One of the most highly desirable items at this auction was the gorgeous 18-inch Rookwood Pottery vase by ET Hurley. After spirited bidding it sold for $6,250.

South Bend, Ind., was the home of Studebaker cars, as the town is near LaPorte, it is not surprising many people who attended the auction would have an interest in Studebaker items. A Studebaker wheel advertisement, which once adorned a fence post at the Studebaker Proving Grounds sold for $4,500.

From the 1890s there was a very desirable Globe BB gun that caught the interest of several collectors. After enthusiastic bidding it crossed the block for $3,500.

Josef Thoma (1828-1899) was an Austrian artist known for his landscape paintings. An oil on canvas winter skating scene by Thoma found several interested bidders and realized a final bid of $2,400.

A drive of 20 to 25 minutes will get you to Michigan City, Ind., so the oil on canvas painting of the lighthouse there by John Correll found many interested parties and a final selling price of $700. Another Indiana-related piece of art was the oil on canvas still life by John Hardrick that sold for $750. Hardrick (1891-1968) was a native of Indianapolis.

Red Skelton was well known as a comedian. He was also an accomplished artist and the four double-signed lithographs presented at this auction found a considerable amount of interest resulting in final bids of $450 for Sunday Afternoon, $400 for No Place to Go and Up and Away and $350 for Amigo.

Among the many lamps presented an 18-inch leaded glass Chrysanthemum lamp proved to be the most popular attaining a final selling price of $2,500. A Handel boudoir lamp crossed the block for $1,150; a Van Briggle lamp earned $140; and a Handel lamp with an art glass shade saw $300. Hanging lamps included one with a cranberry shade that sold for $425; and two others, one with a green shade and the other with a hand-painted floral shade that each sold for $250. Other lamps included a banquet lamp with a floral shade that earned $200; a banquet lamp with a red satin glass globe that earned $225; and a banquet lamp with an amber font and shade that crossed the block for $150. A Jefferson lamp from 1879 found a new owner for $650 and a Joe Rice paperweight lamp crossed the block for $150. For those who had the lamp but needed a shade there was a pair of pulled feather lamp shades that sold for $350; a single pulled feather lamp shade that saw $180; and a Steuben lamp shade that found a final bid of $110.

Clock collectors were not to be denied as there were several clocks from which to choose. Among them were a dome-top Seth Thomas mantel clock that sold for $65; a Seth Thomas weight clock that saw $140; a New Haven eight-day clock that earned $75; and a New Haven wall clock that crossed the block for $160.

There was a great variety of glass, crystal and porcelain pieces that were eagerly sought. A Limoges vase found a new owner for a bid of $175; a seven piece commode set earned $175; a large Roseville vase crossed the block for $175; and a set of Pyrex mixing bowls in the traditional yellow, green, blue, and red sold for $55. The Tiffany art glass bowl had been repaired and this was reflected in the final bid of $70. A Tiffany frog earned $65 and two toothpick holders mark LCT (one of which had a chip) sold for $80 each.

One of the most unusual items to cross the block was a musical instrument called a Marxolin. These were made by the Marx & Marx Company of Chicago and the Marxochime Colony of New Troy, Mich. and were among the strange instruments that appeared in the 1930s and 1940s. This one was zither-like in appearance with zither-style strings and an odd-shaped bow. I am not sure just how it worked but it was interesting and found a new owner for $55.

For the local history buff there was a statue that had graced the theater in La Porte. It appeared to be an angel of some sort and appealed to many locals with the final bid being $400. Also from La Porte, a Lenick’s Dairy neon sign advertising milk and ice cream sold for $600. Taking up a little less room was a La Porte County atlas from 1907 that crossed the block for $110.

A Sinclair gas pump that earned $160, and a Texaco Sky Chief gas pump saw $195.

For the person who would like to get back to the basics and go for a sleigh ride there were two beautiful one-horse sleighs. These two items sold for $400 and $500 each.

Railroad items for the collector included a lantern with a red globe that earned $60; one with a cobalt globe that saw $55; and a set of railroad service pins that sold for $60.

A Singer Feather weight sewing machine sold for $255; a wall coffee grinder earned $65; and a pint butter churn crossed the block for $65.

A 4-H lighted sign was one of the first items to cross the block and sold for $155; and a jukebox earned $400.

An old Army knife crossed the block for $175, and a Case pocketknife from 1907 earned $45. A Dietz skater’s lantern earned $65; a photo album with vintage photos saw $55; and a desirable lot of old postcards sold for $120.

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