Kaloa Pilmore (Kaye to her friends and associates) of Pewamo, Michigan, was an artist and as such, a great patron of the arts.

Her service as executive director of the Clinton County Arts Council for several years attested to her dedication to local artistry. The auction of her estate aptly attested to her love of a wide variety of art media.

As auctioneer Mel White sold her lifetime accumulation at the auction block, friends, family and fans clustered around the podium to bid on many of her fine pieces of original pottery and other items. Her handmade pieces were easily identified with the inscribed "Kaye" beneath much of her pottery.

The tables in the front yard held many unique items, from figurines to vases, plates and numerous cup and saucer sets. Some of the items were Flow Blue, Fenton and Wheaton, and some were original pottery items created by Kaye herself. A large rectangular Flow Blue platter drew much interest before closing at $40. An Amethyst plate with three cats carved into it reached a high bid of $9. A small carnival glass poppy bowl drew interest before selling at $20 and a carnival basket weave small pitcher was $14.

There were dozens of cup and saucer sets, with the most desirable being a gold-trimmed set by Shelly that sold for $25. Others were $6-12 each, then the remaining pieces were sold as a lot. An attractive modern swirl paperweight drew a bidding flurry before settling at $16, and a large blue Fenton vase went home for $35. Other items on the table included many white hobnail pieces, a cluster of blue plates, vases, bells and red glassware, all made by various manufacturers.

A small cluster of child figurines by various companies closed for $3. A large metal Tonka truck car carrier was admired by many and reached a high bid of $43. A stack of 8-10 old license plates closed for $15, a mixed lot containing two drills, a skill saw, new palm sander and various small tools for $23, a large Stanley hand plane in very good condition for $5 and a metallic blue snare drum for $10.

Box lots dominated the landscape, with some holding valuable surprises while others were sold inexpensively. They contained books, household items, Christmas decorations, craft supplies, baskets and numerous vintage board games and puzzles. A box containing about 25 comic books, with Superman visible on top, closed for $30. A box containing several silver items, including some described as silverweighted, drew a high bid of $40. A mixed box that included a very nice hand-carved wooden bird finished at $10. A box with a few purses, including a dark beaded purse on top, was purchased for $23.

The furniture was a mixture of older pieces and modern items. A very handsome and unusual desk that looks like a dresser until the desk surface is opened finished with a high bid of $70. An oak piano stool with glass ball and claw feet sold for $38, a light-colored oak table with two leaves for $10, the four matching oak chairs for $23, a copper trunk for $55 and a green trunk for $45. A group of five cane chairs closed at $45 and two wooden rockers sold at $5 and $12.50. A chest-on-chest style dresser in very good condition was of great interest and finally finished at $160. There were two Victrola units at this auction. The first was in a nice wooden box on a matching record cabinet and it closed at $110.

Some useful items that drew interest included an Amiga motorized scooter in excellent working condition for $100, an HP Office Jet 6500 printer for $46, a patio umbrella in box for $25, a wheelchair for $20 and a sturdy PMI walker with wheels for $20.

There was no buyers’ premium and no sales tax was required since the items sold at the house. Mel White is based in Lansing, Michigan and can be reached at (517) 394-3006 or via his website at www.melwhiteauctioneer.com.