The clock was the top lot of the 461 items sold in Stevens Auction’s most successful sale of 2012.
(ABERDEEN, Miss.) – A magnificent grandfather clock that was a grand prize winner at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904 chimed on time for $17,825 at a multi-estate auction held June 23 by Stevens Auction Company. The auction was conducted in the firm’s gallery located at 609 North Meridian Street in Aberdeen. In all, 461 lots of quality merchandise changed hands.
“This was our best auction of the year, without a doubt,” said Dwight Stevens of Stevens Auction Company. “In fact, every sale we’ve conducted this year has been better than the one before it. I attribute that to a combination of factors – quality items, more people participating, more phone bidders, higher prices realized and, most important, a generally improved economy.”
Mr. Stevens said it’s not like it was in 2005 – far from it. “But things are getting better, very gradually, but I do see it,” he said. “I think people are just tired of waiting. They’re taking money out of the bank, where it’s yielding less than one percent interest, and pouring it into fine antiques and collectibles – items they can enjoy in their homes. It’s a solid investment strategy.”
The June sale attracted around 300 people to the gallery, and the phone banks were busy from start to finish. “This auction saw more phone participation that at any other auction we’ve ever held,” Stevens remarked. “It was intense. We recorded 520 phone bids. Also, the absentee bidding was healthy, too. Just a great overall auction.” There was no Internet bidding component.
The grandfather clock got paddles wagging for several reasons. It boasted a Lalique floral glass insert pendulum, ornate brass weights, glass and brass finials and five-tube chimes. The sale’s second top lot was a rosewood rococo parlor suite by John H. Belter in the Rosalie With Grapes pattern, consisting of a love seat, side parlor chairs and arm chair, circa 1855 ($14,375).
Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
A massive, heavily carved settee attributed to R. J. Horner (circa 1890), with grotesque faces and griffins on the arms, hit $9,175; a rosewood rococo laminated parlor side chair by J. H. Belter (circa 1850) in the Fountain Elms pattern made $5,405; and a rosewood rococo dressing table with acanthus carved base and mirror attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks commanded $3,450.
Other furniture pieces included an R. J. Horner true partner’s desk, with drawers and a door on each side, made circa 1890 ($7,763); an oversized walnut Victorian cylinder roll secretary desk with burl trim, made circa 1860 and in mint condition ($6,613); and a heavily carved oak four-door bookcase with carved scenes of musicians on plaques, circa 1860 ($3,565).
Musical lots hit a high note, starting with an 8-pedal harp, made circa 1900 by Browne and Buckwell, Makers (N.Y.), made of bird’s-eye maple ($7,245). Also, a very rare Lauter orchestral nickelodeon in a mahogany case with winged griffins hammered for $7,763; and a fine Regina 15-inch disc music box on the rare original stand, complete with 77 discs, rose to $5,750.
Other music boxes that did well included a 15-inch cylinder inlaid music box with bells and drum ($4,715); and a walnut inlaid interchangeable cylinder music box with three cylinders ($4,600). Also, a rare automation grass bird cage with three singing birds, fitted with porcelain plaques and measuring 21 inches tall by 14 inches wide, went to a determined bidder for $3,795.
Leading the fine art category was an important large 18th century English painting of Mary Lady Hussey with her dog, unsigned ($5,463). Also, a large oil on canvas marine rendering in a gold Victorian frame, titled Mutiny at Sea, unsigned (circa 1860) realized $3,738; and a steel engraving of Robert E. Lee, dated 1876, in the original frame, 24 inches by 30 inches, hit $3,450.
Other artwork featured an oil on canvas portrait of Horace P. Brown (1801-1883), the cousin and personal assistant of Joseph E. Brown, Governor of Georgia during the Civil War ($2,875); an oil on canvas portrait of a Victorian lady in an ornate gold frame, done ccirca 1870 ($2,070); and an extraordinary gold Victorian frame with triple layer and oak backing ($1,840).
Decorative accessories included a magnificent pair of Old Paris vases, palace-sized at 29 inches tall by 15 inches wide, showing a French Victorian lady and gentleman ($7,475); a large Art Nouveau Sevres vase, 29 inches tall, made circa 1900 ($6,038); an R.J. Horner pedestal with braided dolphins supporting a marble top in the original ebonized finish ($2,760); and a large Sevres urn with bronze handles and faces, original cap and artwork, made circa 1880 ($1,840).
Rounding out the day’s top lots: a ladies’ diamond and sapphire white gold cocktail ring slipped on a new finger for $3,680; an 84-piece sterling silver flatware set in the Frances First pattern breezed to $3,393; a signed Hayward Wakefield love seat in the original finish, circa 1890, fetched $2,070; and a signed Hayward Wakefield desk with matching chair made $1,380.
Stevens Auction Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (662) 369-2200; or, you can e-mail them at [email protected]. To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and its calendar of upcoming auction events, log on to www.stevensauction.com