An impressive gilt and verdigris sulky weathervane, depicting famed harness-racing horse Nancy Hanks, auctioned on session two of a three day sale, which took place between January 30 and February 1 in Maine, US.
The sulky weathervane, which features pneumatic tyres attributed to the esteemed J W Fiske Company, brought $20,000 - a figure at the very top end of its $15,000-20,000 estimate.
 The gilt and verdigris weathervane features a horse drawn sulky with pneumatic tires |
J W Fiske was among America's most prominent manufacturers of decorative cast iron and cast zinc items during the late 19th century, and since the latter half of the 20th century, many unmarked items have been attributed to J W Fiske in order to positively impact their value.
The substantial sale price suggests bidders were sure the weathervane was a genuine J W Fiske.
Nancy Hanks is depicted with flaring nostrils and a flowing mane, mounted on a rod with arrow and knit-banded copper balls. A small bullet hole is evident on the stomach of the sulky's driver, suggesting the weathervane may have been used for target practice at some point in its life.
The ambitious, three session sale began with paintings from the Cape Ann school and concluded with fine Asian art and antiques.
Here at Paul Fraser Collectibles, we also have a wide range of museum-grade art and antiques currently in stock.
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