FONTAINE'S SETS ITS 6TH WORLD RECORD FOR A HOWARD CLOCK, SELLING A HOWARD & DAVIS ASTRONOMICAL REGULATOR FOR $161,000 AT AUCTION IN PITTSFIELD MASS.

Contact: Bob Burke or John Fontaine
(413) 448-8922

FONTAINE'S SETS ITS 6TH WORLD RECORD FOR A HOWARD CLOCK, SELLING A HOWARD & DAVIS ASTRONOMICAL REGULATOR FOR $161,000 AT AUCTION IN PITTSFIELD MASS.

(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – E. Howard & Company has been producing high-grade watches, regulators and marine clocks since its inception in 1842, and today E. Howard & Company clocks have evolved into the Holy Grail of manufacturers among the rapidly burgeoning genre of vintage clock and watch collecting. The firm still exists today, but most of what collectors covet is from the 19th century.

One auction house – Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Mass. – has become a leader in offering E. Howard & Company clocks at its vintage clocks and watches sales held in the spring and fall. At its most recent event -- a 3-session cataloged auction held Nov. 20-21 -- two new world auction records were set in one transaction when a Howard & Davis astronomical regulator brought $161,000.

It was a new world record price for a Howard & Davis clock at auction, and a new world record price for a drum-top clock at auction. Also in the sale, an E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator fetched $109,250; an E. Howard & Co. Figure 8 #8 wall clock reached $18,400; a Howard & Davis #1 banjo clock realized $6,613; and an E. Howard & Co. #70 regulator wall clock made $1,955.

Probably the most desired of all E. Howard & Co. clocks, though, is the #61 astronomical floor standing regulator. While none were sold at the Nov. 20-21 sale, three examples have been offered by Fontaine’s since last year. One garnered $195,500 at a June 2008 event; another brought $189,750 at an auction held in November 2008; and the third commanded $161,000 at a sale held in May of this year.

In the May sale, the second top lot was also made by E. Howard & Co. -- a massive #87 floor standing regulator clock with jeweled pallets, 4-jar mercury pendulum and time-only brass movement. It brought $80,500, a world record for the model. Also, an E. Howard & Co. N Size 14kt solid gold pocket watch commanded $1,495. All prices quoted in this story are inclusive of a 15 percent buyer's premium.

“It’s obvious why the E. Howard & Company clocks and watches fetch such high dollars at auction,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “It’s because the company took pride in making only the best timepieces of its era. We have been fortunate to attract several wonderful examples of the E. Howard & Company #61 astronomical floor standing regulators and other models in our sales.”

Other clocks that did well at the Nov. 20-21 auction included a French industrial automated locomotive clock ($31,625); an Ansonia #11 pinwheel jeweler’s regulator ($22,425); an early French industrial loom timepiece ($18,400); a French conical marble and bronze clock ($18,400); an Aaron Willard Massachusetts shelf clock ($16,100); and a Walter Durfee 9-tube grandfather clock ($15,525).

Also sold was a Grand Sonnerie Biedermeier lantern clock ($13,800); a French figural 3-piece clock set of a couple swinging ($13,800); and a carved mahogany grandfather clock with 8 bells and 8 gongs ($11,500). Tops among the watches were a Tiffany minute repeater pocket watch ($11,500); a skeletonized Verge Fusee ($9,775); and a Tiffany “Erotic” 18kt hunting cased pocket watch ($4,025).

Vintage clock and watch collectors are a notoriously finicky and discerning bunch. “They come to a sale knowing exactly what they want and how much they want to spend,” Mr. Fontaine observed. “A lot of them know each other, too. It’s almost a cliquish society of highly educated, discriminating folks. And what they come for, more times than not, are E. Howard & Company watches and clocks.”

The E. Howard Clock Company (its original name) was founded in 1842 by Edward Howard (1813-1904), who had served as an apprentice under the renowned clockmaker Aaron Willard, Jr. In 1842, Mr. Howard teamed up with David P. Davis to manufacture high-grade wall clocks under the name Howard & Davis. The company also made sewing machines, fire engines and precision balances.

The following year, 1843, a third partner came aboard, Luther Stephenson, and the company began making tower clocks. Mr. Davis left the firm in 1857 and the company was renamed E. Howard & Company. Mr. Howard launched a spinoff watch-making company that same year, and in 1861 the clock and watch businesses were merged into a single entity, The Howard Clock & Watch Company.

That firm lasted only two years. Subsequently, Mr. Howard formed a new company, The Howard Watch & Clock Company (transposing clock and watch), in 1863. The firm operated smoothly and successfully for years after that. In 1881, Mr. Howard sold his stake in the company and retired, leaving the firm to new management, which continued its founder’s tradition of quality and excellence.

It was during this time that E. Howard & Company became renowned for making the very best weight-driven wall clocks and regulators. Many models were stock items, others were manufactured by special order only. Until 1930, all clocks were produced in Roxbury, Mass., a section of Boston. Later on, the operation was moved to Waltham, Mass.

In 1934, yet another new company – Howard Clock Products – was formed to succeed the earlier firm. By then, clock production was declining, but precision gear-cutting kept the company profitable, especially from government contracts. Production of smaller clocks was phased out altogether by 1958, and the last tower clock was made in 1964. The company barely hung on for the next dozen or so years.

Then, in the mid-1970s, Dana J. Blackwell took over as vice president and enthusiastically revived clock production, reintroducing several of the more popular models to the market. The movements in these clocks maintained the same high standards that had made the predecessors great. Cases were made to strict specifications. As a result, these reproductions were popular among collectors.

In fact, the reproduction E. Howard & Company clocks from the 1970s gained in value over time, since the truly valuable originals from the 19th century were “locked tight” in major collections, especially in the United States. But in 1977, the company was sold and new ownership came in with its own brand and style of management. Many knowledgeable employees were let go and the firm declined.

By 1980, with the firm teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, a company officer was caught in a plot to blow up the factory building. He was tried and convicted, but never served jail time. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and a new manager succeeded in reviving the business.

Returning to the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery Nov. 20-21 auction, the vast majority of lots were neither clocks nor watches. Some star lots included a pair of Tiffany Studios dragonfly table lamps ($80,500 and $40,250); a Pairpoint puffy reversed painted apple tree table lamp ($25,875); a carved walnut figural mantle with timepiece ($24,150); and a Tiffany apple blossom table lamp ($23,000).

Other top achievers included an Egyptian Revival marble-top credenza, signed “Allen Bros., Philadelphia” ($24,150); an early Gustav No. 6 chalet plant stand ($28,750); and a Symphonion No. 192 mahogany music box with bells ($22,425). In all, over 500 lots changed hands in a sale that grossed just over $2 million. Online bidding was brisk, through Artfact.com, as were phone and absentee bidding.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is always accepting quality consignments for its future sales. The firm is especially interested in vintage clocks and watches, Civil War items and other militaria; fine art, period American and Continental furniture, and decorative accessories. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (413) 448-8922; or you can e-mail them at info@fontaineauction.com.

For more information, please log on to www.fontainesauction.net.

Howard & Davis:
The top lot of the sale was this Howard & Davis astronomical regulator, which brought a record $161,000.




E. Howard #60:
E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator clock ($109,250).




E. Howard Figure 8:
E. Howard & Co. Figure 8 #8 wall clock ($18,400).




French industrial:
French industrial automated locomotive clock ($31,625).




Tiffany watch:
Tiffany & Co. minute repeater pocket watch with split second chronometer ($11,500).




Dragonfly lamp:
Tiffany Studios 20-inch dragonfly table lamp ($80,500).

RARE CARTE DE VISITE OF SLAIN PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD, TAKEN WHEN HE WAS A BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE CIVIL WAR, BRINGS $4,068 AT PHILIP WEISS SALE

Contact: Philip Weiss
(516) 594-0731

RARE CARTE DE VISITE OF SLAIN PRESIDENT JAMES A. GARFIELD, TAKEN WHEN HE WAS A BRIGADIER GENERAL IN THE CIVIL WAR, BRINGS $4,068 AT PHILIP WEISS SALE

(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – A rare signed carte de visite of former President James A. Garfield – taken when he was a Union Brigadier General in the Civil War, prior to his assassination by gunshot at the hand of Charles J. Guiteau on July 2, 1881 – sold for $4,068 at an estate sale that was top-heavy with weapons and militaria, held Nov. 14-15 by Philip Weiss Auctions. Garfield himself signed the CDV.

Cartes de visites are a highly collectible form of early photography. They’re even more desirable when taken of known historical figures and signed. They were a type of small photo -- patented in Paris, France in 1854 by photographer Andre Adolphe Eugene Disderi -- and usually made of an albumen print (a thin paper photograph, mounted on a thicker paper card measuring 2 1/8 inches by 3 ½ inches).

The Garfield CDV was one of about 1,400 lots that changed hands in a sale that grossed more than $500,000. Around 200 people attended the event in person – at Philip Weiss Auctions’ showroom, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside – while phone, Internet and absentee bidding were active both days. “The phones rang almost non-stop, especially on Sunday, and we recorded close to 3,000 absentee bids,” said Philip Weiss. “We also had well over 500 registered online bidders, through Proxibid.com.”

