Of Lions and Tooth Picks
Quick Summary
The animosity between two siblings was so intense, that the distribution of every asset was disputed, including things as trivial as boxes of toothpicks. False appraisals and neglected houses suffering leaks and floods compounded the problem. To resolve the disputes, the properties were put up for sale. When the siblings noticed that the two half-ton concrete lions were gone from the front of the summer mansion, they accused each other of stealing them.
The Situation
The ”Lions and Toothpicks” property had recently suffered significant water damage which complicated pre-sale make-ready. This was an intense project that required DBD personnel to identify and coordinate several specialized vendors including certified antique appraisers, reputable, antique auction houses, classic car appraisers, and collectors…all willing to work within an almost impossible project timeline to remove the items from the property in preparation for the ‘make-ready’ team to stage the house for sale.
The ‘Lion House’ is one of our very favorite projects — I honestly love identifying and valuing antiques. This beautiful property had been the summer home of a wealthy, Houston family. It was a gracious old house with a lovely wrap-around porch accessed by a grand stairway. On the either side of the the entryway were two enormous concrete lions.
The first time the DBD team accessed the property to evaluate the extent of make-ready needed to liquidate the contents and to prepare the property for sale, we were struck by the sheer volume of the furniture in every room of the property. The collection was an interesting mix of solid oak, Arts and Crafts-styled furnishings — sofas, chairs and tables, with some Art Nouveau-styled bedroom suites. DBD personnel identified a few Art Deco pieces — noting labels, tags and other identifying markers. We prepared a detailed photographic inventory of the property’s art and furnishings — then, with the Court’s authorization, released all the items to a trusted reseller, for liquidation.
While securing the Estate’s files and other records, a DBD team member found a third-party evaluation of the furnishings; however the evaluation did not accurately describe the existing furniture in the home. The chairs listed as leather were actually naugahyde and the branded wooden furniture did not match pieces listed in the third party inventory. This paperwork, with an explanatory note, accompanied by photographs of the current furnishings were submitted to the Probate Attorney for his his records.
This summer-place was just one of several, “previously-cleared” residences. The furniture in the home, based on the style, branding marks, wood type, and craftsmanship, were estimated to be from the late 1800’s. The individual pieces had the opulent, flourish associated with turn of the century design. Everything about the property – the ceiling fixtures, the furnishings, the artwork, were all true to the period.
The joint heirs were sisters, who unfortunately argued over everything, all the time…which is why the Court, through the Probate Attorney, had made the final decision to liquidate all the properties and divide the proceeds equally between the heirs. The negotiations had becomes so fractious that one of the lawyers who was walking the heirs through the property, noted that they literally fought over a box of toothpicks. Two heiresses to a Houston oil fortune and a beautiful summer home filled with priceless antiques, and they argued over toothpicks…
In cases like these, attorneys dispatch DBD personnel to a property to evaluate and report the condition, noting repairs that might be needed in preparation of listing the property for sale. If the estate is to be liquidated, we conduct a photographic inventory of the household goods and furnishings for the Court. With court authorization, DBD arranged for a vetted antique dealer to pick up the assigned inventory to be sold as part of a monthly auction in San Antonio.
…About those two, half ton, concrete lions that graced either side of the summer mansion entrance…they were part of that assigned inventory…the Auction House dealer was sure there were a lot of “new-money people” who had recently relocated to San Antonio who might want to buy themselves a little bit of culture.”
Because they were so heavy, it took a team of six and some specialized equipment, to get those concrete lions cinched, moved over, one per truck for their trip to the Auction House. Later that week one of the siblings drove by the house…bear in mind, they live in Houston…the lake house is in West Austin. When she saw the two lions were gone, she called the lawyer to accuse her sister of stealing them. The lawyer assured her that he had sold them as part of liquidating the estate.
When you think in terms of settling a very large estate, and come down to fighting over two tons worth of concrete lions, you don’t know wether to laugh or cry. The house was beautiful. It sold right away. All the furniture went to a very appreciative dealer, and the sisters got to split their their fortune.
With the Attorney’s permission DBD contacted a trusted vendor to arrange for the inventoried furniture and art to be picked up and included in an upcoming Auction in San Antonio. The record of the auction and the proceeds was be forwarded directly to the Attorney in Charge of the Estate for distribution to the Heirs.