Stacy's 2001 Festival: Information

     Have twenty years have gone by since the first Sebastian Festival? Is it
possible? Yes! The 21st Annual Sebastian Festival sponsored by Stacy's was
held on June 22-23 at the Sheraton Four Points Hotel in Norwood Mass. This
was a new location for the Festival, just down the road from Stacy's
Sebastian Museum, and it proved to be perfect for the weekend activities.
The festivities began with the traditional Friday Night Chit-chat with about
40 collectors enjoying a delicious buffet dinner along with a chance to meet
and talk with old and new friends. The centerpiece on each table was five
small wood barrels on a wood base. We soon figured out that this was a tie in
with Woody's latest figure "John Alden- Cooper" which was being introduced
the next day.
     Following dinner, Craig Edwards welcomed all present, then turned the
microphone over to the artist Woody Baston. Woody began by saying Sebastians are alive and well and have come full circle. They started in 1938 in his father's basement in Arlington, Massachusetts, and after a series of moves
are now being produced and painted in the second floor of his home in
Wayland, Massachusetts just a few miles away. He said that the Sebastians are
cast locally, and he and his wife Margery do all of the painting. He said he
and Sebastianworld are going to stress that Sebastians are once again being
"Made in America."
     For the next hour, Woody spoke on and showed his recent figures. "The
Scotsman," originally sculptured by his father and finished and painted by
Woody and Margery, is a beautiful "father and son" piece. The latest Eastern
Star figure the "Ambassadors," the "John Alden- Cooper" and the Festival
Medallion with a swan were among the figures he showed and talked about.
Woody said he plans a series of six Christmas ornaments using instruments
based on his father's Band series. He said he likes snowmen and would like
to do one riding on a snowmobile. He also said he is presently working on
three private label pieces and is having fun doing them. Also drawing a lot
of interest was a buffalo especially made for Jim Waite's Mid West Fair. A
buffalo festival is taking place in Farmer City the same weekend as the Mid
West Fair, thus the buffalo Sebastian. Many collectors, including this
writer, said they hoped to be able to purchase one after the Mid West Fair.
Could this be the start of an animal series?

     The Festival doors opened promptly at 9 o'clock on Saturday morning for those who were not sleeping late after several all-night Sebastian sessions.
Collectors were greeted by a group of seven primary and secondary market
dealers all with large displays of Sebastian miniatures.
     The first table was Stacy's Gifts and Collectibles where Doris Edwards
greeted one and all. The new "John Alden-Cooper" and the Stacy 2001 Medallion along with a collection of discontinued Sebastian pins and older pieces were offered for sale. Maureen Morgan had her usual large collection of figures including the "Scuba Diver," "Praying Hands" and the "Masonic Bible." Drawing much comment was a six inch high "Little George" bank made for the First American National Bank in Nashville, Tennessee. While not a Sebastian, it was the exact image of SML-350 "Little George." Bobbie's Collectibles from Indiana had the largest display of former in line pieces and early couples. If one was missing a particular Sebastian, one could probably find it there. I counted just over 200 Sebastians on her tables. Advisory Council member Bob Johnson, had a nice offering of older pieces including "Weighing the Baby," "School Boy of 1850," "House of Seven Gables - Salem Rotary Club," "Candy Store pen stand" and the "Swedish Boy and Girl."   He also had a few of the Sebastian look-alike pieces made by Gary Coyle.

     Charlie and Deanna Mazza also featured rare Sebastians. For those who
arrived late, within 15 minutes of the opening of the doors, a large
"Nativity" set, "Royal Bengal Tiger," "Pope Pius X," "Supp-hose Lady,"
"Little George" and a set of the "Band" pieces flew off her table to lucky
early buyers. Next year, I'll be on time!

     Jim Waite from Farmer City, Illinois was next. As usual, collectors crowded
his table and with tongues hanging out, stared at his display of the 66
pieces for his upcoming Mid West Fair. They included six Jell-O pieces, the
six member Band set, five WEEI figures, the "MIT Seal" and the "Supp-hose
Lady." Jim never fails to find rare pieces for his auctions. He also had a
nice collection of older figures for sale.

Jack Way had a table with several figures for sale including the complete
"Dickens Cottage" set, and Master of the Web Site, Bob Edmunds, manned the
adjacent Sebastianworld table with information about the new organization
along with copies of the Gold Book of values for sale. An adjacent table
contained several large posters, large pictures of Prescott Baston,
miscellaneous pictures and newspaper clippings on Sebastians from various
articles collected over the years.

