Rare, important Black Cat Shoe Dressing clock rings up $11,210 (Canadian) in Miller & Miller auction

NEW HAMBURG, Ontario - June 25, 2021 - PRLog -- An important Black Cat Shoe Dressing clock (known to collectors as "The Black Cat Clock") sold for $11,210, and an early 20^th century Peabody's Overalls single-sided porcelain sign realized $8,850 in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.'s online-only Advertising & Breweriana sale held June 19^th. All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars.

"Antique and vintage advertising continues to flex its muscles," said Ben Lennox of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. "A whopping 68 percent of the top 50 grossing lots from the 650-lot sale smashed past the high estimate. The desire for high-end advertising continues to climb at a feverish pace with both new and seasoned collectors looking to add rarities to their collections."

The iconic Nonsuch Black Cat Shoe Polish clock settled in as the top lot, just as one did almost 40 years ago, in 1982, at the famed Bill & Pauline Hogan Collection auction – a sale that really solidified country store antiques and collectibles in Canada.   While the clock hammered down $5,400 back then, in the recent sale it more than doubled that, when adding the buyer's premium.

Well represented throughout the sale were signs and advertising pieces covering tobacciana, breweriana, gas station memorabilia (petroliana), soda pop collectibles and work wear. "In speaking with collectors post-auction," Lennox said, "the consensus is that the rare and unusual will always attract eager buyers, and this has led to many signs hitting new price benchmarks."

He added, "There is really no sign of a letup. Country store, service station, general store – whatever term you choose to put around it – the trajectory for advertising antiques continues on an upward trend with no signs of slowing down." The auction grossed a healthy $389,164 and was headlined by the Peter Rea breweriana collection, a superb assemblage of top-quality pieces.

The Black Cat Shoe Dressing clock is considered one of the most significant pieces of Canadian advertising ever produced. It depicted a black cat, its jaws and whiskers erect, engaging with the product in pursuit of something beyond.

Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. has three major auctions planned for autumn. A Toys & Nostalgia auction featuring the Bryan Beatty collection will be held on September 11^th; a Canadiana sale is scheduled for October 9^th; and a Watches & Jewels auction will take place on November 20^th. All will be online-only.

To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., please visit www.MillerandMillerAuctions.com.