Mr. Weiss attributed the success of the auction to the quality of items in the military collections. “This was all fresh-to-the-market merchandise,” he remarked, “and the true, dedicated collectors will come out in full force when they know they’re bidding on original items, not recycled inventory. We had an all right day on Saturday, but Sunday was when these great military collections were offered.”

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Two lots tied for top earner, each bringing $6,780. The first was a rare Smith & Wesson 320 revolving carbine and stock pistol with rifle butt feature (#48), exceedingly rare and in spectacular condition. It was made circa 1850. The other lot was a U.S. legal tender 1923 $10 note in superb/gem condition. Also, a rare and very fine 1870 $5 gold certificate (San Francisco) changed hands for $5,650.

A Sharps Model 1863 rifle, approximately 47 inches in length and made circa 1860-1870, was the highlight of the rifle category, fetching $4,850. Also, a Colt 6-inch police pistol sailed past its high estimate and realized $1,808; and a rare China war medal, issued in 1842 during the First Opium War (1839-1842) to Thomas Hyne, who served aboard the British ship H.M.S. Conway, commanded $1,243.

A group of around 100 lots of ocean liner postcards from the Ken Schultz Collection brought a combined $31,000; an incredible, museum-quality scale model of a Wells Fargo stagecoach, 33 inches long by 16 inches tall and made in the 1930s or ‘40s, breezed to $2,486; a Japanese Order of the Rising Sun (2nd class) medal rose to $2,260; and a Series 1865 $2 National Bank Note (U.S.) went for $6,440.

Mr. Weiss’s favorite lot of the sale was a 1/8 plate hand-colored ambrotype of a fireman (circa 1870s), seated with a fire helmet with an insignia reading ‘Howard 34.’The fireman’s bib was colored red and the piece was in overall excellent condition. It went to a determined bidder for $1,800. Also, a Waterloo medal issued in 1815 to Sgt. T. Wright of the 13th Regiment, Light Dragoons, reached $2,600.

Philip Weiss Auctions has a trifecta of important auctions lined up through January 2010. First up is a multi-estate sale scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, starting at 1 p.m. Featured lots will include a monumental Francois Linke 4-door dore bronze mounted cabinet with ram’s head and lyres, and a large-size original oil painting attributed to the renowned Hudson River School painter Girlando Marsiglia.

The Nov. 27 sale will also feature an array of fine decorative accessories, to include a mirror plateau with French ormolu mounts by G. Bointaburet (Paris, circa 1880); a pair of F. Barbedienne bronze plaques; a 19th century gilt bronze plaque with dancing putti; porcelains; an Argy-Russeau powder box; a collection of Mettlach and Satsuma; Sevres pieces; and 19th century Oriental porcelains.

Other decorative accessories will include hand-painted plates; a gilt and signed bronze and enamel box; pottery and art glass; hand-painted and enameled vases; a monumental gilt bronze center piece; tons of French porcelains; Oriental rugs; a monumental gilt French Trimue mirror with top center painting; clocks; a collection of vintage phonographs and cylinder players; and dozens of works of art.

Then, a three-day “Let’s Go Hog Wild Sale” is planned for the weekend of Dec. 18-20. The sale will feature a wonderful single-owner collection of pig-related memorabilia – everything but the oink. Also featured will be toys and dolls, like a rare boxed GI Joe Australian doll and GI Joe French and German soldiers; items from the German and French Resistance; circus items; and Coke memorabilia, to include early signs and a rare clock.

The weekend will break out as follows: Friday, Dec. 18, will be dedicated primarily to dolls and toy soldiers; Saturday, Dec. 19, will feature a Christmas collection, an advertising collection and premiums, to include a very rare Little Orphan Annie Altascope ring; and Sunday, Dec. 20, will have the pig memorabilia and circus items. Mr. Weiss said pulled pork might be served in honor of the theme.

Philip Weiss Auctions is saving the best for last, when the original marriage certificate issued to Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic will be sold as part of an important multi-estate sale planned for the weekend of Jan. 22-24, 2010. The certificate was signed by both Jackson and Presley. “It’s anybody’s guess how much it will sell for,” Mr. Weiss said.

That same weekend, another important slice of music and pop memorabilia will be sold: a large photo of the Beatles, signed by all four members of the group and personalized to the flamboyant late pianist Liberace. In their lighthearted way, the Beatles signed the photo “to Liber-Archie” as a play on words. Also in the auction will be many other pieces of authentic signed Beatles-related memorabilia.

Other lots certain to pique bidder interest will include the contents of a train and hobby shop that closed in the 1970s that featured trains, soldiers, play sets and more; stamps galore, including a complete sheet of 80 Peoples Republic of China Monkey New Year stamps (Scott #1586, est. $40,000-$50,000); a single-owner lifetime stamp collection; and horse racing trophies and other items relating to the late jockey Willie Shoemaker, plus horse racing trophies from Bill Hartack and trophies from the estate of Louis Wolfson.

In addition, there will be a Friday night estate sale in January that will feature a prominent Queens, N.Y., estate with an original oil painting by Jean Dufy (Fr., 1888-1964) and an original Von Danken painting as well.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them directly, at (516) 594-0731, or you can e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about the company and its calendar of upcoming sales, to include the Nov. 27, Dec. 18-20 and Jan. 22-24, 2010 multi-estate events, please log on to www.prwauctions.com.


Garfield:
Rare, signed carte de visite of slain President James A. Garfield, taken during the Civil War ($4,068).





Colt pistol:
This Colt 6-inch police pistol sailed past its high estimate to gavel for $1,808.




Stagecoach:
Museum-quality scale model of a Wells Fargo stagecoach, made in the 1930's or '40s ($2,486).




Waterloo medal:
Waterloo medal, issued in 1815 to Sgt. T. Wright of the 13th Regiment, Light Dragoons ($2,600).




Bank note:
This Series 1865 $2 National Bank Note (U.S.) went to a determined bidder for $6,440.




1923 $10 Note:
Tying for top lot honors was this U.S. Legal tender 1923 $10 note in superb/gem condition ($6,780).

MASSIVE SINGLE-OWNER LIFETIME COLLECTION OF MODEL AIRPLANES WILL BE SOLD IN AN ON-SITE AUCTION TO BE HELD SUNDAY, DEC. 6, BY TIM’S, INC., IN WINSTED,

Contact: Tim Chapulis
(860) 459-0964

MASSIVE SINGLE-OWNER LIFETIME COLLECTION OF MODEL AIRPLANES WILL BE SOLD IN AN ON-SITE AUCTION TO BE HELD SUNDAY, DEC. 6, BY TIM’S, INC., IN WINSTED, CT.

(WINSTED, Conn.) – One of the largest single-owner lifetime collections of model airplanes in existence – well over 1,000 examples, some unassembled and still in their original boxes – will be sold at an on-site auction slated for Sunday, Dec. 6, at 12 noon. The auction will be held by Tim’s, Inc., of Bristol, Conn., at the home of the collector, 80-year-old Paul Lachat of 228 Holabird Ave. in Winsted.

“This is the most fascinating single-owner collection of like merchandise it has ever been my pleasure to offer,” said Tim Chapulis of Tim’s, Inc. “It’s like were selling his life. Paul Lachat has been building and displaying these planes in his home for nearly his entire life. Avid collectors will have a field day. Mark your calendars.” Winsted is in northwestern Connecticut, at the northern tip of Route 8.

Mr. Lachat’s collection – which he keeps in a two-bay garage-barn, an attic and a large room in his home – comprises well over 600 completed planes (some made of pine and dating back to the World War II era) and about 500 more that he bought but never assembled. Those are still in the original boxes but the seals have been broken. “I had to look inside to make sure they had all the parts,” he explained.

In addition to the model planes, other items belonging to Mr. Lachat and his sister, Edna (they share the home) will also cross the block on Dec. 6. These include vintage American furniture (all of it pre-1930), a motorboat and canoe, fishing equipment, personal tools, old phonograph records and other items, to include a 1960s-era Sears (Pentax) 35mm camera with accessories and many household items.

Mr. Lachat, who has been a bachelor his entire life, got his first look at a model plane at age six, when he was out shopping with his mother around Christmas. “We were at a Woolworth’s,” he recalled, “and I saw all these model planes in the window all stacked up. One that caught my eye was a Jimmy Doolittle Flying Milk Bottle racing plane. I didn’t get it, but I thought to myself, ‘This is for me.’”

The following summer, he did get his first plane – “what they called a ten-cent comic kit,” he said. “After that, I became addicted. If I got my hands on some money, I ran and got a kit. My mother was always telling me to save, save, save. One time I got a dollar for mowing a lawn and I bought ten kits. But I put all the parts from all ten kits into one box to make my mother think I’d only bought one.”

