Antiques Collectibles and Vintage Clocks at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery
Published December 13th, 2008
Four auctions featuring a galaxy of quality antiques, collectibles and vintage clocks are slated for the first half of 2009 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. An antique estate auction will be held Saturday, Jan. 10; a cataloged antique auction will be held Saturday, Feb. 7; another cataloged antique auction will be conducted Saturday, April 4; and vintage clocks will reign on Saturday, May 9.
“If these auctions turn out to be anything like the ones we had in 2008, they’ll be great,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “We’ve been very busy, securing consignments and getting ready for a banner year in 2009. I know the news regarding the economy generally isn’t good, but we’ve done very well in spite of it all. When you offer quality merchandise, people will bid on it.”
The Jan. 10 antique estate auction will begin promptly at 11 a.m., with a preview that morning from 8-11. The sale will feature over 500 lots of antiques and accessories from prominent local estates. Items will include early American, Victorian, Arts & Crafts, custom mahogany, period Empire, carved oak furniture, sterling silver, art glass, paintings, Tiffany, Handel and Pairpoint lamps, clocks and more.
The cataloged antique auction slated for Feb. 7 will begin at 11 a.m., with previews on Friday, Feb. 6, from 10-5, and Saturday morning, from 8-11. Featured will be 500 lots of fine antiques, in an array of categories. Sold will be high-end Victorian, custom mahogany, figural carved R.J. Horner, period Empire, rosewood Rococo and early American furniture.
The sale will also include over 100 pieces of Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories by Gustav Stickley, L. & J.G. Stickley, Limbert and Stickley Brothers. There will also be a selection of Arts & Crafts metalwork and pottery by Roycroft, Grueby, Rookwood, Fulper and more. Over 50 lamps will be sold, by Tiffany, Handel, Pairpoint, Moe Bridges Wilkinsen, Jefferson, Chicago Mosaic and more.
Rounding out the Feb. 7 sale will be art glass and cameo glass, KPM porcelain plaques, fine bronzes, marble statuary, oil paintings and hundreds of accessories. The second cataloged auction, on April 4, will feature a selection of laminated rosewood furniture including an outstanding “Rosalie” marble top table by John H. Belter; a selection of R.J. Horner furniture featuring a 10’ figural carved oak grandfather clock, a massive figural carved oak sideboard with curved beveled curio cabinets, and a great oak dining room set with full carved cherubs, also by Horner (circa 1885).
In all, 500 lots of quality antiques will cross the block. The auction starts at 11 a.m., with previews on Friday, April 3 (10-5) and Saturday (8-11). Another session was recently added that will see 80-100 lots of antique firearms come under the gavel. “We sold a few vintage weapons at one of our recent multi-estate sales,” Mr. Fontaine said, “and it resulted in some wonderful consignments.”
On May 9, Fontaine’s will hold a two-session Spring Antique Clock Auction. Already consigned is a Howard #61 astronomical regulator. Two of these coveted clocks were sold in previous Fontaine’s auctions. One went for $195,500 in June, while another example went for $189,750 in November. Also to be sold in April will be a Howard #70 clock with 20-inch dial, in the original finish chestnut case.
The Saturday, May 9 event will be split up into two sessions. Beginning at 10 a.m., a Discovery Session will feature many uncataloged clocks. Bidders are required to be in person at the gallery to preview and bid, as these clocks will be sold as-is. Then, starting at 1 p.m., the Main Catalog Session will commence. Offered will be many cataloged antique and rare clocks, to be sold in numbered order.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery conducts all of its sales in a spacious gallery facility, located at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, Mass. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (413) 448-8922, or e-mail them at HYPERLINK “mailto:info@fontaineauction.com”info@fontaineauction.com. To learn more, you may log on to www.fontainesauction.net.
