(Flat Rock, N.C.) – A Reed & Barton “Francis I” sterling tea and coffee set with matching tray, totaling over 270 troy ounces, sold for $11,000 at a massive three-day multi-estate sale held February 21-23 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates.
Reed & Barton “Francis I” sterling tea and coffee set with matching tray.
The set included a teapot; coffee pot; sugar and creamer; and 22” x 30-1/2” handled tray. It was the top lot in a sale that grossed more than $500,000.
“Many fine silver pieces changed hands at this sale and perhaps that’s not surprising,” said Richard D. Hatch. “With commodities like gold and silver soaring in value against a declining dollar, I think you’ll see more and more people going through their attics and hutches to consign some really great heirlooms. It’s a wonderful opportunity for dealers and collectors alike to bid on these fine items.”
Other leaders in the silver group included an Alvin sterling “Bridal Rose” flatware service, 267 pieces, with lots of servers, dinner and luncheon and some monograms ($8,500); a sterling flatware service for 12, “Old Colonial” by Towle, 135 pieces weighing 121 troy ounces ($4,000); and a sterling flatware service for 12, “Chantilly” by Gorham, 117 pieces, with servers, 99 total troy ounces ($2,200).
“Overall, the sale was a huge success,” Mr. Hatch remarked. “We had over 500 people in attendance, plus more than 1,700 online bidders through eBay Live and LiveAuctioneers.com. The sale had over 60 consignors, mostly the cream of the crop from various estates and local folks downsizing. The selection was amazing, with great examples of art glass, silver, artwork, furniture and porcelains.”
Mr. Hatch noted that after 28 years in the auction business, he now had the chance to sell items for clients who were buyers over 20 years ago. He added, “They thought highly of me when buying, and it’s a nice tribute that they are choosing me again when selling. It has even been written into several estates’ wills that I was to handle their collections. That is a compliment and a high honor.”
Additional highlights from the sale follow. Prices quoted do not include a buyer’s premium.
Unfortunately, the auction’s anticipated top lot – the only flag of its kind known to exist from the Second Georgia Infantry Regiment of the Confederate Army, crafted in 1860 by eight ladies in Burke County, Ga. — did not sell because it failed to meet the reserve. But the sale also featured a pair of important Civil War-era presentation swords and they did change hands, for a combined $8,500.
One was from the 37th Illinois Volunteers, apparently an 1840 Cavalry saber, with a 33” blade (half shiny, half gray), with the wrap and sharkskin intact, hanging rings also intact and metal scabbard. It went for $6,500. The other was a Chatellerault sword, 7th Indiana Volunteers, belonging to Captain Scott Miller of the Washington Guards, with a photocopy image of him and his wife ($2,000).
A Steinway grand piano, Model L, made in 1927, complete with its original ivory keys and mahogany case and tuned recently to an A-440 concert pitch, played a sweet tune for $9,500. Also, a Regina disc music box, coin-operated, playing 15-1/2” discs (14 included), hammered for $2,100; and a Bergman Austrian bronze Arabic marketplace lamp, 14” tall, lit up the room for a respectable $8,000.
The leader of the fine art category was an oil-on-board work by the noted Irish artist James Humbert Craig (1878-1944). The landscape with stream rendering, measuring 12” x 17” and signed lower left by the artist, rose to $6,500. It had been consigned by a family that received the work directly from the artist himself. A Belfast framer’s label was affixed to the reverse side of the framed painting.
A pair of paintings on porcelain plaques by Wagner, the late 19th century German artist and one of KPM’s most prolific painters, crossed the block. One, titled “Telling His Secret” and depicting two children in a courtyard (5-3/4” x 8-1/2”, with factory mark), realized $3,500; while one titled “Schlimmer Ruth”, after N. Kray, 8” x 11”, with Royal Vienna beehive porcelain mark, hit $2,750.
An art glass and bronze sculpture by Michael Sherril, 17” tall and a wonderful example from a local artist, achieved $7,000 (against an estimated gallery price of $30,000). Also, a bronze sculpture of a bird family by the noted French artist Jules Moigniez (1835-1894) brought $2,500. The work, titled “Feeding Time,” stood 22-1/2” tall. Sculptures by Moigniez have fetched $8,000 and more.
Fine period furniture was offered up in abundance. A Chippendale-style display cabinet with beveled glass and mirrored back (91” tall x 79” wide) gaveled for $4,000; a Sheraton-style bow-front sideboard with fine inlay and shield décor (83” wide x 36” tall) made $2,800; and a faux bamboo 19th century carved wooden cabinet, from the estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s secretary, went for $2,000.
A superb, handpainted Vienna enamel and ebony jewelry cabinet, made in the 19th century and boasting plaques with maidens, cherubs and courting scenes (13-1/2” tall x 9-1/2” wide), and with drawers behind double doors, sold for $5,000; and a bronze figural mermaid coffee table, lifesize, approximately 44” long and 24” tall, and with a fitted glass top, found a happy new owner for $2,300.
A rare, stunning R.S. Prussia scenic porcelain tankard, 13” tall, featuring a triple scene with swans, ducks and swallows, garnered $3,750; a fine period set comprising an Arts & Crafts chandelier and four sconces with the original labels from Biddle-Gaumer Co., Philadelphia, all-original and with caramel slag glass, reached $2,500; and a Hawkes “Brunswick” cut glass tray, fishtail style, hit $2,250.
A majolica art pottery pitcher with figural bird handle and a textured gourd-style body, 8” tall, commanded $2,750; and a Cantagalli Italian art pottery pitcher, with wonderful iridescent majolica or tin glaze and rooster mark (10” tall) hammered for $2,500. Also, an early Persian handmade rug in the Blossom Kuba style and with an interesting geometric pattern, 6′ 5” x 12′ 4”, gaveled for $5,500.
A ruby and diamond ring, 4.99-carat cushion-cut ruby surrounded by diamonds totaling 2.46 carats in 14k yellow gold, slipped on a new finger for $5,000 (against an A.I.G. appraised value of $9,960); and an emerald and diamond ring with a 3.83-carat heart-shaped gem surrounded by diamonds totaling 1.17 carats in 14k white gold – this piece having an appraised value of $13,200 – made $3,500.
Richard D. Hatch & Associates’ next big sale will be held the weekend of May 1-3, in the firm’s spacious showroom at 913 Upward Road. The sale will feature over 1,700 outstanding lots from area estates, to include a huge art glass collection; fine art; porcelains; pottery; sterling flatware sets; figurines; rugs; period furniture; estate jewelry; china sets; clocks; an enormous coin collection; and more.
For more information as the sale date draws near, click on
www.richardhatchauctions.com.
Richard D. Hatch & Associates is celebrating 28 years of business in Flat Rock, N.C., located in the western part of the state, off I-26, near Hendersonville. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (828) 696-3440. Or, you can reach them via e-mail, at [email protected].