All manner of traditional antiques will cross the block at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery on Saturday, May 19, at 11 am, in an antiques, clocks and fine art auction that of course, features several choice European and American clocks. Absentee and Internet bidding is available on Fontaine’s Live, LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Auction Zip and Ebay Live.
This auction will feature 300 lots, including fine clocks and watches, bronze and marble
statuary, art glass and cameo glass, Royal Vienna and KPM porcelains, gold and diamond
jewelry, fine silver, 19th and 20th Century lighting by Tiffany Studios, Duffner & Kimberly,
Handel, Pairpoint, Moe Bridges, Wilkinson, and Unique; along with Tiffany windows, rare
carousel figures, American figural carved and Victorian furniture, Black Forest items, Oriental
rugs, Asian and Russian items, plus related accessories.
“We are always pleased to have a standout selection of clocks, which we are well known
for,” said owner/auctioneer John Fontaine. “In this auction, we have a fine example of an E.
Howard No. 57 wall regulator as well as a R.J. Horner and Elliott mahogany 9-tube grandfather clock along with many other fine clocks as well as antiques across the board.”
The Howard regulator ($60/80,000) has its original 14-inch silvered dial with black
incised Roman hour numerals, original blued and pierced diamond hands; a No. 3 brass 8-day weight driven time only movement signed “E. Howard & Co., Boston” in a walnut wall hanging case having a turned finial on an arched crest with quarter fan carving, scalloped shoulder, and large quarter corner columns with stylized seashell capitols. The clock is inscribed as presented to Joseph S. Waterman, December 1890. It measures 73 inches tall.
Also leading the clocks category is a R.J. Horner and Elliott mahogany 9-tube grandfather clock with a striking 12-inch silvered dial signed “Elliott, London, England.” The brass 8-day weight driven movement is signed “J.J. Elliot, 9051” and “H&H” for Harris & Harrington. The ornately decorated clock case is carved with two winged griffins, full standing figures of Chronos “Father Time,” figural maidens busts and a center carved medallion with a scene of a sailing ship, 106 inches tall.
Sharing the block with these two tall case clocks will be a French skeletonized inverted pendulum mantle clock, circa 1820, having 9-rod gridiron pendulum swings from a knife edge suspension, a deep green enamel dial signed “Huguenin, a Paris” and gilt Roman hour numerals, 22 inches tall overall.
A number of fine jewelry pieces will be offered, including a 14K gold ring having three prong set diamonds totaling 9.46 carats, and an 18K pair of Russian Queen Katarina diamond and amethyst pendant earrings.
Music boxes are a perennial favorite in auctions and this sale boasts a coin-operated animated Swiss station music box featuring a two-part rosewood and stripe inlaid case with two doors and two drawers in the base. The top has pierced carved fretwork, ripple piecrust trim and an ebonized pierced filigree carved crest with lyre. The coin-op spring driven music box accepts 20 cent Swiss Francs and measures 65 ¼ by 29 ½ by 15 ½ inches.
Highlighting the furniture offerings are a J & JW Meeks laminated rosewood marble top turtle top center table with its original white turtle shaped inset marble top over a laminated serpentine apron, 30 ½ inches tall, and a House of Representatives desk and chair that was designed for the new chamber of the United States House of Representatives, circa 1857, by the architect of the Capitol, Thomas U. Walter. The chair was made by Bembe & Kimbel, New York and the desk by Doe & Hazelton, Boston.
Rounding out the auction are a pair of Tiffany Studios 3-light tulip table lamps with six gold iridescent 10-rib art glass tulip form shades, 16 inches tall, and a Wurlitzer Model 950 jukebox, 1942, designed by Paul Fuller. This model was the first to use the long bubble tubes and fluorescent lights, 63 inches tall.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is the oldest operating auction gallery in Western Massachusetts. It has earned the trust of collectors, investors and gallery owners worldwide. All cataloged lots receive nationwide exposure to the firm’s database of more than 20,000 select buyers. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been voted “Best Antique Auction Gallery” eight times by the public.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality items, to include furniture, lighting, clocks and watches, paintings, porcelains, bronze and marble statuary, Asian items, art glass and cameo glass, Russian objects, silver, musical, coin-op, advertising, toys, banks, gaming and carousel items for future sales. Consignments are currently being accepted for all the upcoming auctions.
The firm will buy outright or accept on consignment fine antiques, collections or entire estates. Call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak with John Fontaine, or you can send Mr. Fontaine an e-mail to info@fontainesauction.com. For more information about the company and the upcoming auction schedule, visit www.fontainesauction.com. Updates are posted frequently.
Preview for this auction will be Friday, 10 to 5, and Saturday, 9 to 11. Fontaine’s Auction
Gallery is at 1485 West Housatonic Street. For more information, https://fontainesauction.com or 413-448- 8922.