Discovery Antique Auction to be held March 25 in Wayne, Pa., by Gordon S. Converse & Co.

Feb. 16, 2010 - PRLog -- (WAYNE, Pa.) – Coming off a highly successful vintage clocks and horology auction at the end of last year, in which about 250 lots changed hands (half of them being wood shelf clocks dating to the early 19th century), Gordon S. Converse & Co. will ring in 2010 with a Discovery Antique Auction on Thursday, Mar. 25, at 12:15 p.m. About 250 lots will be sold.

   “Luckily for us, a small and collectible collection of posters and fine arts came in at the last minute, rounding out this next sale nicely,” said Gordon Converse of Gordon S. Converse & Co. He was referring to 30 lots of artwork by Marc Chagall, Ben Shahn, Fernand Leger and others, all vintage lithographs and posters. “My favorite is a framed photo and signed check of Mae West with a gold leaf frame and a stunning light blue satin mask,” Mr. Converse remarked.  

   These are part of a much broader and eclectic range of categories, which also includes ceramics, sporting prints, furniture and collectibles.

   Porcelains will include Hummels, figurines, ceramics (including a collection of pitchers, and teapots), French furniture and other general furniture items, ornithological and duck-related items, vintage dolls, and prints (some of them 19th century).

   “This is a sale where there will truly be something for everybody,” said Gordon Converse  “If you’re looking for variety, and some nice merchandise, then this is the auction for you.” The event will be held at the Italian-American Club in Wayne, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia located about a half-hour by car west of the city.

   Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. A preview will be held on Wednesday, Mar. 24, from noon to 6 p.m. A buyer’s premium of 15 percent will be applied to all sales. The Italian-American Club is located at 301 West Wayne Avenue in Wayne, Pa. Gordon S. Converse & Co. is based in nearby Strafford, Pa.

   Some of the lots – particularly the smalls and especially the porcelain pieces – will be offered in multiples, a fact that will appeal to dealers (although the auction will be open to the general public). “The teapots are going to generate bidder interest because they’re so attractive and unique looking,” Mr. Converse said. “There are about twelve of them, all very interesting.”

   The French furniture will include a gorgeous pair of heavily carved wedding armoires, both beautifully hand-crafted in the 19th century. The Chinese and Oriental items will feature a lovely screen, a large watercolor and some furniture pieces. The ornithological and duck-related lots will include decoys and artwork. A few, but not many, silver pieces will also be offered.

   The dolls should get paddles wagging because, like the teapots, they are both unique and interesting. “These aren’t Madame Alexander dolls, but they’re not French Jumeau dolls either,” Mr. Converse said. “They are all vintage and folk art-style dolls, made in the late 19th or early 20th century. Doll aficionados may want to take note.”

   After this event, Gordon S. Converse & Co.’s next big sale will be another vintage clocks and horology-related items auction, slated for sometime in June (the date and time have yet to be determined; for more information as June draws near, log on to the Gordon S. Converse & Co. websites: www.AuctionsatConverse.com or www.ConverseClocks.com. Both are updated often).

   Already, some very impressive timepieces have been consigned for the June sale. A few include the following:

A magnificent 18th-century tall case grandfather clock attributed to John Hoff of Pennsylvania.
A fine, early 18th-century English basket-top bracket clock.
A very rare clock set, consisting of a perpetual calendar clock and a times-around-the-world clock by Gubelin (known as “the Tiffany of Switzerland”), all enamel and very flashy, originally hung in a law office and suitable for commercial display. “These clocks make an architectural statement,” Mr. Converse said. “They’re too large for home use, but would make a wonderful addition to anyone’s work environment.”

   Gordon S. Converse & Co. is still accepting quality consignments for the Mar. 25 Discovery Antique Auction and the June vintage clocks and horology sale. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004. Or, you can send them an e-mail, at Gordon@ConverseClocks.com. Mr. Converse replies promptly to all inquiries.

   Anyone interested in finding out what an antique item might be worth can find out by sending a photo of the item, along with a check for $40, to Gordon S. Converse & Co., Attn: Gordon S. Converse, 758 Mancill Rd., Strafford, PA 19087. For more information, please log on to www.AuctionsatConverse.com or www.ConverseClocks.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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Ken Hall writes pre-sale and post-sale press releases for auction houses, for a fee. He writes, submits and tracks stories for clients. Submissions are published in trade magazines, posted on industry websites and appear in local newspapers.