The hobby was fueled in part by tragedy. As a young boy, Paul was in a car accident that left him blind in one eye for years. He eventually regained his sight, but had few friends because he couldn’t play sports or engage in many activities at all. At school he suffered from double vision and he never did graduate from high school. He turned to model plane building as an outlet, one that lasted a lifetime.

The oldest planes in his collection are pine examples from the 1940s, before balsa wood became the material of choice for manufacturers. One of the pine firms was Ace Whitman, and Mr. Lachat has four in his collection: a Grumman Wildcat, a Devastator, a P-38 and a Japanese Kerrigan. He used to have some Joe Ott planes (also pine), but no more. Over time, pine gave way to a low-grade balsa wood.

“During World War II, they had to make do with whatever they could get their hands on,” he said. “I have two Aeronca Gliders from that era that are made from low-grade balsa, plus a Corsair that was made from sumac.” The collection was interrupted by a stint in the Army during the Korean War (“I just never told them about my eye”), but when he returned to civilian life he picked up where he left off.

“That’s when it got really bad,” he said with a laugh. “I was like a drug addict. If I saw a kit, or a set of plans, I bought it.” As a result, he today has planes that are radio-controlled, guided by control lines (two wires; the plane can only fly in a circle), rubber band-powered and, of course, stationary plastic and wood. The makers, most of them long gone, include Cleveland, Revell, Sterling and Veco.

Favorites in his collection include a Comet sail plane made from low-grade balsa wood -- a free flight promotional model with a 6-foot wing span; a Stinton Voyager that took ten years to build, from plans by Sid Morgan and featuring doors that open and close, upholstered seats and a 9-foot wing span; and a Sopwith Pup, the British double-winged Navy fighter from World War I, made by Balsa USA.

The pre-1930 period furniture includes a nice dining room table with six chairs, a china closet and buffet, bedroom bureaus, a cedar chest and a wooden trunk. The personal tools include a shop smith (combination drill press, lathe and saw), a saw with a carbide blade, motorized hand tools (saws, drills, etc.), oxygen-acetylene welding tanks and tools, a small drafting table and drafting equipment and tools.

The motorboat is a white 1966 wooden Grady White with trailer, in excellent condition. Mr. Lachat refinished and painted it just a few years ago. The trailer is like-new, with no rust, and comes with a camper top. It has two Johnson motors (one 80hp, one 9.9hp, new in 1995). A power winch is included. “The boat is in perfect shape and ready to take fishing on Bantam Lake,” Mr. Chapulis said.

The canoe, equipped with a small Johnson trolling motor, is a blue 13-foot craft made of fiberglass on the outside and fiberglass and wood on the inside. Mr. Lachat estimates it was built around 1985. Like the Grady White, it is in near-mint condition and has always been garaged. “It does have some scratches,” Mr. Lachat conceded, “but they’re all underwater. You can’t avoid them. It happens.”

Paul's fishing gear will also come under the gavel. It includes extensive casting equipment, tackle boxes packed with like-new fishing lures (many of them vintage), camping equipment, a pup tent with windows and screens, a larger tent that’s never been used, and a depth finder and temperature indicator made by Heath Kit. “All of it is like-new,” Paul said “I was a Depression baby. I took care of my stuff.”

Books and magazines specific to model planes and fishing will also be part of the sale. The many magazines are neatly arranged by year and date back to the 1940s. They sport wonderful and colorful covers, adding to their desirability as collectibles. Among the many household items are two slide projectors and two screens, a table with a light (for showing slides), model airplane lacquer and more.

A preview will be held the day of the auction, from 10:30 a.m. until the start of sale. All sales will be subject to a 15 percent buyer’s premium. Terms are cash and known checks. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Mr. Lachat will personally be on hand to answer any questions regarding his vast collections. “Paul will be there to dispense information and share his past,” Mr. Chapulis remarked.

For more information about this and other Tim’s, Inc. auctions, log on to www.timsauction.com. Or, you can call them, at (860) 459-0964 and toll-free, (800) 255-68467.


Paul with collection:
Paul Lachat of Winsted, Conn., stands among his massive collection of model planes and other items.




Model airplanes:
The collection of model planes is so extensive some of them – like these – are suspended from a ceiling.




Fishing tackle:
Mr. Lachat was a dedicated fisherman and his vintage lures, all in excellent condition, will be sold.




Canoe:
Blue 13-foot canoe, fiberglass on the outside and fiberglass and wood inside, with Johnson motor.




Motorboat:
Interior view of a white 1966 wooden Grady White motorboat with trailer, in excellent condition.





Tim with plane:
Tim Chapulis of Tim's, Inc. -- auctioneer for the event – with a plane from Mr. Lachat's collection

BRISK BIDDING & STRONG PRICES HIGHLIGHT BELHORN'S ART POTTERY AUCTION

BRISK BIDDING & STRONG PRICES HIGHLIGHT BELHORN'S ART POTTERY AUCTION

Greg Belhorn (614) 921-9441 auctions@belhorn.com

Collections from Michigan, Maryland, Illinois, Iowa and South Carolina benefited from the strong prices realized at Belhorn Auction Services’ November 15, 2009, American Art Pottery Auction. The auction was held in Columbus, Ohio, and saw successful bidders both locally and from across the nation. Nearly 400 pieces of Roseville, Weller and Rookwood crossed the block as well as examples of Cowan, Brush McCoy, Niloak, Van Briggle and more contemporary works from Wisecarver, Hyalyn and Door Pottery.

“We are seeing a leveling off if not increases in pottery prices at auction. There is strong demand for pieces in desirable lines, rare shapes and pieces that are in mint or excellent condition,” stated Greg Belhorn, Auctioneer and President of Belhorn Auction Services.

Two pieces highlighted the results: A rare Cowan vase signed by Arthur E. Baggs from 1927 received bids from the floor, the phone and online and after spirited competition the hammer dropped at $2,200 plus buyer’s premium. “This piece represents a real intersection of potteries, styles and people,” explained Belhorn. “An understated piece at first glance, once we began to research this vase we knew we had something special. Our database of buyers shared in our excitement and the results exceeded both our and the consignor’s expectations.”

Baggs founded and built the highly successful Marblehead Pottery in Massachusetts and then moved to Ohio to work at Cowan Pottery and teach at the Cleveland School of Art. Soon after the production of this vase, Baggs accepted a position at The Ohio State University, which houses one of the oldest ceramics programs in the country. Today OSU is home to the Baggs Memorial Library which has extensive collections of reference materials and ceramic objects.

The second highlight was in the form a stunning piece of Roseville Baneda. The form (#600) was 15 inches of rich greens and blues with a crisp mold. The vase was in mint condition and still sported the original factory foil label. Again bidding was brisk and the vase sold for $2,400.00 plus buyer’s premium.

Belhorn Auction Services is a recognized leader and expert in American Art Pottery Auctions and offers a full calendar of pottery auctions. Belhorn is the official auctioneer for the American Art Pottery Association, The Pottery Lovers Reunion and the Columbus Pottery Show & Auction. Full details available at Belhorn.com.

NEARLY 750 LOTS, MANY OF THEM FRESH TO THE MARKET, FROM PROMINENT LOCAL ESTATES, WILL BE SOLD DEC. 5TH BY LELAND LITTLE AUCTION & ESTATE SALES, LTD.

Contact: Leland Little
(919) 644-1243

NEARLY 750 LOTS, MANY OF THEM FRESH TO THE MARKET, FROM PROMINENT LOCAL ESTATES, WILL BE SOLD DEC. 5TH BY LELAND LITTLE AUCTION & ESTATE SALES, LTD.

(HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.) – Nearly 750 lots – most off them quality, fresh to the market items from prominent local estates – will be sold at a Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 9 a.m., by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. The auction will be conducted in the firm’s new state-of-the-art showroom facility, located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough.

A wide array of categories will be represented, to include Classical American period and period American furniture; Continental furniture; American portraits and traditional American art; European art; bronzes and statuary; Southern pottery; estate jewelry and watches; vintage lamps and art glass; Americana; vintage musical instruments; first-edition books; over 70 lots of Asian art; and gold and silver coins.

On Friday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m., a special lecture will be presented by June Lucas, the director of research at Old Salem Museums and Gardens in Winston-Salem, N.C. Ms. Lucas’ talk will be titled Wood as Canvas: the Paint-Decorated Furniture of Piedmont, N.C. It will center on the late 18th- and 19th-century furniture makers in the piedmont region of North Carolina and their use of paint decoration.

The auction will be preceded by previews, on Saturday, Nov. 28 (from 10-3); Thursday, Dec. 3 (from 10-6); and Friday, Dec. 4 (from 10-6). An evening reception will be held Thursday, Dec. 3, at 6 p.m. Bidding may be done in-house, over the phone, through absentee bidding or via the Internet, at LiveAuctioneers.com. An online catalog has been posted. To view, click on www.LLAuctions.com.

Furniture will abound at the sale. Examples of period American furniture include a Southern Chippendale walnut stepback cupboard (circa 1800-1820), made in western North Carolina; a walnut early 19th century Southern chest on frame (Rowan County, N.C.); an early 19th century mahogany New York Federal tilt-top candlestand; and a circa 1800 fine Southern mahogany Hepplewhite inlaid cellaret.

