OTTAWA LAKE, Mich. — At Richard Leonard’s auctions you can nearly always expect the unexpected.

Although the piece resembled a Georgian mansion dollhouse it was actually a fully-functional liquor cabinet. Created by Maitland-Smith - who also makes a New England house liquor cabinet - the piece could be relied upon to thwart curious guests and relatives.

Selling at $1,100, the “dollhouse” is expected to make a statement in the home of the winning bidder.

Another “deceiving” piece of history was a coin-operated tabletop slot machine, made by Mills Novelty Co., which - in the event of a police raid - could be quickly converted into an ordinary looking stamp machine. This vintage piece sold for $475.

Other slot machines sold at Leonard’s auction included: a Pace-Jennings Mfg. Co. Fruit Gum machine that sold for $800; and from the Sands, a Las Vegas landmark for many years, a working slot machine from the 1950s that saw a final bid of $350.

Other historical items included an 1853 pair of shackles which had signed tags, complete with keys which brought $350. From the 1930s, a Tireur d’Arc hood ornament - generally found on Pierce-Arrow cars - sold for $300.

The owner of a butterscotch-color FADA Bakelite radio, Model 100, was ready to throw it out. Fortunately for him he was advised to consign it to Leonard’s auction where it netted him $550.

Also for the game room or den was a variety of items to enjoy. A 14-foot Bally ABC bowling land (needed to be put back together) sold for $775; an early music box in working condition saw $400; and a Howel’s orange julep drink machine also saw $400.

Also, a 12-inch signed Mettlach stein sold for $200; a Swiss music box with six Irish tunes from the 1890s earned $500; and a 9½-inch chalice saw $300.

Of interest to many collectors were two pieces of Inuit art, including a loon carved from stone, signed Pudio Melia that sold for $245; and a puffin, also carved from stone signed Lucassie Obaytrok that saw a final bid of $175.

The Leonard auction also offered several lamps for every taste and décor. Two interesting ones were a 10-inch Tiffin love birds lamp and a 13-inch Tiffin McCaw lamp. These two lamps sold for $355 and $300 respectively. Among the table lamps there was a 21-inch reverse painted one that sold for $325; a marked Bradley & Hubbard lamp that earned $300; a slag glass table lamp that saw $675; and a Steuben Hanging Vine lamp that crossed the block for $350.

Two Art Deco figural lamps sold for $300 and $275, while an Art Deco slip shade chandelier from the 1920s earned a final bid of $350.

Several interesting pieces of artwork sold, including a LeRoy Neiman piece entitled The President’s Birthday Party, depicting film star Marilyn Monroe singing to President John F. Kennedy, which sold for $275. Other pieces included: a litho from 1882 by G. L. Fields that earned $250; an oil on canvas portrait of a horse by Paul Bettinger a local artist in the Southeastern Michigan area that saw $210; and a porcelain plaque initialed F K Kaiser that sold for $125.

From the E. Kopriwa Company of Chicago, was a beautiful mahogany table with outstanding tuft-work and beadwork. The piece was enhanced by a having a needlepoint top and was also a piece that one would like to have in their living room or entryway. This piece sold for $675.

There were two dining room sets that would certainly be an asset in one’s home. One was a nine-piece cherry dining room set by Stickley. The pieces had been purchased at different times and one piece did not exactly match the other two but was very compatible. All pieces had been signed Stickley with the set selling for $1,400. The other dining room set was one which would appeal to the person desiring to have an Asian-style décor in their home. This set had a mother-of-pearl inlaid table which was accompanied by eight chairs. The final bid on this striking set was $1,700.

To put on either one of these fine sets when there was a dinner party there was a 44-piece set of Reed & Barton sterling silver flatware. This earned a final bid of $1,200.

For the person who needed extra wardrobe space there was a very lovely decorated wardrobe. This piece was dated 1868 on the inside and was from Port Clinton, Ohio. The selling price was $1,050. A smaller burl mahogany wardrobe sold for $250.

Also for the bedroom, there was a carved high-back mahogany bedroom suite that sold for $1,000; a burl mahogany bedroom suite that earned $475; and a full-size Victorian walnut bed that crossed the block for $200.

Other pieces for the bedroom included: a tiger maple and cherry dresser (circa 1850-1860) that sold for $300; an Estey Victorian bachelor’s chest that saw $300; a bird’s-eye maple dresser with a mirror that crossed the block for $300; a Victorian marble-top walnut dresser with hanky drawers the saw $250; and a Sheraton cherry chest of drawers with three over four from circa 1830-1860 that earned a final bid of $350.

Examples of the tables included: a Victorian marble-top walnut parlor table that sold for $325; a mahogany table with carved dragon heads and a brass tray that saw $225; an oak stick-and-ball Victorian parlor table that sold for $300; and an Empire burl mahogany breakfast table that also sold for $300.

There was a good variety of desks and/or desk combinations for anyone’s taste or place in their home. A three-piece Victorian cylinder bookcase/desk found lots of interest and sold for $850; two large cherry bookcases (84 inches by 59 inches each) saw $500 each; and from the 1840s there was a cherry plantation desk that sold for $325.

An oak double bookcase/secretary and a Victorian walnut drop-front secretary bookcase each sold for $400; an oak drop-front secretary/bookcase earned $275; and a cherry desk/bookcase (bookcase was on top) crossed the block for $300 which was also the selling price for a mahogany partner’s desk.

China cabinets included: a claw-foot curved-glass china cabinet that sold for $475; a cherry Queen Anne-style china cabinet that saw $300; and an oak Art Deco china cabinet with beveled glass that also saw a final bid of $300. An oak curved glass server/china cabinet sold for $700; and a china cabinet with an Oriental flavor crossed the block for $275.

There was a great variety of chairs including a set of six rope-twist chairs that sold for $275; and a Victorian walnut parlor chair that saw $290.

A Victorian walnut marble-top sideboard sold for $475; a Victorian walnut medallion-back settee saw $235; an oak doctor’s cabinet earned $550; and a Chickering baby grand piano commanded a final bid of $825.

For a child there were many items for them to enjoy. Among these were: a child’s battery-operated Indian motorcycle that sold for $85; a Murray pedal tractor and the trailer to go with it that earned $150; and a hand-carved rocking horse sold for $275.

There were many, many additional desirable pieces in all genres such as a signed 38-inch Royal Dux Sevres, France vase sold for $450; a 9-inch Roseville Baneda double-handle vase earned $300; and a 9-inch Zsolney tower vase brought $165.

Contact:

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