Massive 3-session auction to be held Saturday, Nov. 21, by Fontaine's Auction Gallery

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 05, 2009 – (PITTSFIELD, Mass.) - A massive three-session cataloged auction boasting nearly 525 lots of vintage clocks and watches, lighting (by Tiffany, Handel, Duffner & Kimberly, Pairpoint and others), Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories, bronzes, coins, paintings, porcelains and more will be held Saturday, Nov. 21, by Fontaine's Auction Gallery, at 1485 West Housatonic Street, starting at 10 a.m.

   A few of the expected top lots include an E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator (est. $75,000-$125,000); a Howard & Davis astronomical regulator (est. $75,000-$125,000); a Duffner & Kimberly modern floral table lamp (est. $50,000-$75,000); a Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp (est. $75,000-$100,000); and an early Gustav Stickley #6 chalet plant stand (est. $15,000-$25,000).

   “Originally, this auction was envisioned as three separate sales, but in the end we decided to just combine them into one huge event, held on one day,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine's Auction Gallery. “For that reason alone we expect a healthy turnout.” Online bidding will be facilitated via Artfact.com and the Fontaine's website (www.fontainesauction.net). Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

   Session I will kick things off with vintage clocks and watches, a category for which Fontaine's has become renowned in the industry, thanks to semi-annual sales that have featured blockbusting top lots, including several fine examples of the E. Howard #61 astronomical floor standing regulator. Three of the coveted clocks were sold by Fontaine's within a year, hitting $195,500, $189,750, and $161,000.

   The name Howard will be very much in evidence at the Nov. 21 sale, with the aforementioned clocks figuring to dominate the session. The E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator has a fantastic walnut case with burled trim and quality carvings and is in great condition. The Howard & Davis astronomical regulator has a signed 16-inch silvered dial and a massive quality brass movement.

   Other clocks expected to do well include a large bronze French industrial automated locomotive clock with gilt bronze trimmings (est. $20,000-$30,000); a French conical marble and bronze clock, in excellent condition (est. $15,000-$20,000); an Aaron Willard Massachusetts shelf clock (est. $12,000-$15,000); and a signed Herter Brothers mantle clock in a heavily carved case (est. $5,000-$7,000).

   Yet another E. Howard & Co. clock will come under the gavel: a Figure 8 #8 wall clock with black pierce diamond hands and original signed 11-inch dial (est. $12,000-$15,000). Vintage watches will feature a Tiffany & Co. minute repeater pocket watch with split-second chronograph (est. $8,000-$10,000) and a Verge Fusee ¼ hour dumb repeater watch with encrusted pearls (est. $6,000-$8,000).

   Session II will comprise over 375 lots of furniture, lamps, accessories and coins, with anticipated top achievers including a set of six mahogany R.J. Horner figural carved dining room chairs with oversize frames and maidens on the sides (est. $18,000-$25,000); a monumental 9-piece figural oak dining room set attributed to R.J. Horner (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a carved floral inlaid Herter Brothers ebonized parlor cabinet (est. $15,000-$25,000).

   Other stars of the furniture category include a 7-piece laminated rosewood parlor set by J.H. Belter in the Rosalie with Grapes pattern (est. $15,000-$25,000); an Egyptian Revival marble-top credenza (Allen Bros., Philadelphia, est. $15,000-$20,000); a carved 4-door walnut breakfront (est. $12,000-$15,000); and an oak game carved sideboard attributed to A. Roux (est. $10,000-$15,000).

   The Tiffany Studios Dragonfly table lamp and Duffner & Kimberly table lamp will be the undisputed champs of the lamps category, but other lots to watch include a 12-inch Pairpoint Apple Tree reverse painted table lamp (est. $20,000-$30,000); a Tiffany Studios Apple Blossom table lamp (est. $18,000-$22,000); and a Handel reverse painted Daffodil table lamp (est. $12,000-$15,000).  

   Art glass will include an unusual conical form Galle leaf and bud cameo cut vase (est. $2,500-$3,500) and a bulbous form Mt. Washington Crown Milano goldfish vase with a trumpeted neck (est. $6,000-$8,000). Also sold will be a lovely original oil on canvas river valley scene by David Johnson (N.Y., 1827-1908), signed and dated (1866), relined and with visible touch-ups (est. $40,000-$60,000).

   Rounding out the expected top lots of Session II: a huge walnut figural mantle with timepiece, heavily carved with large figural robed maidens (est. $20,000-$30,000); a nice Symphonion No. 192 mahogany music box with bells, playing 27-inch discs, in original finish and condition (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a Pierre-Francois Jumeau bisque head bebe doll, 19 inches tall (est. $4,000-$6,000).

   Bridging Sessions II and III will be a number of gold coins, to include a pair of Walking Liberty $20 gold pieces (est. $2,000-$3,000). Session III will feature Arts & Crafts furniture, to include a Gustav Stickley #703 Ellis designed leaded 2-door bookcase with a long arched apron (est. $8,000-$12,000) and the aforementioned early Gustav No. 6 chalet plant stand with a deep brown finish and original paper label, lacking its original Grueby tile.

   Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has a pair of important sales scheduled right on the heels of this one. On Saturday, Dec. 5, the firm will conduct a multi-estate antique estate auction (also called a Discovery Sale). Then, on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010, Fontaine’s will conduct a Cataloged Antique Firearms, Civil War and Militaria Auction. For more information on these auctions, go to www.fontainesauction.net.

   Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. The firm is actively seeking quality lots for the Dec. 5 and Jan. 16 auctions, and beyond. Wanted are firearms, clocks, watches, barometers, antique lamps and lighting. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them, at (413) 448-8922; or, you can e-mail them at info@fontaineauction.com.

   To learn more about Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, please log on to www.fontainesauction.net.

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