Classical American furniture will feature a nice diminutive pier table (circa 1830), mahogany and mahogany veneers, with a marble top, Corinthian columns and mirrored base on carved paw feet; a carved sofa (Philadelphia or New York), dated on the back in chalk (1827), mahogany over white pine; and a recamier in the Baltimore manner (circa early 19th century), mahogany and mahogany veneers.

Not to be outdone by their American counterparts, the Continental furniture pieces will include a Renaissance Revival dressing table (circa 1860), fruitwood and wood veneers with light and dark inlay; a Belle Epoque French escritoire, Louis XV style, mahogany with ormolu mounts; and a lovely Irish late 19th century Chippendale-style triple-back settee, mahogany, with a shaped crest in a carved eagle motif.

Traditional American art will include a still life oil on canvas of fruit by Paul Lacroix (NJ/NY, 1827-1869), signed lower left and housed in the original gilt wood frame; and an oil on canvas rendering titled Moonlit Snow, by Aldro T. Hibbard (MA/VT, 1886-1972), framed and signed. A nice selection of European art will feature an oil on canvas work by Patrick Hennessey (Irish, 1915-1980), titled Summer.

Antique American portraits will also cross the block. Some stars of the category include a framed oil on canvas of William Bicker Walter (1796-1822) by Sarah Peale (MI/PA, 1800-1885); a miniature, possibly ivory, of Robert Brooke (1770-1821) attributed to Thomas Cummings (NY/CT, 1804-1885); and a pair of watercolor on paper portraits by the renowned New England artist James S. Ellsworth (1802-1873).

Southern pottery pieces will include an extremely rare Edgefield District “Dave the Slave” 5-gallon ovoid form jug, with applied ear handles and an even medium brown alkaline glaze, with wide mouth and rolled rim, inscribed and dated (1857); and a Jugtown (North Carolina) Chinese blue “Tang” vase, Oriental translation form, with applied extruded handles and strong deep wine all over the glaze.

Paddles will be wagging when vintage lamps and art glass come up for bid. Star lots will include a Tiffany Studios bronze and Favrile glass lamp in a 4-arm electrified candelabra form on a bronze base, with five shades; a similar lamp, but featuring a lobed base with harp support and pivoting socket; and a Daum Nancy art glass tall vase in an organic shape, with red and yellow mottled glass and matte finish.

Examples of Americana are sure to wow the crowd. A few include a large carved American eagle (New England, late 19th century), white pine with a dark red-brown tone; a 19th century Virginia leather key basket, oblong form, hand-stitched brown tinted leather; a rare Joseph Farr Bass surveyor’s compass (N.Y.); and a Northampton County, Pa., needlework sampler (Oct. 7, 1832) by Susanna Lerch.

Bronzes and statuary will include pugilists in pose by Eberhard Encke (German, 1881-1936); four putti in drunken revelry by Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (Fr.); a bronze titled Bear by Anna Hyatt Huntington (1876-1973); a 19th-century marble statue of a girl and dog by J. Roulleau; a pair of gilt bronze dancers by Agathon Leonard (Fr., 1841-1923); and a bronze greyhound dog by Eli Harvey (American, 1860-1957).

Sterling silver will feature an important Southern coin footed silver cup by Leinbach with an applied handle, a beaded border to the foot and mouth and a body with an elaborately hand-engraved landscape scene; a 125-piece “King” pattern Dominick & Haff sterling flatware and “Kings III” Reed & Barton, retailed by J.E. Caldwell & Co.; and an important American coin silver beaker owned by William Walker, rector of Trinity Church and Christ Church in Boston prior to and after the Revolutionary War.

Estate jewelry and watches will abound. Just a few examples include a 14kt white gold diamond brooch (circa 1955), in floral spray design with a 1.65ct. prong-set Old European cut diamond with 4 smaller brilliant cut diamonds; a stunning 14kt opal and diamond cocktail ring centering on an oval cabochon white opal with strong color; and a 14kt gold gentleman’s diamond ring with 3 diamonds.

Rounding out the top lots will be vintage musical instruments (to include a 1915 Gibson F-4 mandolin, serial #24534), with red sunburst spruce top and oval sound hole; vintage books (to include a true first-edition copy of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, published by J.B. Lippincott Co. in 1960); and around 45 lots of antique gold and silver coins, most of them late 19th and early 20th century.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.’s next big sale after this one will be another Fine & Decorative Arts Cataloged Auction slated for Saturday, March 20, also at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough. The firm is accepting quality consignments for that and all future sales. To inquire about consigning an item or estate, you may call them at (919) 644-1243; or, e-mail to info@LLAuctions.com.

To learn more about Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., and the Dec. 5 auction, please log on to www.LLAuctions.com.


Dave the Slave:
Rare Edgefield District “Dave the Slave” 5-gallon jar in ovoid form, dated 1857 (est. $20,000-$30,000).




Agathon Leonard:
Gilt bronze dancer by Agathon Leonard (Fr., 1841-1923). inscribed by the artist (est. $15,000-$25,000).




Paul Lacroix:
Still life oil on canvas by Paul Lacroix (NJ/NY, 1827-1869), signed lower left (est. $15,000-$25,000).




Stepback cupboard:
Chippendale step-back cupboard (circa 1800-1820), western North Carolina (est. $10,000-$15,000).




Tiffany lamp:
Tiffany Studios bronze and favrile glass lamp, 4-arm electrified candelabra form (est. $5,000-$8,000).




James Ellsworth:
Watercolor on thin pink paper by James S. Ellsworth (New England, 1802-1873; est. $2,000-$4,000).

MICHAEL JACKSON AND LISA MARIE PRESLEY'S ORIGINAL MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FROM 1994, SIGNED BY BOTH, WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION JAN. 22-24 BY PHILIP WEISS

Contact: Philip Weiss
(516) 594-0731

MICHAEL JACKSON AND LISA MARIE PRESLEY’S ORIGINAL MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FROM 1994, SIGNED BY BOTH, WILL BE SOLD AT AUCTION JAN. 22-24 BY PHILIP WEISS

But first, an important estate sale will be held on Friday, Nov. 27, at 1 p.m., in Oceanside, New York.

(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – The original marriage certificate issued to Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic, where the couple embarked on their brief but highly publicized life together, will be sold in an important multi-estate sale slated for the weekend of Jan. 22-24, 2010, by Philip Weiss Auctions. The certificate was signed by both Jackson and Presley.

“Anything relating to Michael Jackson is of extreme interest right now because of his untimely death and the release of the movie,” said Philip Weiss, “but when you have an item that combines his name and legend with the Presley name and legend, their marriage certificate no less, with both of their signatures on it, you’ve got something that’s almost impossible to predict what it will bring at auction.”

That same weekend, another slice of music and pop culture memorabilia will be sold by Philip Weiss Auctions: a large photo of the Beatles, signed by all four members of the group, personalized to the late pianist Liberace. In their lighthearted way, the Beatles signed it “to Liber-Archie” as a play on words. Also in the auction will be many other pieces of authentic signed Beatles-related memorabilia.

While the Jan. 22-24 auction event is bound to generate tremendous industry buzz, it will be preceded by another important multi-estate auction scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27, starting at 1 p.m. Featured lots will include a monumental Francois Linke 4-door dore bronze mounted cabinet with ram’s head and lyres, and a large-size original oil painting attributed to Girlando Marsiglia (N.Y., 1792-1850).

“Girlando Marsiglia was one of the fifteen founders of the National Academy and a renowned Hudson River School painter,” Mr. Weiss pointed out. “The work we are selling comes with an actual daguerreotype of Marsiglia -- an astounding fact by itself -- plus a sterling silver box that was brought to America by him in 1828 and later engraved in 1885. I can’t overemphasize the importance of this lot.”

The Nov. 27 sale will also feature a galaxy of fine decorative accessories, to include a mirror plateau with French ormolu mounts by G. Bointaburet (Paris, circa 1880); a pair of F. Barbedienne bronze plaques; a 19th century gilt bronze plaque with dancing putti; porcelains; an Argy-Russeau powder box; a collection of Mettlach and Satsuma; Sevres pieces; and 19th century Oriental porcelains.

Other decorative accessories will include hand-painted plates; a gilt and signed bronze and enamel box; pottery and art glass; hand-painted and enameled vases; a monumental gilt bronze center piece; tons of French porcelains; Oriental rugs; and a monumental gilt French Trimue mirror with top center painting. Also sold will be clocks and a collection of vintage phonographs and cylinder players.

Fans of fine art will not be disappointed Nov. 27. Many noted, listed artists will be represented that day, to include the following:

Gustav Prucha (1875-1952), the Austrian painter; Karl Felix (U.S./Austrian, 1837-1906), known for his landscapes, figural paintings and sculptures; Leonardo Nierman (N.Y./Mexican, b. 1932), an abstract expressionist also known for sculptures and murals; Samuel Chaffee (Am., 1850-1930), a painter of landscapes and coastal views; and Frederick Matzow (Conn., 1861-1938), a landscape artist.

