We’ve Set a Personal Record for the Selling Price of a Single Item at Our Auction With a Paul Evans Sculptured Cabinet Selling for $89,700.00!
On March 28, 2019 at 7:00pm with over 400 registered bidders in house and another 1000 bidders online, all eyes were on a Paul Evans free floating sculptured front cabinet that was discovered in a Monmouth Beach Estate. The Bid open at $40,000.00 with several hands up in the air, the excitement was in the air like the starting gates at Monmouth Race Track, “And there OFF!.”
The bids quickly ran off to $70,00.00 when 2 bidders locked heads and came to a photo finish hammer price of $78,000.00 plus the 15% buyer’s premium. A roar of cheers came from the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center where Bodnar’s conducts their sales monthly. Joe Bodnar remembers when he walked into the Estate back in September of 2018 and saw it hanging on the wall of the 17th floor condo overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. When I walked around the corner and saw the sculpture, I immediately knew it was a Paul Evans piece. My gut reaction was it was about $20,000.00-$40,000.00. However, after I went home and did some research, I discovered how important this piece was. Similar pieces at auction have reached six figures. This piece was a one of a kind, purchased from Paul Evan directly in 1974.
“Despite its flaws of paint-loss, minor rust and some holes done to the back of the cabinet, it sold for a fair price” Bodnar explained. “I have been conducting auctions for over 20 years and this is the most expensive single item we have ever sold! It was another milestone in my journey from a $2000.00 grossing auction in a parking lot back in 1996 to today where we a running a significant professional auction firm with rare pieces.” Bodnar’s reminisces about a pair of urns he saved from the melting pot of a scrap yard back in 1998 that sold for $36,000.00 which was the prior record. “I have been chasing that record for 20 years! Now I’ve got a new goal to hit, $100,000.00!”
Description in the catalog was: Rare Paul Evans sculpture front cabinet. Done in an enameled steel front that has been welded and sculpted into various shapes. Has 4 doors on the front that open to wood shelves. Has patchwork copper in the top, sides and bottom and a slate top. The interior has a reddish hue. Has a welded signature on the base of the right most side door and is dated 1974. Is a beautiful example of Paul Evans work. Measures approx. 89″ wide x 21 1/4″ high x 18″ deep.
Bodnar’s next vintage toy auction in NJ is May 18, 2019 at the New Jersey Convention & Expo Center located at 97 Sunfield Ave Edison, NJ, is featuring an estate sale collection of a GI Joe collector and know creator of GI Joe custom figures that were sold at many comic cons. This Manhattan estate has an extensive 300+ collection of 1980’s GI Joe’s and accessories many in packaging as well as another rare 500+ lots of other action figures. Over 1000+ lots will be offered. See www.bodnarsauction.com for full details or call our antique auction house in NJ at 1-732-210-6388.