August 2026 Curiosities Auction

Timed auction by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals

Starts Aug 12, 2026 12:00 PM AKDT. Ends Aug 19, 2026 6:00 PM AKDT

Welcome to the August 2026 Curiosities Auction hosted by Alaska Premier Auctions & Appraisals! Bid Online Now at: https://bid.alaskapremierauctions.com/ui/auctions/165738 Featuring more than 500 lots from Alaska estates, private collections, and consignors, this wide-ranging auction lives up to its name with an exceptional mix of natural history, fossils, Alaska Native art, antiques, sterling silver, fine and regional art, maritime collectibles, vintage technology, militaria, tools, outdoor equipment, and unusual objects from across the collecting spectrum. From Ice Age remains and a full-body muskox hide to early phonographs, substantial sterling silver services, master-carved ivory, vintage radios, and an endless assortment of unexpected discoveries, this is a catalog where no two pages look quite the same. Natural history is particularly well represented, highlighted by an impressive 37-inch Pleistocene fossil bison skull cap with broad intact horn cores, likely representing the extinct Steppe Bison, alongside additional Ice Age fossils and mineralized specimens. One of the most visually striking offerings is an enormous full-body tanned muskox hide prepared by Alpha Fur Dressers of Anchorage, retaining all four limbs and hooves and measuring approximately 100 by 78 inches. Other specimens include a substantial adult wolverine skull, a cougar skull, Canada lynx and Arctic fox pelts, a caribou hide, animal skulls, horns, antlers, claws, taxidermy, an alligator head, a full-body armadillo, and an assortment of bones, fossils, and other zoological curiosities. The sale also includes a substantial selection of antiques and vintage technology spanning more than a century. Highlights include an Edison Standard phonograph accompanied by Gold Moulded cylinder records, a striking 1939 Zenith 12-S-370 twelve-tube console radio, a Zenith Trans-Oceanic shortwave radio with Wavemagnet antenna, antique Seth Thomas clocks, apothecary and balance scales, an early Boye Needle Company rotating store display, vintage sewing machines, machinist's chests, cameras, radios, trunks, oil lamps, toys, and other objects from generations of American homes, workshops, and businesses. Among the catalog's strongest concentrations of tangible value is an extensive assortment of sterling silver. Early lots alone include more than two kilograms of assorted sterling flatware and a separate 2.26-kilogram Lunt Modern Classic service, supplemented by hundreds of additional grams of sterling spoons, serving pieces, hollowware, candlesticks, bowls, and other silver offered throughout the auction. Gold jewelry, silver coinage, watches, Waterford crystal, art glass, porcelain, and other decorative objects add further depth for collectors seeking both intrinsic and decorative value. Alaska Native art and regional material form another important part of the sale without defining it entirely. The selection includes numerous King Island walrus ivory carvings by or attributed to members of the Kokuluk family, including Robert Bellarmine and Hubert Kokuluk, alongside works by Leroy Seppilu, Aassanaaq “Ossie” Kairaiuak, Mary Ellen Beans Evans, Earl Aiken, Carrie Herman, Johnny M. Smith, and other Alaska artists and makers. Highlights range from a large walrus tusk mount with mirrored scrimshaw scenes and a whale bone and ivory puffin rookery by Hubert Kokuluk to spirit masks, drums, dance fans, dolls, scrimshaw, baleen work, basketry, fossilized ivory, and traditional carvings. That northern character continues through an extensive collection of vintage Japanese glass fishing floats offered across numerous lots in an array of sizes, colors, and configurations, including netted examples and unusually large floats. They are joined by maritime equipment, fishing weights, nautical objects, fossilized walrus ivory, Alaska memorabilia, and other pieces reflecting the commercial, coastal, and everyday history of the region. Fine and regional art ranges from paintings and prints to photography and sculpture. A standout is Aaron Reed's dramatic “Lake of Fire,” a large limited-edition ChromaLuxe metal photograph depicting Iceland's Fagradalsfjall volcanic eruption. Other represented artists include Jon Van Zyle, Dale DeArmond, James Havens, Patrick Lind, Bill Devine, Rie Muñoz, Dennis Anderson, Tom Walker, and others, with subjects ranging from Alaska wildlife and landscapes to contemporary photography. Military and historical material adds yet another collecting direction, with 1943 U.S. military bear-paw snowshoes, ceremonial cavalry sabers associated with JBER's 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry, wartime and historic U.S. coinage, Alaska memorabilia, vintage commercial objects, historical documents, and other pieces reflecting military, transportation, and everyday history. The auction is not limited to display pieces. Bidders will also find worthwhile marine, shop, and outdoor equipment including a West Marine inflatable dinghy, Johnson 8 HP outboard, STIHL chainsaw, Toro snowthrower, portable generators, DeWalt saws, Ryobi equipment, Bostitch pneumatic tools, a PMC Sierra jewelry kiln, and a broad assortment of tools and equipment from Milwaukee, Craftsman, Bosch, Coleman, and other recognized manufacturers. And then there are the curiosities that make the sale what it is: antique scientific and apothecary equipment, Russian nesting dolls, Japanese display dolls, carved masks, vintage pressed-steel toys, unusual taxidermy, nautical lighting, old radios, snowshoes, folk art, collectible glass, odd pieces of advertising, vintage household objects, and hundreds of other items that resist being placed neatly into any one category. Every lot opens at just $5 and is offered without reserve. Bid early, bid often, and explore the entire catalog—you never know what curiosity might be waiting in the next lot. AUCTION CLOSING:  This auction opened for bidding on August 12th and will begin to close at 6:00 pm AKDT on Wednesday, August 19th. It features a soft close of 3 lots per minute. If a bid is placed in the final minute, that lot will be extended an additional 60 seconds until no other bids are placed and the lot is sold. PREVIEW: Limited in-person previews are available by appointment only. Additional condition reports in the form of descriptions, videos, or photos can be provided upon request. Please email Admin@AlaskaPremierAuctions.com at least 48 hours before the auction closes with any inquiries. LOCATION:  All inventory is located at our warehouse facility at 325 West Potter Dr., Anchorage, AK 99518. LOCAL PICK-UP TIMES:  10 am - 5:45 pm on Thursday & Friday, August 20st & 21st. DOMESTIC & INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:  We offer in-house shipping on most reasonably shippable items! For shipping questions or preliminary quotes*, please email Shipping@AlaskaPremierAuctions.com or call/text 907.570.7050. Winning bidders will receive a text message or email after the auction with prompts to schedule pick-up or request shipping- simply follow the prompts. Shipping costs are based on packed size, weight, destination, labor, and required handling/materials. Lot dimensions do not include packaging; bidders may use USPS, UPS, or other carrier calculators for rough estimates. We also utilize Alaska Air Cargo when practical and cost-effective for larger items. As a general rule, we do not ship furniture, heavy equipment, bulky tools, large appliances, or other items where shipping would be impractical, cost-prohibitive, or involve restricted items. Please review the Shipping section of our Terms and Conditions for detailed shipping restrictions and buyer responsibilities, and familiarize yourself with applicable local and federal laws. If you are unsure whether an item can be shipped, please contact us before bidding. *Shipping quotes require sufficient advance notice and will be provided as promptly as possible, but cannot be guaranteed. We greatly appreciate quote requests being submitted at least two business days before the auction closes.

Lots

Showing the first 100 of 512 lots.