Other artists of note include John C. Hare (Mass./Fla., 1908-1978), known for his watercolor seascape paintings and rural scenes; Philip R. Morris (U.K., 1838-1902), a landscape painter also known for genre and allegorical works; Mary G. Ascher (N.Y./U.K., 1900-1988), an abstract painter and printmaker); and Yolande Ardissone (Fr., b. 1927), known for landsacapes, still lifes and marine works.

Other artists include Willering Epko, a French painter born in 1928; David Peretz, a French painter (1906-1982); Jacob Van Diegham, the 19th century Dutch painter; Paul Emile Pissarro (Fr., 1884-1972), a landscape painter; French painter Lucien Boulier (1882-1963); Francois Gall (Fr./Hungarian, 1912-1987), known for still life paintings; and Edgar Farasyn (Belgian, 1858-1938).

Rounding out the fine art category, a work attributed to the renowned French and American painter Mary Cassatt (1844-1926), best known for her mother and child portraits, will be sold, as will a large lithograph by Alexander Calder (Conn./N.Y., 1878-1976). Also offered will be a group of rare South American 16th and 17th century religious works and a collection of Art Nouveau and other posters.

Returning to the Jan. 22-24 sale, other lots sure to pique bidder interest include the contents of a train and hobby store that closed in the 1970s that featured trains, soldiers, play sets and more; stamps galore, featuring a complete sheet of 80 Peoples Republic of China Scott #1586 (Monkey New Year); a single-owner lifetime stamp collection; and horse racing trophies won by the jockey Willie Shoemaker.

Wedged between the Nov. 27 and Jan. 22-24 auctions will be a “Let's Go Hog Wild Sale” planned for Dec. 18-20, featuring a single-owner collection of pig-related memorabilia. The auction will also include a rare boxed GI Joe Australian doll; items from the German and French Resistance; dolls; more from the Weaver Circus Collection; and Coca-Cola items, to include early signs and a rare clock.

The three-day weekend event will break out as follows: Friday, Dec. 18, will be dedicated to dolls and toy soldiers; Saturday, Dec. 19, will feature a Christmas collection, an advertising collection and premiums, to include a rare Little Orphan Annie secret decoder ring. Sunday, Dec. 20, will have the pig memorabilia and circus items. The auction house may be serving pulled pork in honor of the theme.

Previews for most sales begin the Wednesday before the sale date, from noon to 5; Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 each day; and 8:30 a.m. on sale day. A 13 percent buyer's premium will be added to each lot purchased through the gallery. All auctions will be held at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y. Online bidding will be facilitated through Proxibid.com. Absentee and phone bids will also be accepted.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (516) 594-0731, or you can e-mail them at phil@prwauctions. To learn more about the company and its calendar of upcoming auctions, to include the Nov. 27, Dec. 18-20 and Jan. 22-24 sales, click on www.prwauctions.com. Updates are posted often.

Marriage certificate:
Official signed marriage certificate issued to Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley in 1994 (to be sold Jan. 22-24).




Beatles image:
Large photo of the Beatles, signed by all four members and personalized to Liberace (to be sold Jan. 22-24).



Francois Linke:
Monumental Francois Linke 4-door dore bronze mounted cabinet with ram's head and lyres (to be sold Nov. 27).




Willie Shoemaker:
Hollywood Park All-Star Jockey award, presented in 1976 to horse racing legend Willie Shoemaker (to be sold Jan. 22-24).




Clock set:
Important gilt bronze clock set, made by the eminent French clockmaker Raingo Freres (to be sold Nov. 27).




Girlando Marsiglia:
Large-size original oil painting attributed to Hudson River School artist Girlando Marsiglia (to be sold Nov. 27).

AN AUCTION TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO FINISH THE INTERIOR OF THE LITCHFIELD FIREHOUSE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY NOV 21 AT 5 PM INSIDE THE FIREHOUSE

Contact: Tim Chapulis
(860) 459-0964

AN AUCTION TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO FINISH THE INTERIOR OF THE LITCHFIELD FIREHOUSE WILL BE HELD SATURDAY, NOV, 21, AT 5 P.M., INSIDE THE FIREHOUSE

(LITCHFIELD, Conn.) – A major auction to help finish the interior of the new addition to the Litchfield Firehouse will be held Saturday, Nov. 21, beginning at 5 p.m. at the firehouse, located at 258 West Street. The auction will be conducted by Tim’s, Inc., of nearby Bristol. The sale will feature sports cards, coins and stamps, rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, artwork, autographed items, collectibles and more.

“This will be no average fundraising auction,” said Tim Chapulis of Tim’s, Inc., himself a resident of Litchfield. “The items gathered for this event have been drawn from private homes, family estates, important collections and even the contents of a safety deposit box. In many ways it will be a somewhat smaller version of our Cabin Fever Auction, held every spring at the Litchfield Firehouse.”

The two-story, 2,150-square-foot brick addition to the existing firehouse was started in April and completed at the end of August. It comprises a meeting room, two offices, a storage room, two rest rooms and a communications room that is 90 percent complete. But much is still needed to complete the job, and that’s where the auction comes in.

The money would go toward interior walls, heating and air conditioning, electricity and phone service, insulation, carpeting, furniture, artwork and other decorations and appointments that will make the current shell habitable. “The work will take six months to complete,” said James Koser, Litchfield’s Fire Chief. “We’d like to stud the walls and install the plumbing within three weeks of the auction.”

The first hour of the sale (from 5-6 p.m.) will be dedicated to sports cards, coins and stamp collections. The antiques and other items will follow, starting at 6 p.m. The contents of the safety deposit box includes dazzling estate jewelry, like a stunning 1-carat single stone lady's diamond ring, appraised at over $5,000, an antique gold men's gold pocket watch in a hunter's case, and estate gold and silver jewelry.

Also sure to get paddles wagging is an outstanding group of rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia items.
Included in the group is a guitar signed by members of the rock group Jay and the Americans; a Martin Sigma folk guitar signed by Merle Haggard, Toby Keith, Lyle Lovett, Kris Kristofferson, group members of Trick Pony and others; sheet music signed by the late guitar legend Les Paul, with matching framed record; and a Les Paul-signed poster for his CD Chasing the Sound with an accompanying DVD.

Other rock ‘n’ roll items include a photo signed by five of the six members of The Marshall Tucker Band; a red Mercedes-Benz edition bottle of Jim Beam whiskey, never opened and signed by Jay and the Americans; a Telecaster model guitar signed by Willie Nelson and Les Paul; and a 78 rpm record and photo of ‘50s icons Bill Halley and the Comets, signed by Halley and members of the group. Also offered will be a pair of Charles A. Lindbergh autographs, both signed and dated 1972, when the famed aviator was nearing the end of his life.

A private collection of around 20 pieces of Hitchcock furniture (made in Connecticut; the company is no longer in business) will include a tall chest of drawers with cherry finish and stenciled design; a Harvest pattern bed; a Queen Anne lowboy; an entertainment cabinet for TV and stereo; and a table with four matching chairs in a nice stenciled decoration. “It can’t be overstated how beautiful Hitchcock furniture is,” Mr. Chapulis said.

Also sold will be a great collection of sports memorabilia, to include a photo and framed baseball card, signed by Mickey Mantle; multiple lots of baseball and sports cards; collectible baseball plates; and wall plaques, figurines and statues. The auction will also feature a Regina oak music box with 30 discs, in original finish, and another cylinder music box (circa 1880s) with bells and butterflies and bees inlay and other decorations, in a rosewood inlaid case.

Beautiful vintage clocks will cross the block, with offerings to include a Howard Miller signed on the dial 3-weight grandfather clock that plays music, an Atmos clock, an unusual wall-hanging gingerbread-style clock in a carved oak case, other antique wall clocks and more. Also auctioned will be Oriental carpets (some of them Persian, all high quality) and some gorgeous, clear Arts and Crafts period leaded glass windows with nice designs.

Bidders will also be treated to an unusual collection of early coin 800 silver flatware and spoons dating to the 18th century (around 250 pieces, much of it made in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts). One of the more unusual lots is a pair of turn-of-the-century silver spoons, sent via air mail from the noted writer John P. Kennedy to Mrs. Hugh L. Thompson of Waterbury, Conn., in 1959, along with an accompanying letter he penned to her. Coins will feature a collection of proof uncirculated U.S. American Eagle silver coins (1986 to near-present), Indian Head gold coins (1909 $5, a pair of 1913 $2-1/2; 1928 $2-1/2, 1910 $2-1/2, 1914 $2-1/2, 1929 $2-1/2), silver Mercury dimes, silver dollars, Walking Liberty half-dollars and Franklin half-dollars. Also sold will be two big stamp albums and a boxful of stamps from another collection.
From a prominent Litchfield home, the following items will be sold: a 2-piece Queen Anne highboy, a 2-piece secretary desk, early lighting (to include very nice Victorian-era banquet lamps, two of them signed Bradley & Hubbard, in original oil, with ball shades with flower decorations and champleve enameling), and a monumental oil portrait by the noted, listed artist (and one-time Litchfield resident) Roland Lee Anderson (1929-2002), imposing at over 7 feet tall. Mr. Anderson maintained studios in New York City and Palm Beach, Fla. He studied at the Baltimore School of the Arts, where he trained under painters versed in the techniques of the Old Masters. He became famous as a painter of judge’s portraits. The portrait to be sold, executed in 1966 of an unknown subject, was reportedly used as a prop in a movie, but which one? Perhaps someone reading this can solve the riddle. Another artwork that should wow the crowd is a variant print of an 1854 folk art piece titled Tree of Life, measuring 31 inches by 24 inches in a nice oak frame. The work was originally executed by the renowned Shakers of Pennsylvania.

