Page 8 - joa-12-22

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

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$8,980 (36 bids, 7 bidders): Rolex Genuine Antique nitrous oxide. By exerting a slight amount of foot pressure on this gas
Counter/Store/Window Display Mirror and Armillary, Rare. The two bag, the dentist was able to control the flow of anesthetic to the mask over
pieces include a brass counter mirror that measures 10 x 15 inches and a the patient’s face.
brass and glass armillary that measures 9 x 15 inches. From the research I To operate, a coin is placed in the left pocket of the dentist. The dentist
have done, the armillary was used with a Rolex watch submerged under and patient are pressed together. The lever located at the feet of the figures
water inside the glass bowl. Both pieces are marked “Swiss Made” and is depressed and the dentist falls back against the gas bag and the coin
painted using a beautiful green. In excellent condition! These are vintage drops from his pocket into the provided slot. As the dentist falls backward,
1960s and were given to Rolex dealers to use in retail stores. (Photos the patient also falls backward in total surprise, throwing his arms up at
courtesy of eBay seller secreteye.) the same time. In the dentist’s right hand is a pair of extractors holding a
large tooth.
PH: Rolex invented the The bank is approximately 10 inches long, 3 1/4 inches wide, and
waterproof watch and 5 inches high. (Photos courtesy of eBay seller thingsnsuch100.)
received a patent in 1926.
To promote the new
waterproof watches, Rolex
almost immediately began
using print advertising of
celebrities shown wearing
the watch and holding it
underwater in a fishbowl.
Soon after, a fishbowl
became part of point-of-
purchase displays and
window advertising in
stores where Rolex watches
were sold – some with
water and fish. The styles
of the bowls changed over
time and were apparently
patented by Rolex as well.
The aquarium displays are
considered rare; one blog
contained the phrase, “the
holy grail of Rolex advertising,” when referring to the fishbowl with stand
featured here known as the Trident Fishbowl; it is circa 1960. I was able
to locate two reported auction sales of the Trident Fishbowl: in April
2008, the Antiquorium in NYC, lot 65, sold for $23,400; and in 2019 at
Sotheby’s Hong Kong, lot 8126, realized 275,500 HKD (approx.
$30,000). A “holy grail” for sure – our buyer is no doubt grinning.
PH: From just after the Civil War until just after the turn of the 20th
$5,878: (56 bids, 16 bidders): Cast Iron Dentist Bank, Mechanical century represents the golden age of American cast iron banks. Banks were
Bank, Rare Antique Americana Toy. This is Dentist Bank was designed made primarily in two forms: still and mechanical. Still, banks were usually
by Charles Bailey and manufactured by the J.& E. Stevens Co., circa 1890. figural coin collection repositories with a slot to drop a coin inside.
This is a popular bank representing an unpopular profession. The Mechanical banks, such as our subject, had moving parts that made saving
intricate, distinctive, and interesting action makes this a favorite of bank money entertaining. The more rare, original, and more complicated, the
collectors past and present. This bank is rarely seen, and it is probably the higher the demand and therefore price.
rarest bank offered on eBay. There are no cracks or other damage. The Examples of this genre bank with multiple moving figures regularly turn
bank still retains an abundance of paint. Not many Dentist Banks have up at auction – care should be exercised as many have been reproduced
survived over the last 100 years, particularly in the wonderful condition of over the years, and many offered for sale are reproductions. Recent true
the one being presented here. antique examples selling at auction include: two in November 2021 at Dan
Originally, collectors were unsure about the history of the bank. After Morphy Auctions reporting one at $2,600 (in original condition with one
some investigation, it was decided that it must have been made by Stevens replacement screw) and one at $1,800 (with repair to dentist’s foot and
Co. due to some similarities. Specifically, the “Bad Accident” bank features replacement of the patient’s arm); Donley Auctions reported a sale in
a black farmer riding atop a donkey cart that is quite similar to the black November 2020 for $2,900 (professionally refurbished with a COA);
patient in the dentist’s chair. Also, the boy in the “Milking Cow” bank Morphy Auctions also reported a sale in March 2020 for $4,000 (in
made by Stevens Co. bears a resemblance to the dentist’s patient. original condition) and in December 2016 for $10,000 (with a repaired
It is interesting to note the large, humped object behind the crack to one of the legs). Most reproduction banks sell for less than $100
dentist since it illustrates the method 19th century dentists administered depending on the quality of the casting and paint. The seller should be
anesthesia to their patients. A large animal hide bag was inflated with pleased with his result.

6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles