Heckscher's Buffalo Trophy Fetches $800

A buffalo head trophy deaccessioned by the Heckscher Museum. was bought at auction by a local bidder for $800.

By Sophia Ricco
sricco@longislandergroup.com

Recently deaccessioned as a way to raise funds and increase storage space, a buffalo head trophy owned by August Heckscher and previously on display at the Heckscher Museum, has been sold at auction.

The relic comes from the museum’s founding days in the 1920s when the trophy was displayed as a part of their museum’s collection. But since the town acquired the museum, the focus of the collection has shifted to fine art, highlighting American and European artists. The trophy was collecting dust in the museum’s storage facilities in Farmingdale, according to museum officials. The Huntington town board approved a plan to sell the artifact with the money raised to be dedicated to the museum’s budget.

The piece was sold by South Bay Auctions as a part of their Fine Art, Antiques and Sporting Auction on Sept. 22. The gavel price was $800, paid by a local family who learned about the sale through the news and were “very excited” to acquire it, a spokesperson for the auction house said. The piece went on the block with an estimate of $300-500 and the auction began with an opening bid of $550. A bidding war ensued with people on the floor, telephone phone bidders and online bidders competing.