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.
portrait of a harlequin (jester) by Emilio Pettoruti (Argentine, 1892-1971), 22 inches by 28 inches ($8,625); a hand-painted 10-inch Royal Vienna 10-inch portrait plate after Bluthen, artist signed and in excellent condition ($3,737); and a pair of 19th century carved marble angels, both shown kneeling and with long flowing robes ($7,475).
Dazzling pieces of estate jewelry were also offered. A lady’s 14kt white gold platinum and diamond pendant with a main round brilliant cut diamond weighing 1.87 carats with VS-1 clarity garnered $13,800; and a lady’s 14kt yellow gold handmade custom ring containing 16 square cut genuine rubies totaling 2.40 carats, with 17 round brilliant cut diamonds, hit $4,025.
Sterling silver pieces really got paddles wagging. Star lots included a figural repousse tankard by Emile Puiforcat of Paris, with a scene showing maidens dancing and playing music in a vineyard, 102.5 troy ounces ($6,612); and a circa 1910 Russian silver figural rhinoceros with diamond eyes by Julius Rappaport, a noted Faberge workmaster, weighing 6.56 ounces ($4,312).
Decorative accessories featured an exceptional American rosewood rococo chevelle dressing mirror with grape carved crest and elaborate legs with carved stretcher ($5,750); a Raoul Larche gilded bronze inkwell depicting a figural nude woman on a rock ($5,750); and a nice tri-form Daum Nancy cameo cut Dragonfly tray with green and yellow water lilies ($4,140).
Rounding out the day’s top lots: a fully restored 1894 popcorn and peanut wagon made by C. Cretors & Co. (Chicago) changed hands for $14,950; a matching set of 12 chairs from the Renaissance Revival period, including two armchairs, breezed to $7,762; and a set of six figural Stag Russian silver shot glasses, each one three inches high and marked “KL,” fetched $4,312.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery will kick off 2011 with three sales that will carry the firm through the springtime. On Jan. 15 and Feb. 19, auctions will be held featuring over 500 lots of antique furniture, lighting and accessories. Then, in April, the firm will hold an Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction. All sales will be held in the Fontaine’s showroom.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality consignments for future sales. The firm also buys antiques and entire estates outright. For more information, or to consign an item, estate or collection, you may call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak to John Fontaine. Or, you can e-mail him at info@fontaineauction.com. For more info, log on to www.fontainesauction.net.
