NORTHPORT, Ala. – The 11th Annual American Antique Museum Auction, held on Feb. 22 by Hal Hunt Auctions, was a bittersweet event for the 64-year-old establishment now in its fourth generation of Hunt family members. While the sale met with the expected over-the-top success that has become the standard for the yearly event, this year’s sale was partially composed of 300 lots from the collection of the late Harry Hunt Sr., who passed away in September 2013 at the age of 70.

Harry Hunt, a throwback to the old-school ethic of hard work and relentless determination, left a legacy for his family that far outreached his success as an auctioneer.

“He was an inspiration to us, and we learned how to live well by attempting to be what we saw in him,” Hal Hunt said.

“I was 10 years old when I called my first auction. Dad handed me the microphone and said ’Sell it,’ and so I did. It was easy for me because I had seen my Dad at work, and the audience was willing to back the efforts of a young upstart. It was not until I was 14 years old that I caught a glimpse of what Dad had to contend with on the podium. The bidders no longer perceived me as a neophyte with boyish charm, but as a seasoned auctioneer, and they held my feet to the fire, making me work hard for every bid, not hesitating to challenge me at every turn. But Hunts don’t cave, so I hung in there and learned to master the craft, not that Dad would have let me off the hook had I wanted to quit.”

After many years of dogged dedication to his business, Harry Hunt had finally arrived. In 1980, he bought his wife a Fleetwood Cadillac. Later that year, lightning struck his antique furniture warehouse, burning it and all its contents to the ground. Hunt was uninsured, and his business was destroyed. He started over the next day and went on to even bigger success.

Harry used every advantage he had available to him, not the least of which were the efforts of his three hard-working young sons who were determined to succeed like their father. Harry remained in the auction business until the day he died. On that day, his family lost a father, a mentor, a hero, and a friend, but will forever retain the knowledge and work ethic that they learned from “the master.”

The 11th Annual American Antique Museum Auction specialized in important American furniture from 1850 to 1920. People from 21 states and Canada came to the onsite-only auction that was limited in size to about 350 in-house bidders. The bidding was strong and competitive for the 588-lot auction, with offerings hand-picked and screened for excellence and authenticity by Hal Hunt, who is widely known as an authority in this genre.

The high quality of this particular yearly auction is legendary and caters to discriminating collectors who want to see and bid on the items of their choice up close and personal.

“I think this type of merchandise sells best in-house, with bidders who can scrutinize the quality of the item in a way that cannot be achieved over the internet,” Hunt said.

Highlights of the sale included an R.J. Horner oak grandfather clock. The 9-foot-tall timepiece was heavily carved with figural Father Time corner elements on each side of the bevel glass moon phase dial, which was finished with a scrolled pediment that was centered by an elaborate leaf carving. The center section was supported by carved maiden columns, and the base had griffin corner motifs. This exceptional piece sold for the impressive price of $54,600.

Another R.J. Horner offering of interest was a rare 12-piece carved oak dining room suite. The 14-foot table was completely original, with eight original leaves, and this hard-to-find grouping brought $49,000.

One of the best examples of an R.J. Horner oak sideboard had three Atlas figural supports, with a beveled glass mirror and figural cherubs decorating the pieced carved pediment. This piece, considered the Holy Grail of Horner sideboards, generated aggressive bidding that resulted in a price of $24,150.

The sum of $28,175 was paid for an extremely rare carved oak partners desk by R.J. Horner that had statuesque figural winged griffins as the four corner supports. Another Horner winged griffin supported piece was an oak banquet table that sold for $9,200.

A monumental Victorian burl walnut sideboard, circa 1870, was made in the demilune shape with a white marble top and beveled glass mirror with an antlered buck as a center piece in the elaborately carved pediment. The colossal 10-foot, 8-inch-high by 7-foot, 3-inch-wide sideboard achieved $25,300.

J.H. Belter collectors had much to appreciate, and leading items among this grouping included an excellent fully original rosewood laminated settee. It had unusual open arms, was made in the Fountain Elms pattern, and sold in mint condition for $18,400.

A J.H. Belter laminated rosewood rocker that sold for $13,800 was not only rare, but a form that is unheard of.

“Perhaps it was a custom piece, but it was an authentic unaltered rocker,” Hunt commented. A J.H. Belter rosewood laminated arm chair, which was an exceptional example and in mint condition, sold for $10,350.

A high point of interest in the sale was a completely professionally restored antique Brunswick billiard table, made in rosewood and walnut with marquetry inlay, which sold for $14,375. It bore a brass plate, “Manufactured by the J.M. Brunswick & Balke Co, New York, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, & San Francisco.” The plaque was further marked with a crowned spread eagle, holding a banner that read “Monarch Cushion, Patented, April 27, 1880.”

An Elliot mahogany grandfather clock with nine tubes and three weights was finely carved with cherubs, stood 8 feet tall, and commanded $30,475.

Two important pieces by Pottier & Stymus, circa 1870-1880, included a monumental 70-inch-high by 66-inch-wide rosewood and ebonized credenza with porcelain plaques that sold for $12,075. An elaborate rosewood library table, supported by a central figural urn standing on crossed stretchers, brought $10,350.

A unusual piece that was not attributed to a maker but brought a strong price was an 1880s mahogany table supported with three statuesque and intricately carved storks. This attractive item created a good bit of bidder attention that resulted in a realized price of $11,500.

Decorative arts included a set of three Elkington silver plate candelabras, with a central candelabrum that was 40 inches tall, with each side piece being 31 inches tall. This presentational set sold for $14,950.

Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.