‘An eclectic bunch of stuff’
Mermaids, manatees and gators headline auction at History Center, but ‘citrus bird’ may steal the show
Barbara Martin had her eye on a 6-foot alligator. “I’d put it in my backyard,” she said of the toothy reptile, one of three on the auction block Saturday at the Orange County Regional History Center.
The Orlando woman and Florida Gators fan was among about 100 people who browsed the kitschy collection of Floridiana at a preview for the auction, which starts at noon. The museum cleaned out its closets for the sale to make room for an expansion of the downtown venue and earn money for its educational programs.
The auction figures to be huge fun, auctioneer Alan Frenkel said. “It’ll be an eclectic bunch of buyers for an eclectic bunch of stuff.”
Dubbed the Fabulous Floridiana Auction, the bidding starts at a penny and goes up from there.
“From gargantuan gators to magical mermaids, we got just the right amazing object to bring a true touch of Florida and fabulous fun to your home or office,” a History Center announcement cries, hawking the auction.
There’s a flock of foam flamingos, toy robots (including one made in the Soviet Union), a giant gavel and a trio of oversize Stetsons.
While nostalgic, few of the pieces are authentic or historical, History Center director Michael Perkins said. None were part of the museum’s historical collection.
Among the exceptions are the cluster of clay blocks salvaged from the courthouse annex, which was demolished to clear ground for a plaza near Wall Street in front of the museum.
The History Center, located at 65 E. Central Blvd. in Heritage Square, occupies the limestone-and-granite former Orange County courthouse, which was built in 1927.
Bidding could be fierce for the mustard, turquoise and vanilla-colored blocks, made in pre-Castro Cuba.
After a wrecking ball crunched into the building 20 years ago, people risked their business attire after the dust settled to pull blocks from the rubble as curios.
“We could probably use them in the ’50s fixer-upper we bought,” said Anne Kunst, whose interest was piqued by other objects, too.
“But the giant flamingos would be a tougher sell to bring into my home.” Her husband David quietly nodded.
Frenkel, who’s conducted more than 6,000 auctions in a 36-year career, said the array of bidders Saturday most likely will include interior decorators looking for unusual artifacts, especially items related to Central Florida’s cultural heritage as well as homeowners seeking a unique conversation piece for the lanai and people interested in local history.
“Beyond that, I don’t know,” he said.
But probably some hoarders will show up and bid, too. Who else would need a giant sloth claw?
Rick Kilby, a designer and author, perused the auction offerings at Thursday night’s preview, which featured an open bar. He was intrigued by a miniature horse-drawn wagon, the life-size version of which years ago was displayed in Tampa. It bore a message to encourage tourists to visit Orlando. It read: “Good Roads. Pure Water. No Insects. Rich Lands.”
“Pretty cool, I think,” Kilby said.
None of the animals — an armadillo, a Muscovy duck or gators — are the work of taxidermists.
But a cheerful-looking orange bird is a dead ringer for Orange Bird, a Disney-created character that debuted in 1970 as a mascot for the Florida Citrus Commission, sponsor of the Enchanted Tiki Room attraction and Sunshine Tree Terrace at the Magic Kingdom.
The pitchman canary, who coincidentally didn’t speak or sing, appeared in ads for Florida citrus with singer Anita Bryant, who later became more wellknown for anti-gay views that led to a boycott of Florida orange juice in the 1970s.
Perkins carefully avoided calling the orange bird Orange Bird. “It’s our citrus bird,” he insisted.
Someone nearby quipped, “It’s a Disney licensing thing.” Perkins smiled and moved on to other auction pieces such as a Weeki Wachi frog prince.
Like the crowned croaker, many auction pieces were part of a mishmash of Central Florida icons on a dome that greeted visitors in the entryway of the History Center when it opened in 2000. Designers of the dome used wacky things from throughout Central Florida to connect with visitors — including mermaids and manatees.
Sale terms are cash or credit card. A second preview begins at noon Saturday. Admission to the History Center is free that day.