Rounding out the list of top lots: a collection of early black and white photos, some depicting Thomaston and Plymouth, Conn., and some featuring GAR (Grand Army Republic) soldiers; a Stanton Hall pattern Meeks lady's chair, laminated in rosewood (circa 1860s); a 1950s-era red Coca-Cola vintage cooler; and a leather-bound copy of Herman Melville's classic book, Moby Dick (Random House, 1930), desirable to collectors because it was illustrated by Rockwell Kent. A preview will be held two hours before auction, from 3-5 p.m., when all lots may be viewed. At press time, Tim’s, Inc., was still seeking goods, services and donations from local merchants to make the auction a success.

All sales will be subject to an 18 percent buyer’s premium. Terms are cash, known checks, Visa, Master Card and Discover cards. Admittance to the auction and preview will be a donation of $5 per person, which will go to benefit the Litchfield Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department building is located at 258 West Street (Route 202) in Litchfield, located not far from the Litchfield town green and next to CVS Pharmacy.

For more information about this auction, you may log on to www.timsauction.com. To inquire about consigning an item or collection, or donating goods or services for the auction, please call Tim Chapulis at (860) 459-0964, or toll-free, (800) 255-8467. Or, you can e-mail him at tims.inc@snet.net.


Music box:
Vintage cylinder music box (circa 1880s), with bells and butterflies and bees inlay, in rosewood case.




Silver Eagles:
Collection of proof uncirculated U.S. American Eagle silver coins (1986 to near-present).




Silver spoons:
Pair of turn-of-the-century silver spoons, along with a letter written by the sender (John P. Kennedy).




Tim with furniture:
Auctioneer Tim Chapulis with a monumental two-piece Queen Anne bonnet-top high boy from a local estate.




Tim with guitar:
Auctioneer Tim Chapulis with a guitar signed by the members of the rock group Jay & the Americans.




Tim with portrait:
Auctioneer Tim Chapulis next to an enormous portrait executed by Roland Lee Anderson (1929-2002).




Vintage clock:
Victorian-era walnut parlor clock produced by a Connecticut clock maker sometime in the 1880s.

AUTHENTIC 19TH - CENTURY VAMPIRE KILLING KIT SELLS FOR $8,800 (ON HALLOWEEN!) AT AN ON-SITE ESTATE SALE HELD IN PORT GIBSON, MISS., BY STEVENS AUCTION

Contact: Dwight Stevens
(662) 369-2200

AUTHENTIC 19th-CENTURY VAMPIRE KILLING KIT SELLS FOR $8,800 (ON HALLOWEEN!) AT AN ON-SITE ESTATE SALE HELD IN PORT GIBSON, MISS., BY STEVENS AUCTION CO.

(PORT GIBSON, Miss.) – An authentic 19th-century vampire killing kit – containing a pistol with silver bullets in a coffin-style case, Holy water vials, a cleaver, a prayer book and a looking glass – sold for $8,800 at an estate sale held (appropriately enough) on Halloween, Oct. 31, by Stevens Auction Company, based in Aberdeen, Miss. A Victorian-era walnut casket (circa 1880s) also sold, for $522.50.

The coffin came up for bid right before the vampire killing kit and had a ghoulish plastic figure inside for fun and effect. “We told people the figure was a vampire and it was dead, proof that the killing kit worked,” said Dwight Stevens of Stevens Auction Company with a chuckle, adding, “I don’t believe in vampires and I’ve never believed in them. But somebody did. This is the fourth killing kit I’ve sold.”

The last one Stevens auctioned was a kit made around 1800. It came complete with stakes, mirrors, a gun with silver bullets, crosses, a Bible, Holy water, candles and even garlic, all in a walnut case with a carved cross on top. It sold for $14,850 at an estate sale held Oct. 3-4, 2008, in Natchez, Miss. The one just sold, a much newer kit, was housed in a rosewood case with mother-of-pearl inlay.

The winning bidder was a lady from Pennsylvania (not Transylvania!) who drove all the way to Mississippi to bid on the prize. “She told me afterward she was prepared to go as high as $20,000,” Mr. Stevens said, “and when nobody topped her bid of $8,000, she got up and started doing a happy dance. She even sported fake vampire fangs for effect. I don't think I've ever seen a happier winning bidder.”

Mr. Stevens said the vampire killing kit attracted interest from as far away as England prior to the sale. “People are fascinated by them,” he said. “They were pieces of Americana specific to a rather small area – from Vicksburg to New Orleans. It's all tied into the whole voodoo-superstition side of the region's character.” Interest in the killing kits spiked when Sotheby's sold one in the 1990s for $23,000.

The auction attracted a crowd of 600 people, a minor miracle in itself, considering it rained hard the entire day before. “We set up a sump pump and let it run all night,” Mr. Stevens said. “But the next day, it was as sunny and beautiful as could be. We had a great auction.” About 600 lots changed hands at the sale, which ran non-stop from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Phone and absentee bidding were both active.

Mr. Stevens said this was the first truly successful sale he’s had in a little while. “The last month or two were very slow,” he conceded, “but this auction gave us renewed hope. Much of that had to do with the provenance of the Person family, which dated back to 1750 in Mississippi and gave the items meaning. It also showed me that people are still interested in buying antiques and investing in antiques.”

The sale was an on-site event, held at the home of the late Miss Isabel Person, who lived nearly all of her 93 years on Church Street in Port Gibson, a gracious Southern town located 27 miles south of Vicksburg, on Highway 61. The home was built around 1880 in the late Victorian style. It had been bought by her father, J.W. Person II, and over the years became a repository for the family’s antiques.

Miss Person’s vast estate collections included wonderful period furniture, books, chests, clothes, silver, china, artifacts, papers and other timeless items, many of which had been lovingly stored in the 2,000-square-foot attic. But the entire house was adorned with fine antique objects from around the world. Most of these crossed the block Oct. 31. Also sold was the estate of a late doctor from Jackson.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 10 percent buyer’s premium.

The top lot of the sale was a rare walnut sugar cupboard (circa 1840), nearly 6 feet tall and with 7-inch legs ($14,300). Other furniture pieces that sold well included a mahogany Empire full tester plantation bed made around 1840 and majestic at 8 feet 8 inches tall ($12,100); a walnut plantation Jackson press (circa 1830), 7 feet tall ($7,700); and a circa 1840 Southern walnut hunt board ($7,150).

Staying with furniture, an acanthus carved base mahogany Empire banquet table (circa 1880), with 5 leaves and 9 feet 11 inches long, demanded $5,775; a walnut corner cabinet (circa 1830), with blind doors and 8-inch legs brought $5,500; a Southern country Empire cherry sugar bureau (circa 1830) hammered for $5,500; and a mahogany Empire secretary desk (circa 1835), over 7 feet tall, hit $5,500.

A British tall case mahogany clock (circa early 19th century) chimed on time for $3,300, despite needing repair; a Matthews & Slade rosewood grand piano with stool (circa 1860) played a sweet tune for $3,080; a Symphonion mahogany music box in good working order and playing 14-inch discs went for $1,980; and a banded stack of 100 1863 Mississippi Confederate $5 bills, uncirculated, made $1,760.

A rare Wells Fargo & Co. Express Model 1851 Colt Navy 6-shot pistol, made in 1861, scored a bull’s-eye for $5,500; a Colt Model 1860 Army .44 caliber percussion revolver (circa 1863) breezed to $2,200; a pair of Confederate unmarked cavalry sabers garnered $2,860 and $1,210; and a Civil War-era photograph album filled with images of renowned Confederate generals and soldiers commanded $990.

Newcomb College pottery pieces were served up in abundance. A 6-inch teapot with roses went for $4,400; a 4-inch blue vase with leaf decoration topped out at $4,180; a 7-inch vase with night scene and a hairline crack on the rim still achieved $3,960; a 4-inch vase with leaf decoration brought $3,080; a 2 ½ inch vase with floral decoration made $2,860; and a 5-inch trivet with swamp scene rose to $990.

Marble-top tables piqued the interest of the crowd. A mahogany Empire pier table attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks, 44 inches wide, sold for $3,740; A rare Classical crotch mahogany Empire foyer table (circa 1850) hit $3,520; and a walnut Victorian parlor table (circa 1860), attributed to Thomas Brooks, realized $2,860. Also, a gorgeous gold Victorian cherub mirror, 5 feet tall by 3 feet wide, made $2,420.

