Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

DARK CRANBERRY CUT TO CLEAR TANKARD BY DORFLINGER BRINGS $49,000 AT AMERICAN BRILLIANT CUT GLASS SALE HELD NOV. 15 BY WOODY AUCTION

(St. Charles, Mo.) – An exceptionally rare, dark cranberry cut to clear tankard by Dorflinger, cut in the fine #99 pattern and boasting a fine embossed vintage spout with monogram “S.V.S.” signed Tiffany & Company, with mark “C” (for Charles C. Cook, the president of Tiffany from 1902-1907), soared to $49,000 at an American Brilliant Cut Glass multi-estate auction conducted November 15.

dorflinger-tankard.jpg The sale was held by Woody Auction, at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo. The event comprised several ABCG and other cut glass collections from around the country and overseas, too, although the headliner was the collection of Dr. John Hall, a dedicated collector of ABCG pieces. In all, about 475 lots changed hands in a sale that grossed a little under $225,000.

“I know everybody is nervous about the economy right now, but this sale served as proof that high-end, quality items will still be desirable and do well, even in an uncertain time,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, based in Douglass, Ks. “Most of the lots in this sale were outstanding pieces of American craftsmanship. This isn’t the first big ABCG auction we’ve held, and it won’t be the last.”

Mr. Woody said around 140 people packed the Grand Ballroom of the Convention Center, while another 50 or so bidders participated online, via Proxibid. About 35 absentee bids were recorded. The Dorflinger tankard was by far the top lot of the sale. The piece had incredible color and an impeccable provenance. “It was one of the best colored pieces it has ever been my privilege to sell,” Woody said.

Following are additional highlights from the sale. All prices quoted are hammer prices and do not reflect a sliding commission structure. There are no buyers’ premiums at Woody Auction sales.

cornucopia-vases.jpg An extremely rare matching pair of 15-1/4-inch ABCG pedestal cornucopia vases with large, 24-point Hobstar bases, perfect stems and fully notched tails went to a determined bidder for $20,000. The vases featured a nailhead diamond, strawberry diamond and fan motif. One of the pieces had a minor side chip on the rim, but that didn’t affect the tooth height (and it didn’t dissuade eager bidders).

A 15-inch round charger cut in the perfect “Panel” pattern by Hawkes, with a nearly 3/4-inch-thick blank, gaveled for $19,000. The item was received in shipment from overseas, where it had remained for the past 100 years. The original purchaser was pharmaceuticals magnate Sir Joseph Beecham. The consignor inherited it as part of a set in 1960. He took the pieces to France in 1975.

libbey-round-tray.jpg A flawless 10-inch signed Libbey ABCG round tray, in the rare “Aztec” pattern, commanded $5,600, making it the sale’s fourth top lot. Fifth was a wonderful 9-inch-by-13-inch ABCG Tazza compote with a “Panel” pattern by Hawkes and a huge, 32-point Hobstar scalloped base and sold stem ($4,500). Next, a 23-inch-by-12-inch table lamp in the “Florence Star” pattern by Meriden hit $4,100.

A beautiful set comprising a 14-3/4-inch round ice cream tray with twelve matching six-inch dishes – all well cut, with a bright blank, and resembling the work of J. Hoare – fetched $4,000. Also, a perfect 9-inch amber cut to clear covered ginger jar with a diamond cut body with three panels of engraved garland and floral urn design – probably cut by Hawkes on a Steuben blank – earned $3,500.

A large, 18-inch signed Libbey flared vase, with an engraved heron standing in a marsh, and with a brilliant blank, rose to $3,500. The piece had been featured in the book Rarities by Wiener & Lipkowitz (pg. 271). Also, an extra nice 14-inch Tuthill round tray in the “Wild Rose” pattern brought $3,900; and a pair of 9-inch signed Hawkes candle lusters in the “Gladys” pattern reached $3,250.

A two-part punch bowl set in the “Heart” pattern, with eight cups and Hobstar, cane, strawberry diamond and fan highlights, climbed to $3,100; a 10-1/2-inch ABCG water pitcher in the “Alhambra” pattern by Meriden, with ten tumblers, clear blank and Hobstar bases, went for $3,100; and a two-part punch bowl set with Hobstar, strawberry diamond, nailhead diamond and fan motif, realized $2,200.

A 22-inch corset-shaped vase, large pinwheel, with Hobstar and Harvard highlights and Ray base, and with just a minor tooth chip, topped out at $1,600; an 11-inch decanter in the “Quatrefoil & Rosettes” pattern, with Hobstar base, well cut, chalked up $1,350; and a nice 18-inch single-bulb mushroom shade table lamp with Hobstar, strawberry diamond and fan motif, hammered for $1,300.

A rare, 6-inch green cut to clear handled nappy in the “Marlboro” pattern by Dorflinger sailed to $1,300; a corset-shaped, three-handled loving cup with strawberry diamond, star and fan motif and Hobstar base, and wide sterling rim with monogram (“AEM”), dated 1903, garnered $1,400; and a pair of 10-1/2-inch decanters in the “Middlesex” pattern by Dorflinger, with Hobstar stoppers, made $1,400.

A signed Hawkes flower center in the “Gladys” pattern, with extra thick blank, made $1,200; a boudoir lamp with flashed Hobstar and engraved floral shade, set on a vesica and fan base, brought $1,200; an 8-inch cranberry cut to clear water carafe in the “Harvard” pattern by Libbey attained $1,500; and a pair of cranberry cut to clear wine glasses in pattern #50 by Dorflinger rose to $1,100.

Woody Auction’s next big sale will be held in February and feature wonderful pieces of R.S. Prussia. Then, in March, cut glass will again take center stage. Watch the website for times and dates for both sales, as they were still to be determined (www.woodyauction.com). And, as with all Woody Auction sales, these will be held without reserve. Online bidding will be facilitated through Proxibid.

For more information about Woody Auction and its calendar of upcoming events, you may log on to www.woodyauction.com. Watch the website for pictures and details as the sale 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].