MERIDIEN, CONN.- Nest Egg’s Spring Art and Antiques Auction was held on Saturday, May 5 2012, and many pieces soared above pre-sale estimates.

The 240-lot auction proved to be full of surprises as the afternoon progressed. “We are thrilled with the results. The Auction did really well.” said auctioneer Ryan Brechlin.

A Sterling Silver Octopus-form Chatelaine made by Gorham Silversmiths in the late 19th Century was holding the attention of many serious buyers during the 3 day preview. “It is rare to see American silver like this come to market” said Brechlin. The bidding started slow at $1,100, and proceeded with an in-house buyer competing against an online bidder. The online bidder was victorious at $11,800. A chatelaine is a decorative belt hook or clasp worn at the waist with a series of chains suspended from it. Each chain is mounted with a useful household appendage such as scissors, thimble, vinaigrette, buttonhook, etc.

An archive of early Connecticut papers, photographs and ephemera from the Pratt family of Old Saybrook brought $5,664. Well above the $1,000-$2,000 presale estimate.

A rare carved blackamoor head humidor with ivory teeth and shell eyes exceeded its presale estimate of $500-$1,000 finally closing at $3,540.

The featured item of the sale was a Sol LeWitt painted aluminum outdoor structure. The thirty-eight inch, seven-pointed star rises into a flat topped pyramid. Owned by Michael Hayes; friend, neighbor and fabricator for Sol LeWitt for many years. Hayes sat in the audience with his wife as the modern sculpture came up at the mid-point of the sale. “We had a very eager in-house bidder and a serious collector on the phones for this piece” Stated Brechlin. The bidding opened at the high estimate of $50,000 and proceeded briskly in $5,000 increments until it hit $90,000 when the bidding slowed. A few slower bids brought the price up another $10,000. After a final call for any other bids, the gavel was dropped at $100,000. The total price including buyers premium was $118,000. “This is a single-item record price for us at Nest Egg” The previous single item sales record was a painting by artist Alphonse Mucha which sold in April of last year for $59,000.

All Prices are inclusive of buyers premium except where noted.