(Pittsfield, Mass.) – A gorgeous rosewood laminated marble-top center table by J. & J.W. Meeks, in untouched all-original condition, sold for $48,875 at an Exceptional Antique Auction held February 23 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. The sale was held in the firm’s spacious gallery, located at 1485 W. Housatonic Street in Pittsfield.
The Meeks table was the day’s top lot of the over 1,000 sold.
“By any measure this was a hugely successful auction,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “About 350 people packed the showroom, plus we had around 600 registered online bidders through eBay Live and nearly 250 phone and absentee bidders.” The sale grossed $2.2 million, Mr. Fontaine said, adding, “The high-end items did very well. The medium-level lots held their own.”
The Meeks table had its original white marble top and a floral reticulated carved skirt. The legs and center basket boasted excellent detail.
The day’s second-top lot was an exceptional Tiffany Studios acorn leaded glass table lamp. It soared to $40,250.
The lamp had a 22” amber shade, shading to a yellow brick background, with purple/green acorns. Overall, the piece was in very good condition.
Other highlights from the sale follow. All prices quoted include a 15% buyer’s premium.
A massive four-piece Renaissance walnut marble-top bedroom suite with double-crested canopy bed and bookmatched burl panels in a nice original finish changed hands for $39,675. The set comprised a bed, armoire, dresser and commode.
Also, a monumental Renaissance Revival three-piece bedroom suite – with queen-size bed, armoire and dresser, all in burled walnut – gaveled for $37,375.
A figural carved Tiffany & Co. 9-tube oak Horner grandfather clock, with original elite 9-tube Westminster & Whittington chime 3-weight movement in good working condition, chimed on time at $32,775. The oak case had its original finish and was in excellent shape. Also, an 8-day, two-weight Biedermeier lantern regulator clock with original mahogany case and porcelain dial hit $16,675.
A rare oak Regina musical disc bell box with 24 discs made especially for this model (Ser. #2160027) played a sweet tune for $23,000. The piece, in excellent playing condition, was one of only 71 made. A single broken tooth in the comb was its only flaw. Also, a Regina Corona 27 disc changer music box, with dragon front case and original spindled gallery with carved finials, realized $21,850.
A rare Wooten standard grade lady’s parlor secretary, one of only a few known examples of the parlor model and and featuring a high-style Renaissance case with original crest, burled panels and ebonized trim, achieved $17,250. Also, a Black Forest carved mountain goat hall tree, with a carved hawk with glass eyes at the top and a large mountain goat with glass eyes at the base, realized $12,650.
An original oil-on-canvas landscape painting by George Inness (American, 1854-1926), measuring 26.5” x 31” (framed) and signed lower right by the artist, fetched $11,500; and a pair of oil-on-canvas paintings (“On the Cauterskill”), in matching period frames, by the New York artist John Henry Dolph (1835-1903), rose to $10,350. One was signed on verso by the artist, and dated (1866).
Six French hand-painted, finely detailed ivory miniature portraits of Napoleon and his Court, each one signed “David 1810”, hammered for $11,500. One set featured Napoleon, Ney and Murat; the other set Josephine, Mme. Talleen and Dsse. D’Abrantes. Also, a KPM hand-painted porcelain portrait plaque, signed by Wagner and featuring a beautiful woman near a cliff, hit $6,325.
A bronze work titled “Carthage” by the French artist Theodore Riviere (1857-1912), 16.5” tall, sold for $10,925; a French bronze and ivory statue of a woman, standing 11.5” tall and in overall good condition, brought $10,062; and a mechanical bronze woman in excellent working condition and crafted around 1810 by the Austrian artist Franz Bergman (aka Nam-Greb), changed hands for $7,188.
A three-piece rosewood laminated parlor set by J.H. Belter, rosalie with grapes, consisting of a sofa and two side chairs in overall good original condition, crossed the block for $12,650. Also, a rosewood Rococo console base marble-top etagere (circa 1850) — with a high-style two-door console base with drawer, original white marble top and triple arched mirror back – commanded $11,500.
A gold and diamond men’s vanity set by Wartski Jewelers, consisting of a brush, mirror, shoe horn and comb, each piece crafted in 9kt gold and monogrammed “BMAC” in diamonds, went for $12,650; a wonderful Suess arts and crafts mosaic leaded glass floral hanger, with intricate bronze chains and canopy, reached $9,200; and a rare Tuffs cranberry glass parlor fountain soared to $8,050.
A rosewood laminated love seat by J. & J.W. Meeks, in the Henry Ford Pattern (66” wide x 51” tall) found a new owner for $10,350; a pair of figural carved mahogany deer base pedestals, with a figural carved base with two deer beside a tree and a top with floral carved skirt and acorn finials, made $8,912; and a five-piece Renaissance medallion black parlor set attributed to John Jeliff made $7,188.
A rare E. Howard & Co. weight-driven mahogany wall clock with beveled mirror and seat, in excellent condition and with a drawer and umbrella stand below the clock, brought $12,650; a large French “Aviation” mantle clock, featuring a male angel overlooking depictions of travel (an anchor, propeller and wings) and signed “E. Picault” (for the French sculptor Emile Picault), fetched $8,625.
A stunning Handel pine tree overlay table lamp on a rare oak leaf base, with excellent color and patina, finished at $9,200; a large brass double student lamp with 12” wide cameo cut glass shades and cranberry base with light green carved thistles achieved $6,612; and an Austrian bronze Persian lamp by Anton Chotka (1875-1925), cast in bronze and depicting multiple figures, gaveled for $4,888.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery’s next big sale will be a huge weekend event planned for May 10-11, in the Pittsfield showroom. On Saturday, May 10, over 500 lots of quality antiques will be sold, starting at 11 a.m. On Sunday, May 11, over 500 lots of Adirondack and Old Hickory will be offered, also starting at 11 a.m. Then, on Saturday, June 14, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery will hold an important Spring Antique Clock Auction. Over 300 lots of rare and vintage antique clocks will be sold at auction.
With over 35 years of experience in the auction business, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is a national leader in the antiques business. Fontaine’s is always accepting quality consignments for future sales (to include the upcoming May 10-11 and June 14 auctions). To consign a single item, an estate or collection, you may call them at (413) 448-8922; or you can e-mail them at [email protected].
To learn more about Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and their calendar of upcoming auctions, please log on to www.fontainesauction.net.