Fontaine's Auction Gallery To Offer Fine & Decorative Arts Jan. 27-28
PITTSFIELD, MASS. — This important two-part Fine and Decorative Arts auction will begin daily at 11 am and includes over 750 lots of 19th/20th century lighting, art glass, leaded glass windows, fine silver, porcelain, marble and bronze statuary, paintings, American and European furniture, clocks, watches and jewelry. Available bidding methods for the January 27 session are internet, phone and absentee; bidding for January 28 is online-only. Preview will be January 25-26.
No surprise to bidders that Tiffany Studios offerings will likely carry the first day with more than 70 lots on offer, half of those being table lamps and other desirable lighting examples. Highlights include a circa 1910 “Peony” table lamp, estimated at $125,000/175,000, standing 33 ½ inches tall with a 22-inch shade; a circa 1910 “Curtain Border” floor lamp ($80/120,000), 78 inches tall; and a desirable “Arrowroot” table lamp ($50/75,000), circa 1902.
A very nice grouping of paintings will be led by a Birger Sandzén (American/Swedish, 1871-1954) oil on board titled “Mountain Lake” (Rocky Mountain National Park), estimated at $30/50,000. Fontaine’s notably sold a Sandzén painting in its fall 2023 auction for $62,500 and this example is expected to perform well.
The jewelry department has ramped up its platform and has sourced several major collections of diamond jewelry over the last year. A standout in this auction will be a Platinum and 4.57-carat old European cut diamond ring ($30/$50,000) and sure to attract men’s attention is a circa 1959 Rolex chronograph wristwatch, Reference #6234 ($15/25,000).
Intricately designed pictorial leaded glass windows are always a buyer’s favorite here and they don’t come around that often. A finely-detailed and brightly-colored, American leaded glass window depicting a mythological musical scene ($20/30,000), circa 1900, features a man playing the flute, a dancing maiden with cymbals, and two women and a child observing. The window measures 62 by 61½ inches.
The market for furniture has seen its share of ups and downs but cream-of-the-crop pieces always do well, such as the rare Aesthetic Movement burl walnut four-piece bedroom set on offer with a $20/30,000 estimate. The circa 1880 set has striking burl walnut panels and carvings of flowers, foliate, birds in nests with eggs, turned columns, acanthus, geometric motifs and incising.
Featured in this auction are several original works of art in full color from noted film illustrator John Alvin (American, 1948-2008), for “Lorelei,” depicting film star Carol Channing and “Quest for Camelot.” Both are estimated apiece at $15/25,000.
Rounding out the auction are a set of 15 Tiffany Studios favrile glass “King Tut” shades ($20/$30,000), circa 1910, and an 18th Century Continental carved fruitwood wall clock with Father Time and the goddess Nemesis ($10/15,000), dating to the 18th Century.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is the oldest operating auction gallery in Western Massachusetts. It has earned the trust of collectors, investors and gallery owners worldwide. All cataloged lots receive nationwide exposure to the firm’s database of more than 27,500 select buyers. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been voted “Best Antique Auction Gallery” eight times by the public.
Fontaine’s is actively seeking quality items for all upcoming auctions, to include furniture, lighting, art glass, clocks and watches, paintings, porcelains, bronze and marble statuary, Asian items, art glass and cameo glass, Russian objects, silver, musical, coin-op, advertising, toys, banks, gaming and carousel items.
The firm will buy outright or accept on consignment. Call 413- 448-8922 and ask to speak with John Fontaine, or you can send Mr. Fontaine an email to [email protected]. For more information about the company and the upcoming auction schedule, visit www.fontainesauction.com. Updates are posted frequently.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is located at 1485 West Housatonic Street (Route 20), Pittsfield, Mass. For more information, visit www.FontainesAuction.com or call 413-448-8922.