A lovely monogrammed sterling silver repousse 4-piece tea service with grapes climbed to $7,700, while a set of 10 sterling silver reticulated demitasse cups and saucers, monogrammed, with Willets Belleek inserts, were a steal at $440. Also, a pair of cranberry cut to clear oil lamps, 25 inches tall, brought $1,210; and a selection of 19th century small portraits on ivory went for $330-$600 each.

Returning to furniture, a cherry butler’s drop-front whiskey press (circa 1840) earned $4,400; a mahogany Empire 2-door bookcase, (circa 1830), fetched $4,180; a mahogany Empire china cabinet with claw feet (circa 1880), gaveled for $3,740; a primitive cherry 2-piece step-back cupboard (circa 1830) went for $3,080; and a rare Empire hall seat with wide scroll feet (circa 1840) garnered $3,080.

A walnut Southern sugar chest with divider and drawer (circa 1840) earned $3,080; a primitive poplar step-back cupboard (circa 1840), 85 inches tall, demanded $2,970; a flamed mahogany Federal sofa with red upholstery and great carved apron (circa 1830) reached $2,860; an early 24-tin Southern pie safe coasted to $2,860; and an unusual Gothic Empire mahogany dresser (circa 1830) hit $1,980.

Stevens Auction Company’s next big auction will be later this month (time and dates still to be announced). A two-day auction is also planned for January (timed and dates also yet to be set) that will feature an estate from Natchez, Miss., an estate from Nashville, Tenn., and two Mississippi estates. The auctions will be held in the Stevens Auction Company showroom, at 609 No. Meridian St. in Aberdeen.

Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (662) 369-2200, or you can e-mail them at stevensauction@bellsouth.net. To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and the upcoming sales scheduled for later this month and January, click on www.stevensauction.com. Updates are posted often.


Vampire killing kit:
This rare 19th century vampire killing kit was the hit of the Halloween sale, bringing a robust $8,800.




Sugar cupboard:
The top lot of the sale was this gorgeous walnut sugar cupboard, made around 1840 ($14,300).




Flatware set:
Monogrammed sterling silver repousse flatware set with grapes, comprising four pieces ($7,700).




Newcomb College:
Newcomb College 6-inch teapot with roses, one of a group of Newcomb College pieces ($4,400).




Music box:
Symphonion mahogany music box, plays 14-inch diameter discs, in great condition ($1,980).




Tall case clock:
Beautiful British tall case clock made around the second quarter of the 19th century ($3,300).

THREE-SESSION CATALOGED AUCTION FEATURING VINTAGE CLOCKS AND WATCHES, ANTIQUE LIGHTING, ARTS & CRAFTS FURNITURE, BRONZES, SILVER, PAINTINGS AND MORE

Contact: Bob Burke or John Fontaine
(413) 448-8922

THREE-SESSION CATALOGED AUCTION FEATURING VINTAGE CLOCKS AND WATCHES, ANTIQUE LIGHTING, ARTS & CRAFTS FURNITURE, BRONZES, SILVER, PAINTINGS AND MORE TO BE HELD NOV. 21 BY FONTAINE'S AUCTION GALLERY IN PITTSFIELD, MASS.

(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 http://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.


E. Howard #60:
E. Howard & Co. #60 astronomical hanging regulator with fine walnut case (est. $75,000-$125,000).




Howard & Davis:
Howard & Davis astronomical regulator with signed 16-inch silvered dial (est. $75,000-$125,000).




Dragonfly lamp:
Tiffany Studios 20-inch Dragonfly table lamp with excellent 6-dragonfly shade (est. $75,000-$100,000).




Goldfish vase:
Mt. Washington Crown Milano goldfish vase, bulbous form, with trumpeted neck (est. $6,000-$8,000).




Plant stand:
Early Gustav No. 6 chalet plant stand, with deep brown finish and original paper label (est. $15,000-$25,000).




Music box:
Symphonion No. 192 mahogany music box with bells, with 27-inch discs (est. $15,000-$25,000).





Table lamp:
Duffner & Kimberly 22-inch #508 modern floral table lamp with a rare leaded shade (est. $50,000-$75,000).

E. HOWARD BOSTON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY REGULATOR BRINGS $52,900 AND VINTAGE HENRY RIFLE HITS $48,300 AT AUGUST SALES HELD BY COTTONE AUCTIONS

Contact: Sam Cottone
(585) 243-3100

E. HOWARD BOSTON ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY REGULATOR BRINGS $52,900 AND VINTAGE HENRY RIFLE HITS $48,300 AT AUGUST SALES HELD BY COTTONE AUCTIONS

(GENESEO, N.Y.) – A vintage E. Howard & Co. (Boston) Astronomical Observatory Regulator clock soared to $52,900 and a rare and antique Henry rifle purchased by the U.S. government for use during the Civil War hit a bull’s eye for $48,300 at a pair of sales held Aug. 15 and Aug. 29 by Cottone Auctions. Both sales were held at Cottone’s spacious gallery, located at 120 Court Street in Geneseo.

The Aug. 15 event was dedicated to antique guns and historical books and featured the estate collection of John Wallace of Pavilion, N.Y. The Aug. 29 sale was a fine clocks auction and featured the collection of Joe Butta of Larchmont, N.Y. “These were guy sales for the most part,” Sam Cottone said with a chuckle. “Lots of guns and clocks -- let’s say there weren’t many ladies in attendance either day.”

Nevertheless, both auctions enjoyed a brisk turnout – about 150-200 people per sale. Around 250 lots came up for bid at the guns and books auction, while a little more than 200 clocks changed hands. The online bidding component for both events was facilitated by Artfact.com, and Mr. Cottone said “quite a few” absentee and phone bids were recorded both days. “It was a good month,” he remarked.

He added, “I was happy with the results of the first auction. The market for antique guns has been good and remains quite strong. As for books, they were mainly European titles, and the market for those is also strong. There weren’t many American books in the sale. As for the second auction, I was pleased with that as well. Clock enthusiasts are very specialized. They look for specific things at a sale.”

The Howard clock and the Henry rifle were the top lots in their respective sales. The Howard boasted a cherry case with original rosewood finish, original signed and silvered engraved brass dial, brass engraved 8-day time-only pendulum and unusual 24-hour hand. The .44 caliber Henry featured a period cavalry leather scabbard and the official mark of government inspector Charles George Chapman.

Following are highlights from the Aug. 15 antique guns and historical books auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

Another Henry rifle performed well, as an early first model (serial #1588) hit $32,200. The totally original and untouched .44 rimfire caliber firearm featured a nice uncleaned patina on the brass frame and butt plate. Also, a vintage box of 53 rounds of ammunition for Henry’s Repeating Rifles climbed to $7,590. The green box was intact and of the “Bold 4’s” type, with a raised “H” in a circle headstamp.

A five-volume atlas of the world, by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (Paris, 1764), titled Le Petit Atlas Maritime: Receuil de Cartes et plans des Quatre Parties du Monde, with 575 copper-engraved maps, went for $17,250. Also, a book titled Texas in 1840, or, The Emigrant’s Guide to the New Republic (New York, W.W. Allen, 1840), with a hand-colored litho of Austin on the frontpiece, brought $4,140.

Most of the day’s top lots were dominated by Winchester, a name familiar to and coveted by collectors. A Model 1866 (second model) .44 rimfire caliber rifle with 24-inch barrel (serial #20478) fetched $24,150; a Model 1886 .50 caliber (express) rifle with 26-inch barrel (serial #102658) garnered $21,160; and a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #38881) commanded $10.062.

Other Winchesters included a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber rifle (serial #102958), with 26-inch round barrel ($10,235); a Model 1885 .44/40 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #75759), with standard 15-inch barrel ($8,280); a Model 1886 .33 caliber rifle (serial #155352), with 24-inch takedown barrel ($6,325); and a Model 1886 .45/90 caliber rifle (serial #32882) with 26-inch barrel ($8,510).

Rounding out the Winchesters, two rifles breezed to identical sale prices of $6,326. One was a Model 1873 (third model), .44 caliber (serial #139830), with 28-inch special-order barrel. The other was a Model 1876 (second model), .45/60 caliber, with a standard 28-inch barrel. Also, a Model 1873 (third model) .44/40 caliber rifle (serial #153295) rose to $4,888, while a Model 1876 “50 Express” hit $4,600.

Following are highlights from the Aug. 29 fine clocks auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

A rare Juvet table-top clock with 11-inch globe, gilt bronze three-dolphin base, mounted on marble, 34 inches tall, with painted Roman numerals, sold for $24,150; an unusual and scarce figural magician oil night timepiece with original polychrome, patina and gilt decoration rose to $5,405; and a Sawin & Dyer of Boston lyre clock with carved mahogany case in a fine old finish topped out at $4,600.

