(Pittsfield, Mass.) – Over 500 vintage antique clocks – many of them very rare, museum-quality pieces, to include an E. Howard astronomical #61 floor regulator – will be sold in a two-session sale slated for Saturday, Nov. 8, by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, beginning at 10 a.m. The sale will be held at Fontaine’s spacious showroom facility, located at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, Mass.
A Discovery Session will kick off the action, featuring over 200 uncatalogued clocks. Bidders must be in person, at the gallery, to preview and bid on these lots, as they are uncatalogued and will be sold as-is. The Main Catalog Session, with about 300 cataloged clocks, will be sold in numbered order, starting at 1 p.m. These lots may be bid on at the gallery; by phone or absentee bid; or via the Internet.
Internet bidding will be facilitated through multiple platforms — Proxibid, eBay Live Auctions and a new player in the online bidding arena, www.auctionnetwork.com. Auctionnetwork.com will broadcast live streaming video of the auction, in high-definition, and provide viewers with real-time, interactive bidding, as well as exclusive lot previews and many emotional stories associated with them.
In June, Fontaine’s auctioned a magnificent E. Howard & Co. #61 astronomical floor regulator, consigned from an estate in Baltimore and never before offered for sale, for $195,500. It was the top lot in a sale that grossed over $1.2 million and was a new world record price for a Howard #61 astronomical regulator. “The one we’re selling in November is even nicer,” remarked John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery.
That clock is expected to easily sail past the $100,000 mark. The case is carved walnut, with excellent burled trim. All case parts are original and in excellent condition. The movement has a Graham dead beat escapement with red ruby pallets. The clock has outstanding maintaining power and a full Geneva stop. It was consigned from just its third owner, and has documentation dating back to the original purchaser (Edmands and Wiggins, Bangor, Maine, in 1874), at a cost of $800. The sale will also feature a Howard #60 astrological regulator, the wall hanging version of the Howard #61 clock.
Other clocks expected to do well in the sale follow. Most are from the Main Catalog Session.
• French Empire swinging lyre mantle clock – Ebonized lyre case has applied gilt brass mounts, with cornucopias of fruit and flowers on the arms. In very good overall condition, with repaired crutch.
• E.N. Welch jewelers regulator – Fantastic and massive, this clock has a nice set of hands with a good sweep second hand. Other features include a nice porcelain dial and French brass movement.
• E. Howard & Co. custom-made fancy gallery clock – Made to be built into the upper gallery of a church or public building. Similar to the E. Howard Model 140. Mahogany case. Needs some TLC.
• French industrial beam engine automated clock – Case features a beam engine with a long cross at the top, large flywheel in the back and many moving mechanics. Movement is operated separately.
• French figural 3-piece gargoyle musical clock – Polychrome pelter case shows a large winged gargoyle in red robe and hood, sitting on a base drum playing music with a mallet and a cymbal.
• Waterbury “Topsey” blinking eye clock – Cast iron clock with a nice, original 2.75-inch dial and good hands. Eyes and movement are original. Appears to have original paint; in fine condition.
• Birge & Fuller wagon spring “double steeple” mantle clock – A nice example of a wagon spring clock, with unsigned brass 30-hour time and strike “lyre” style brass movement with wagon spring.
• Elmer O. Stennes lyre banjo clock – Has a clean 6.75-inch dial and hands with a typical brass 8-day weight driven movement with original weight. Reverse painted glass behind wood “lyre” throat.
• E. Howard & Co. Model #72 wall regulator – Time-only clock with Graham dead beat escapement. The case is black walnut, 5-foot, 4 inches tall, with 12-inch dial. Typical weight has gilt paint on it.
• Ithaca No. 7 hanging cottage calendar clock – Good original dials have slight imperfections. Has an 8-inch calendar dial and 7-inch time dial. Clock has good hands and all of its finials and drops.
• Ansonia “antique hanging” clock – Has all decorative trimmings intact, good original weights, pendulum bob and inset decorative panel. Great hands and a nice 9.5-inch dial. Mahogany case.
• French figural bronze and marble annular clock – Features two figural nude women embracing a tall torchier, reaching up to light it with small torches in their right hands. Very nice and clean.
• Seth Thomas “Regulator #7” wall clock – The shorter version of the #7. Has a nice 11-inch dial with an original surface and original hands. Has a good pendulum bob with typical brass weight.
• Gilbert “Maranville” office drop calendar – This clock has a Maranville patent calendar with an original double dial. Has a 14-inch dial, good hands, a good calendar hand and good pendulum bob.
• Ithaca “No. 2 Bank” calendar clock – Has good original dials and good hands. The 61-inch-tall case is in very nice condition, with a soft dark surface. Good upper and lower dials and calendar hand.
• French cloisonne repeater carriage clock – An 8-day time, strike and alarm brass cloisonne clock, about 4 inches wide by 8 inches tall. Has a good quality French brass movement and solid platform.
• Charles Frodsham London boxed chronometer – Outer wood box appears to be original and is marked in chalk on the inside “1813.” Inner box has lock and key. Runs, but not for a full 24 hours.
• Austrian astronomical wall regulator with Mean & Sidereal time – Period 1840 rosewood case has glazed door glass and side panels. The white enamel 9-inch dial is signed “D. Endler in Prag.”
• French gilt bronze and porcelain figural annular clock – Top shows a pair of figural putti, one with wings, holding a torch and flowers, leaning on a small sphere. Below is a porcelain annular dial.
• Gilt bronze French figural annular mantle clock – Two figural winged putti standing on a white marble platform with bronze mounts, balancing the clock case on a marble and bronze pedestal.
• Seth Thomas “Regulator #5” weight driven wall clock – A very nice clock with original, readable dial. Hands are blued spade form; refinished case has all its drops and finials; correct pendulum.
Previews will be held Friday, Nov. 7, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 8, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. A free, full-color catalog is available by calling 413-448-8922. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them directly, at 413-448-8922. Or, e-mail them at [email protected].
To learn more about Fontaine Auction Gallery and the Nov. 8 Important Fall Antique Clock Auction, please log on to www.fontainesauction.net
