La Moderne is playing the nostalgia card with its toy sale on Feb. 23, the day after the usual cataloged monthly meeting. The opportunity to shed a tear or get your madeleine among 450 pieces with prices ranging from a hundred euros to several thousand euros. Märklin enthusiasts, lovers of old dolls or cuddly toys, collectors of enamel plaques from yesteryear - as well as from the 21st century -, collectors of toy soldiers or miniature cars, your time has come!
And you don't necessarily have to be from the last century to appreciate it; some pieces have great decorative potential, others have historical and documentary value, still others will rather make you smile like these rare pre-World War I car license plates with a very aged look (lot 4348, estimate 250 -300 euros for three enameled plates from Hainaut).
Lemon Spa or Elixir d'Anvers?
Old enamel signs occupy a special place in the auction, which also includes some recent specimens, such as this plaque for Eau de Villée, published in 2004 on the occasion of the official inauguration of the Biercée distillery's facilities (lot 4311, estimate 500-700 euros) or that of the "Chocolaterie de Monaco," issued in single copies in the early 2000s (lot 4316, estimate 2-300 euros). The ultimate remains these old plaques honoring brands that have largely disappeared or with particularly successful graphics. Such as the very fine "Spa Citron" by Géo Vermeire from 1936, a flagship Belgian enameled sign, highly sought after and absent from many collections (lot 4365, estimate 10-12,000 euros) or the very rare sign from the Belgian enamel factory from 1955 welcoming "Shell" to two young moped riders, of which 5 known copies have survived (lot 4364, same estimate as the previous one, except that this one is completely new).
Note the numerous signs for tobacco and tobacco manufacturers, beers and other beverages (such as the Elixir d'Anvers, a rare 1920s sign is expected to be around 10-15,000 euros). Also note a plaque from the period and in the colonial atmosphere instructing colonials to consume Congolese products (in this case sugar, lot 4323, estimated at 1,300-1,500 euros). We also find a rare plaque for Liebig's Oxo from 1910 (lot 4326, estimated at 4-6,000 euros). The specimen for which the highest amount is expected is a beautiful Dutch plate made for the German market with the image of the Belgian liner "Gelria," inviting people to go to South America (circa 1920, lot 4376, estimate 13-15,000 euros).
Trains, soldiers and dolls
Fans of electric trains and "Marklin" rarities will especially remember this very nice set of parts in scale 0 from 1935, in practically new condition, some in original box, including an exceptional steam locomotive and its gray tender (lot 4263 , estimate 3-5,000 euros) or this 30 cm dining car, from the same period, almost new and very representative of the very high quality of these toys from a bygone era (lot 4256, estimate 800 to 1,000 euros).
Dinky Toys and miniature cars are also there, as well as Japanese tin toys from the 1950s. Thus, we can discover one of these new Japanese toys, in its original box, an extremely rare "Space Patrol Car" (lot 4171, estimate 1.) -1,500 euros). Miniature soldiers are also numerous, in very good condition and sometimes impossible to find (such as this Elastolin set from the "Indian Village" offered for 6-800 euros, lot 4111). Soft toys from Steiff and old dolls complete this original offering, which always appeals to young and/or older children.
original article: Le Soir - by LAURE EGGERICX
