinci. She is even more beautiful than the da Vinci Mona but here with to $369,000 in 2019) to the first Allied aviator to fly non-stop from New York
part of the columns, which were removed from the original. Incredible City to Paris. Many aviators were planning to try and be the first, but in May
quality, painted in Leonardo’s sfumato technique (without lines or of 1927, Charles Lindbergh made his historic flight and won the prize.
borders), oil on canvas, approximately 21.5 x 31.3 inches, approximately Another lesser-known aviator, Clarence Duncan Chamberlin (1893–1976)
19th c. or from the time of the theft of the Mona Lisa. flew from New York City to Berlin, Germany and landed on June 7, 1927,
Acquired from a German collection, they had the information from just two weeks after Lindbergh’s flight, setting a new world’s record for the
the former owner that this antique painting was made in the Louvre, longest, nonstop flight, which was far longer than Lindbergh’s flight. At the
a museum copy, which sounds very logical regarding this quality and the time, he was also a famous aviator, but not as famous as Lindbergh.
details. The painting needs a cleaning and a little restoration. Amazing We are listing a 14k gold cigarette case made by the goldsmith, H.J. Wilm,
antique artwork and the most beautiful antique Mona Lisa for sale in who was the Jeweler to the Kaiser in
the world. Old copies from the Mona Lisa can reach up to $1.7 million at Berlin. This solid 14k gold case measures
auction. (photos courtesy of eBay seller moritz*purvin.) 3 1/4 by 4 inches and weighs 4.61 troy
ounces. The front is beautifully hand
engraved with a swirling border and an
urn of flowers in the middle. On the
inside of this presentation case is an
inscription in an engraved script that is
difficult to make out. At the top, it
reads, “Mr. Chamberlin.” The third
line reads, “Berlin 7 Juni, 1927.”
We believe the name at the bottom
is “Marxz Hresemann.”
This 14k gold case is in excellent
original condition. At today’s
gold price of $1,808, this case
has $4,872 in gold value alone.
Add to the value that it was
made by the important Berlin
goldsmith H.J. Wilm and
the historic 1927 Chamberlin
PH: It is suggested that copies of the Atlantic flight inscription, and you have an important early aviation collectible.
Mona Lisa have been painted since It is from Chamberlin’s granddaughter who sold it for her mother, the
before the original was complete, daughter of Clarence Chamberlin. (photos courtesy of eBay seller wwolst12.)
right in Leonardo’s studio, ca. 1503,
and the mysterious smiling lady PH: Beautiful example of a gold cigarette case with fine engraving, even
has been continuously copied without the historical connection. H.J. Wilm of Berlin produced cigarette
ever since. Copies from the 16th cases for the Kaiser in gold and ultimately, also for Adolph Hitler in silver.
and 17th centuries exist mostly in Our lister was not able to decipher the inscription which was done using
museum collections. an individual’s penmanship which makes it sometimes difficult to read. I had
The painting became part of the better success; the inscription reads: “Zur Erinnerung an Ihren Flug (As a
Louvre collection in Paris in 1797, Reminder of your Flight); Amerika – Deutschland (America to Germany);
and interestingly, the Louvre Berlin, 9, Jun 1927; Marx (Wilhelm, the Reich’s Chancellor), Stresemann
opened its collection to copyists (Gustav, Reich Foreign Minister).” Because Marx’s name varies from the rest
only a month after Louis XIV’s of the writing, I expect the rest of the note was originally handwritten by
palace became a museum in 1793. Stresemann and copied by the engraver.
Since then, and today, the museum has provided an easel and brush, free Gold cigarette cases were generally the accouterment of the very wealthy.
of charge, to anyone wanting the challenge of copying a masterpiece, Reported auction sales of cases with historical connections include one
including many well-known artists. You will find dozens at work today in belonging to Kaiser Wilhelm II that sold for $8,695 in October 2020 at a
the museum—albeit with strict rules—and a waiting list to participate. German auction house, and a French gold case presented to Dwight
Copies of this and other famous paintings are not unique. That said, Eisenhower on V-E Day sold for $7,000 in May 2016. An 18k gold case
this one did pretty well price-wise. A Chicago auction house reported one without provenance sold for $11,000 in October 2020.
sold for $3,000 in September 2020. Carlsen Auction reported a 2016 sale This is certain to be a prize in someone’s collection.
at $8,000. In contrast, Sotheby’s Paris reported the sale of a 17th century
copy for $611,950 in 2019. The 2019 Sotheby’s London sale the eBay
Philip Hawkins, ISA AM, AAG is an accredited member of the International
seller mentioned has reportedly raised some eyebrows since that painting
Society of Appraisers and a founding member of the Appraisers Association of
was available prior to the auction for less money. Georgia. He can be reached via the ISA website or at 404-320-7275.
8 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles