Pair of early marble statues brings $132,250 at Fontaine's A pair of early Continental alabaster and marble statues of Cleopatra and Judith sold for $132,250 at a cataloged antique auction held Nov. 13 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Mass.
News-Antique.com - Dec 14,2010 - (PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – A pair of carved, early Continental alabaster and marble statues of Cleopatra and Judith, each standing 23 inches tall and having exceptional detail, sold for $132,250 at a cataloged antique auction held Nov. 13 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. The statues were the top earner of the more than 500 lots sold. Overall, the sale grossed about $1.4 million.
Around 300 people packed the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery showroom, located at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, for the standing room only event. In addition, there were about 800 Internet bidders who participated online via LiveAuctioneers.com and the Fontaine’s website (at www.fontainesauction.net). Phone and absentee bidding was also brisk all day long.
“It’s kind of refreshing that the market seems to be picking up,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, acknowledging that the antique business in general has ebbed and flowed over the last couple of years, ever since the financial crisis wreaked havoc on the economy. “Activity in all areas of our auction business has increased. People are bidding more freely and enthusiastically.”
Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
The sale’s top lot may have been statuary artwork, but vintage lamps and antique clocks dominated the list of top earners. A Tiffany 10-light Tulip lamp with pulled feather tulip shades on a signed Tiffany base, 21 inches tall, went for $40,250, while an E. Howard #71 regulator wall clock from the 1880s, 70 inches tall, black walnut with ebony trim case, garnered $25,875.
Keeping with lamps, a 16-inch Tiffany Studios Poinsettia shade with red flowers with blue, gold and green centers fetched $25,875; an 18-inch Handel Riverbed scenic lamp (#6752), artist signed “HB” (Henry Bedigie), and in excellent condition soared to $24,150; and a 16-inch signed Tiffany Studios Pomegranate table lamp with dichroic and mottled shade rose to $12,650.
Rounding out the category: a Handel Floral & Butterfly lamp (#6688), with an 18-inch reverse painted shade showing apple blossoms and butterflies brought $11,500; an Anton Chotka Austrian cold painted bronze lamp titled “The Jewelry Merchant,” 15 ½ inches tall, hit $9,775; and a Duffner &Kimberly leaded table lamp with 21-inch fern pattern shade commanded $8,050.
Returning to vintage clocks, a James Condliff astronomical clock with 12-inch silvered dial, inscribed on the movement dust cover (“Ino B. McFadden A.D. 1832”) coasted to $19,550 to a bidder from England, where the clock was originally made; a circa 1905 Waltham #14 ball regulator with quartered oak case, 74 inches tall, rose to $14,950; and a three-piece French figural gilt bronze owl clock set with 3-branch candelabra brought $10,350.
Other clocks that did well included an Elliott grandfather clock with great proportions and detailed carvings, and signed 9-tube movement ($10,350); a J. L. Ruetter perpetual Atmos desk clock featuring a nice chrome base with beveled glass ($6,325); and a Guilmet French industrial balance beam engine clock with painted silver and gilt brass base ($4,600).