A fine Joakim Hill (Flemington, N.J.) tall case clock in a fine inlaid mahogany case with fluted ¼-columns and a nice old patina realized $18,975; a very rare Laporte Hubbell solar globe shelf clock in a carved walnut case in the Gothic style, one of only a few examples known, wowed the crowd for $10,350; and a Joakim Hill tall case clock with original signed and painted iron dial achieved $9,200.

A beautiful Seth Thomas #14 floor regulator with a carved and burl walnut case in the original finish, two side finials and wood bezel around the dial earned $16,905; a fine and rare Simon Willard & Son banjo clock in a mahogany case with stenciled front in original finish and stenciling commanded $14,950; and a J.C. Brown acorn shelf clock with laminated rosewood and mahogany case hit $9,200.

Rounding out the top lots: an 18th century Italian bracket clock in an ebonized case with brass finials brought $4,140; a Howard & Davis (Boston) #1 banjo clock in a cherry case with nice old patina hammered for $4,830; a Sawin & Dyer (Boston) lyre clock in a carved mahogany case with old finish and good color went for $4,600; and an Asa Munger (Auburn, N.Y.) Empire shelf clock brought $4,140.

Next up for Cottone Auctions is a Fall Antiques & Collectibles Sale, slated for Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. Cottone Auctions has been conducting specialized auctions for selling fine art and antiques for over 25 years. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (585) 243-3100, or e-mail them at scottone@rochester.rr.com. For more information, log on to www.cottoneauctions.com.


Howard clock:
Rare and vintage E. Howard & Co. (Boston) Astronomical Observatory Regulator ($52,900).




Tall case clock:
Joakim Hill (Flemington, N.J.) tall case clock in a fine inlaid mahogany case, rare ($10,350).




Juvet globe:
Juvet table-top clock with 11-inch globe and gilt bronze 3-dolphin base, mounted on marble ($24,150).




Henry rifle:
Rare .44 caliber Henry rifle purchased by the U.S. Government for use during the Civil War ($48,300).




Ammo box:
Vintage box of 53 rounds of ammunition for Henry's Repeating Rifles ($7,590).




5 vol. Atlas:
Five-volume atlas of the world, by Jacques Nicolas Bellin (Paris, 1764), with 575 maps ($17,250).

PAIR OF MARINE OIL PAINTINGS BY NOTED BRITISH ARTIST THOMAS BUTTERSWORTH (1768-1842) SELL FOR A COMBINED $33,925 AT GORDON S. CONVERSE AUCTION OCT. 21

Contact: Gordon S. Converse
(484) 431-5543 or (610) 722-9004

PAIR OF MARINE OIL PAINTINGS BY NOTED BRITISH ARTIST THOMAS BUTTERSWORTH (1768-1842) SELL FOR A COMBINED $33,925 AT GORDON S. CONVERSE AUCTION OCT. 21

(WAYNE, Pa.) – A pair of gorgeous marine oil paintings by the noted British artist Thomas Buttersworth (1768-1842) sold for a combined $33,925 at a multi-estate sale held Oct. 21 by Gordon S. Converse & Co. The paintings were the top achievers in a two-session sale that featured around 275 lots of fine art, period American furniture, ceramic objects, decorative accessories, vintage clocks and more.


The Buttersworth oils included Glasgow & Cutter Scout, the top earner at $19,550, and Glasgow & Albion, which finished at $14,375. Glasgow refers to the H.M. Frigate Glasgow, a 50-gun warship. The Albion was a 74-gun second ship. Both paintings were executed circa 1826-27 and were housed in later gilt wood frames. Each possessed identical measurements of 19 inches by 23 ¼ inches in the frame.


“It seems to me that the added value to these otherwise attractive paintings by this popular marine artist is that they are a pair, having survived together since the original execution,” said Gordon S. Converse, adding the paintings were both purchased by the same bidder.
The auction was held at the Italian-American Club in Wayne, a suburb of Philadelphia located about a half-hour west of the city, at 301 West Wayne Ave. Around 100 bidders combined participated live, by phone and through absentee bids. In addition, approximately 200 people registered to bid online, via LiveAuctioneers.com. Session one was a Discovery Auction, while session two was a Gallery Sale.


“We had a lot of real, genuine antiques in this auction,” Mr. Converse said, “so I was pleased with the quality of the merchandise. As for prices, I was a little disappointed in the furniture, but the good items held up well because quality is what people crave. The same was true for fine art. Signed artwork of beauty will bring top dollar, but not so much mediocre pieces. That has been a mantra this past year.”


Mr. Converse said ceramics held their own without breaking any records, but damaged pieces didn’t sell well at all. “As soon as they see that nick or chip, the paddles come down,” he commented. “That’s sad, because some of those pieces are highly collectible and would fetch much more in better condition.” He added, “Overall, considering this was only our fourth auction, I’d say we did quite well.”


Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.


Tops in the furniture category was a well-crafted early 19th century mahogany American dresser or vanity with a drawer commode and lyre-form carved supported cheval mirror ($1,840). Also, an 18th century English (or Irish) walnut dish-top Georgian walnut veneer tea table brought $1,380; and a nice Chippendale-style solid mahogany, closed bonnet highboy, 84 inches tall by 40 inches wide, hit $1,150.


Staying with furniture, a high chest of drawers stamped with the maker (Leopold Stickley of New York) and with a Chippendale-style casement realized $748, while a grand gaming table in three tiers, with the top opening to reveal either a felt-covered card table or a roulette surface, rose to $748. Also, a Winchester repeating rifle (“the rifle that won the West”), model 1873, hit a bull’s eye for $920.


An interesting and rare 18th century silk marriage pillow, dated 1722 and with tassels at each corner and the initials of the soon-to-be-betrothed (“EH” and “HJ”), and decorated with tulip flowers and hearts, garnered $1,725. Also, a 20th century Charles Lotton etch-signed art glass vase, 10 inches tall, made $1,035; and a fine white Federal American mantel, 58 inches by 67 ½ inches, brought $1,035.


Returning to fine art, a framed and matted 19th century engraving after Benjamin West’s William Penn’s Treaty with the Indians, one of the more fanciful images in Philadelphia history, went for $1,150. Also, a Victorian-era antique oil portrait of a happy cavalier at a tavern merrily drinking wine breezed to $900, which seemed to be a great value, since the elaborate gilt frame was about perfect and the image strong by a listed artist, while portraits of colonial figures Aaron Foster and Hannah Brown Foster sold for $805 and $748, respectively.


An antique oil painting on tin, measuring 7 ½ inches by 5 ½ inches and titled on the frame, Self Portrait Thomas Scully 1783-1872, painted by Scully at age 80 and framed later, demanded $805; a pointillist painting of sailboats at a dock by George W.K. Newbold (Am., 1879-1948) realized $633; and a set of four scenes of Italy, each signed Ellore Gianni and measuring 6 by 9 inches, commanded $633.


In ceramics, a pair of nicely decorated yellow and blue glazed bowls soared to $2,645, and a celadon yellow glazed bowl, 7 inches in diameter and embossed with landscape suggestions, hit $891. Clocks seemed to sell at low levels, but a few also did well. A solid walnut Chippendale Pennsylvania tall case clock, 90 inches tall, chimed on time for $3,795, and a Federal American solid cherry grandfather clock (circa 1800-1830) made $2,300.


Care to have a seat? A walnut Chippendale-style side chair in the manner of 18th century Philadelphia with carved ball and claw feet hammered for $690; a walnut American Chippendale-style carved stool with cabriole legs and ball and claw feet topped out at $690; and a solid mahogany Empire era upholstered arm chair with scroll-shaped armrests and mounted with brass ormolu mounts hit $633.


Gordon S. Converse & Co. has a big sale planned for Dec. 29. “We will be selling one of the largest collections of important shelf clocks in the United States that day,” said Mr. Converse. “I would suggest that all rare and vintage clock collectors and aficionados mark their calendars and plan to attend. We will have 200 or more lots in the auction.” Other sales were being lined up for the first part of 2010.


Gordon S. Converse & Co. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004, or, you can inquire by e-mail at Gordon@ConverseClocks.com. To learn more about the company, you may log on to www.AuctionsatConverse.com or www.ConverseClocks.com. Both websites are highly informative.


Anyone interested in finding out what an 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 Converse, 758 Mancill Rd., Strafford, PA 19087.

Thomas Buttersworth:
One of two original marine oil paintings by Thomas Buttersworth (Br., 1768-1842). They sold for a combined $33,925.




Mahogany dresser:
Well-crafted early 19th century American mahogany dresser with lyre carved supported mirror ($1,840).




Marriage pillow:
Interesting and rare silk marriage pillow, dated 1772, decorated with tulip flowers and hearts ($1,725).




Lotton vase:
Beautiful Charles Lotton etched signed art glass vase, 10 inches tall, signed and dated 2003 ($1,035).




Ceramic bowls:
Pair of gorgeous yellow and blue glaze decorated matching bowls, with other colors ($2,645).




Pennsylvania clock:
Solid walnut Pennsylvania Chippendale tall case clock, 90 inches tall, with 8-day clockworks ($3,795).