(St. Charles, Mo.) – A rare and stunning American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) mushroom shade table lamp in the Aberdeen pattern by Jewel Cut Glass, with two lights and measuring 21” x 12”, sold for $14,000 at the sale of The Jim and Francis Miller Collection, held August 1-2 at the St. Charles Convention Center. The Millers were dedicated collectors of American Brilliant Cut Glass pieces.
“This was without question one of the finest quality lamps it has been my privilege to offer at auction,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, which conducted the two-day event. When it was all over, almost 1,000 lots had changed hands, nearly all of it American Brilliant Cut Glass. Also sold was Tiffany, art glass and other related items. The auction was dedicated entirely to the Millers’ collections.
Approximately 250 people packed the Convention Center, about half of whom held bidder numbers. Online bidding was facilitated by Proxibid.com, with Internet bidding comprising 16 percent of all bids, and a sell-through of 8.5 percent. Around 30 absentee bids were fielded. “Overall, it was a very good sale,” Mr. Woody said. “Everybody commented on the quality of the Millers’ collections.”
The majority of the pieces came from the collection of Francis Miller, of Harrison, Ark. She had been a collector for the past 40 years when the decision was made to let others enjoy what took her decades to accumulate. Added to that were approximately 140 select lots collected by the late Jim Miller, a past president of the American Cut Glass Association. All 969 lots were sold without reserve.
Following are additional highlights from the sale. All figures quoted are hammer prices.
A 19-1/2” x 15” signed Sinclaire platter and two matching 9-1/2” plates, with a detailed engraved wild game bird scenic décor and an acorn border, soared to $10,000. The buyer was a collector looking to complete a set. When the final gavel fell, the room erupted into applause. “We had a lot of spontaneous applause during the day,” Mr. Woody said. “That’s one measure of a good sale.”
A 15-1/4” rock crystal vase, signed W. Fritsche, with engraved floral, garland and “tear drops” on a pattern cut base, gaveled for $10,000; a pedestal cornucopia vase, 12” x 12”, with crosscut diamond, strawberry diamond, star and fan motif, solid stem and Hobstar base, topped out at $8,500; and an eight-piece, 12” x 12” liqueur set in an emerald green cut to clear Montrose pattern hit $8,500.
A 14” glass-handled jug with sterling top with an elaborate sterling wing-shaped engraved spout and coat of arms, reached $8,000; an 11-3/4” emerald green cut to clear bowling pin-shaped vase, engraved floral with Hobstar & Nailhead diamond vesica motif, realized $7,500; and a Stevens & Williams amethyst cut to clear bowl with sterling rim and engraved floral design brought $6,250.
An 8-1/4” cut glass cranberry to clear three-handled loving cup, possibly Dorflinger, with engraved feather design, ray base and double-notched handles, rose to $6,000; a 3-3/4” x 9” cut glass bowl, signed Libbey, in the hard-to-find Aztec pattern, coasted to $5,400; and an eight-piece signed Sinclaire centerpiece set in the Snowflake & Holly pattern, each with a metal flower frog, hit $5,000.
An 11-3/4” cranberry cut to clear bowling pin-shaped vase, engraved floral with Hobstar & Nailhead diamond vesica motif, changed hands for $4,900; a 13-1/2” apricot color to clear vase in the Fern pattern by Dorflinger and featured in Feller’s Dorflinger guidebook, achieved $4,500; and a 5-1/2” x 9” two-handled loving cup in the “Crystal City” (“Wedding Ring”) pattern by J. Hoare made $4,600.
A 12-1/2” rock crystal bowling pin-shaped tankard with an engraved scene of sirens, dolphins and birds and with floral, Rococo and windmill highlights garnered $4,250; a rare 7” turquoise to clear plate in a swirl cane and zipper motif and boasting nice quality and color commanded $4,000; and a 9” x 12” two-part cake stand, with large hollow stem and 32-point Hobstar scalloped base, earned $3,700.
A beautiful 10-1/4” water pitcher with eight tumblers in the Alhambra pattern by Meriden, with Hobstar base and triple-notched handle, found a new owner for $3,300; a flawless 3-1/2” x 8” cut glass bowl in the Theodora pattern by Meriden crossed the finish line at $3,100; and a footed handled decanter, signed Sinclaire, with engraved swirl floral panels and pattern cut stopper, gaveled for $3,100.
A 15” x 13” two-part punch bowl in a Hobstar, cane, strawberry diamond and star motif brought $3,000; a pair of 4-1/2” signed Libbey cordial glasses in the Aztec pattern with Hobstar base earned $2,900; a pair of 12” signed Honesdale (Dorflinger) yellow to clear vases with a floral design fetched $2,800; and a 4-1/2” cranberry to clear wine glass in the Monarch pattern by J. Hoare made $2,200.
Woody Auction has a packed calendar planned for now through the end of November. On Saturday, August 30, beginning at 9:30 a.m., a wide assortment of clocks, glass, guns, books, Oriental items and more will be offered at the Sedgwick County Extension Center (4H Hall) in Wichita, Ks.
Then, a pair of outstanding single-owner lifetime firearms collections will be sold without reserve in back-to-back auctions slated for Saturday, September 6, at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo. Set to cross the block will be Belgium Brownings; Smith & Wesson pieces; Colt manufactures; early Winchester rifles; about 40 High Standard firearms; wartime firearms; and more.
Woody Auction will conduct an antique auction on Saturday, October 25, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the St. Charles Convention Center Grand Ballroom in St. Charles, Mo. The following month, Saturday, November 15, also starting at 9:30 a.m. in the St. Charles Convention Center Grand Ballroom, yet another auction will be dedicated to American Brilliant Cut Glass. Details will follow.
For more information about Woody Auction and its calendar of upcoming events, you may click on www.woodyauction.com. Watch the website for pictures and details as the auction dates approach. Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (316) 747-2694. Or, you can e-mail them at [email protected]