Fridays at Auction Finds is readers’ questions day. I try to guide readers to resources to help them determine the value of their items. I’m not able to appraise their treasures, but I can do some preliminary research to get them started. So, these are market values based on prices I find on the web, not appraisal for insurance purposes that I suggest for items that have been determined to be of great value.
Today’s questions are about sheet music for a song titled “They Gotta Quit Kickin’ My Dawg Aroun'” and where to buy a silver chair.
Question:
Our high school mascot in Aurora, MO, is the Houn Dawg (which originated from the Missouri National Guard Unit referenced above). Our band performs a part of this song following the alma mater. It would be so amazing to have a copy of this for our school!
Answer:
The reader was referring to a blog post I wrote last year about some sheet music I bought at auction. It had a bright yellow cover with a sad-looking dog and the title “They Gotta Quit Kickin’ My Dawg Aroun’.” On the back was a 1983 document stating that the song was copyrighted in 1912, published by M. Witmark & Sons, with words by Webb M. Oungst and music by Cy Perkins. The framed sheet also contained lyrics for four other songs, including a Paul Laurence Dunbar poem “Who Knows?” from 1909. You can listen to the song here.
The song is about a poor dog named Jim who is attacked by the good old boys every time his owners take him into town. The owners grow tired of the harassment, they and Jim mess up the harassers.
I was not able to find out exactly when the song was written or by whom. It was said to have been written in the late 19th century, and has had several titles. Such folks as African American composer James Bland and singer-songwriter Bob Dylan have written their own arrangements. The Missouri National Guard Second Infantry chose it as one of its favorite around the time the song first appeared. “Hound Dog” became the nickname of the unit.
As for the reader, I would suggest that he check eBay for a copy. In a cursory search with the words “gotta stop kickin’ my dawg,” I found several copies of the sheet music, in varying degrees of condition. Asking prices ran from $2.25 to $56 (a very high price for one that was torn and tattered). Be sure to look closely at the photos and read the description for info about condition of the sheet music, and choose the best one.
Question:
I’m looking for a silver French chair, and price plez.
Answer:
The reader had come across my blog post about some lovely silver French-style chairs and Victorian-style sofas, and apparently assumed that I sell chairs. I do not; I just write about what strikes me.
If the reader wants to buy a French chair at auction, I would suggest that she check out auction houses in her area via auctionzip.com. She should contact the staffs at the auction houses, get to know them and ask to be alerted if such a chair comes up for sale. It could be a long wait or a short wait, depending on how soon she needs it. But it could be worth the wait because some of the nicest pieces of furniture turn up at auction. If I were in the market for furniture, that’s where I’d buy it.
In fact, while browsing the items for an upcoming auction in my area, I came across a pair of silver chairs. They were described as carved Regency-style chairs with decorated arms and “attributed to Karges,” which I learned is a 128-year-old maker of luxury hand-crafted furniture.