     The latest Sebastian restorer, Linda Garrabrandt, was the center of attention
as she showed samples of her restoration work. Several collectors left
damaged Sebastians with her for repairs after receiving very reasonable
figures for the work. Welcome aboard, Linda. Her new husband, Advisory
Council member Jim Garrabrandt, staffed the adjacent appraisal table.
Holding center court was Woody and his charming wife Margery, greeting
collectors, signing recent purchases or just chatting about Sebastians.
Since Margery had painted the Swan Festival Medallion, many collectors asked
for her signature on the piece along with Woody's.
     During the morning, three groups of collectors, eight at a time, took part
in the "Paint Your Own Sebastian" contest. This has become a very popular
part of the Festival. This year's figure was the "Union Soldier." All
entrants received a limited edition pewter Festival Medallion. This year's
winner was Audrey E. Martin who received a Gold Plated Festival Medallion
which was #2 of a limited edition of three.
     Just before lunch, Bob Edmunds, Master of the Web Site, took the microphone and updated everyone on Sebastianworld. He spoke of the proposed Sebastian Collectors Guild and said more information would be coming out in the next Sebastianworld Newsletter. He and all members of Sebastianworld received "high marks" from those present for their work in continuing the Sebastian tradition and keeping it alive.
     After a spirited auction another successful
Festival came to a close with happy collectors lining up to pay for their
purchases. Many others had stocked up earlier in the day at the various
dealer's tables. All, including this writer, are looking forward to next
year's Festival. Thank you Craig, Doris and Sebastianworld for all you are
doing in keeping Sebastians alive and well.

     The Festival auction featured a nice mix of 88 Sebastians including many
rare figures, pewter figures and plates, and Marblehead label pieces.
Something for everyone's wish list. Once again, Rob Rich was the
auctioneer, while Maureen Morgan, as always, expertly described each piece. From a low of $11 for a Marblehead label "Mark Twain" to a high of $1457 for
the rarely seen "Great Stone Face," the 88 lots passed hands in just over two
hours.
     Of the 40 or so collectors in the audience, 32 took out bidding numbers.
Twenty-five bidders took home at least one new Sebastian for their
collection, while three bidders accounted for 30 of the 88 lots. Nine figures
met or exceeded their Gold Book value and the average price was $155.
Bidder #46 took home 12 Marblehead pieces for a total of $356. Perhaps he
was just starting his collection. Bidder #50 added 11 figures for $1,425,
while bidder #52 only picked up four Sebastians, but his winning bid for
"Great Stone Face" of $1,457 drove his total up to $1,722. For the first
time, mail bids were accepted, and eight pieces, bringing #313, went via that
route. Top money honors went to Bidder #31, a quiet young man with a baseball cap, whose seven Sebastians totaled $2,717. "Mr. Sheraton," "Uncle Sam in Orbit," "Royal Bengal Lancer," "National Diaper Service," "Iron Masters
House," "Darned Well He Can," and the "Metro Life Tower pen stand" went home with him.
     The 88 lots brought $13,678 including the 10% buyers premium and with "Rare" as $600, represented 79.6% of the Gold Book values. Click here to see a complete list of auction results.

     Prior to the main auction, Maureen Morgan had an unscheduled mini auction at her table. A collector asked the price of a pewter "Menotomy Indian"and when she quoted a figure, another collector standing nearby offered $5 more. That started spirited bidding between the two of them, and the piece finally
brought $150, well over the original asking price.
     One person taking part in the "Paint Your Own Sebastian Contest" evidently
had a sense of humor. He painted the Union Soldier wearing blue and white
shorts!
     One of the Sebastians brought to Linda Garrabrandt for minor repairs was the very rare SML 35 "Rooster." The lady who owned it said she bought it at a
gift shop in Dedham, Massachusetts for $15!
     Doug and Nancy Kantner from Columbus, Ohio, were attending their first Stacy Festival. When asked how they started collecting, they said that in 1982
when they were married, Nancy came with two Sebastians - a Santa and the
Candy Store. Doug also fell in love with them and from that humble
beginning, their collection now totals over 750 pieces. Doug had the most
complete spread sheet that this writer has ever seen. Every Sebastian in
their collection was listed with its SML number, date of purchase, location
of purchase, label, cost and value.
     When "Uncle Sam in Orbit" came up for bid at the auction, Rob Rich the
auctioneer told a story of going to an auction in Hanson, Mass. about 15
years ago where he saw that figure for the first time. He decided to bid on
it but soon dropped out as two other bidders were going after it hammer and
tongs. This writer looked over at Dan and Donna Ferrini and John Queenan,
longtime Sebastian collectors and noticed them looking at me. We all
laughed. Why? This writer was the winning bidder after they dropped out.
They remind me of that story every time we meet at the Festivals.
Woody was heard saying that a group of former Sebastian painters get together
monthly for lunch. I guess once you get Sebastian fever in your blood you
never lose it.
     The Festival didn't seem the same without Paul and Jean Sebastian and Nancy Sebastian Meyer and her family. According to an e-mail sent to Audrey
Martin, they had planned to attend but at the last minute, Paul and Jean came
down with the flu.

This writer was quite flattered when asked by several collectors, including
Margery Baston, if he was going to continue writing for the new Sebastianworld. After checking with Bob Edmunds and Jack Way, who said
"Please do," these ramblings continue my 14 years of writing articles and
reporting on the Festivals. I hope you have enjoyed them.

For further information about the 2002 Festival, please contact ...

Stacy’s Gifts
The Walpole Mall, Route One
East Walpole, MA 02032-1511
Phone
1-(800) 782-2971
or (508) 668-4212
FAX (508) 668-7552
E-Mail stacysgift@aol.com

For the 2001 Festival Auction List & Results, click here.
For a complete report on last year's Festival, click here.
To visit Stacy's website, click here.
For information on the 2001 Festival Medallion, click here.
For information on John Alden - Cooper, click here.

Copyright © 2000 Sebastianworld, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Revised: July 09, 2001

Copyright © 2000 Sebastianworld, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 09, 2001