SALE: The Milhous Collection at RM Auctions and Sotheby's
LOCATION: Boca Raton, Florida
DATES: February 24-25
ABOUT: The opportunity to purchase a colorful 46-foot carousel, a peanut and popcorn wagon circa 1910, and a 1947 "Wizzer" motorbike all in one place doesn't come around often. Next week, RM Auctions and Sotheby's will offer the many whimsical masterpieces collected over the course of the last half-century by Paul and Ron Milhous in Boca Raton, Florida. The brothers — distant relatives of former president Richard Milhous Nixon — are clearing out their private museum, reportedly after their wives requested they not "leave this burden to us," according to the Scranton Times Leader.
The Milhous Museum was an accident — it came into being after the duo's "lifelong interest and fascination with mechanicals" outgrew their homes, garages, and a few other locations, forcing them to acquire a 39,500 square-foot space in Boca Raton (although they kept it private and only rarely opened it to the public for special events).
The collection, estimated to fetch $40 million, is a grab bag of motorized drollery with a particular focus on musical instruments (a favorite of Paul's) and classic cars (more Ron's stlye). Visually, the most dramatic piece going under the hammer is the custom-built carousel with 42 animals, two chariots, stained-glass depictions of the Eight Wonders of the World, and a Wurlitzer 153 band organ — it's valued at $1-1.5 million. The classic cars include several of the most sought-after models from the 1930s, as well as the only known surviving 1912 Oldsmobile Limited Five-Passenger Touring (est. $1.4-1.6 million). Among the most impressive musical instruments are two very rare vintage fairground organs. Estimated at $850,000-1.2 million is a restored Gavoli 110-key organ, which can represent over 100 musicians playing, and no less impressive is the German-made Ruth Style 38-B organ by Ruth & Söhne — one of only two known to exist — which dates from 1903 (est. $1-1.2 million).
OTHER INTERNATIONAL SALES:
Sale: Fine and Rare Wines Featuring an Outstanding Single Owner Collection
Location: Christie's London
Date: February 23, 10:30 a.m.
Sale: Fine and Rare Wines
Location: Bonhams New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco
Date: February 25, 1 p.m.
Sale: Fine and Rare Wines
Location: Sotheby's New York
Date: February 25, 10 a.m.