Rare Waltham girandole clock, serial #1, brings $17,255 at Gordon S. Converse An exceedingly rare and important Waltham girandole (ornate banjo) clock, made around 1900 and with a serial number of 1, sold for $17,255 at an auction held Dec. 28 by Gordon S. Converse & Co.
A pillar-and-scroll pendulum clock with a label identifying the maker as the renowned clock maker Seth Thomas (who bought the rights to Eli Terry’s patent in 1818) went to a determined bidder for $5,474. The handsome timepiece featured the “off-center” wood geared clockworks and a second hand. It stood 29 inches tall by 16 ½ inches wide, with brass urn finials.
Two large, Swiss-made “pinwheel” clocks came under the gavel. The first was a wall-mounted cased pinwheel timepiece, probably made by the New Haven Clock Company (Conn.) around 1875. It breezed to $2,380. The other was a fine, dark mahogany (or rosewood) cased standing regulator. The 86-inch-tall, weight-driven timepiece with glazed door rose to $3,570.
Also, five Andrew Wyeth collotype prints, all signed by the artist, brought between $655 and $1,012 each.
Gordon S. Converse & Co.’s next big sale will be an Internet-only auction slated for Wednesday, Feb. 29. It will feature watches, Asian items and other merchandise. After that, a live-audience and online sale will be held sometime this spring (watch the website for details, at www.AuctionsatConverse.com). Gordon S. Converse & Co. plans to hold six auctions this year.
Gordon S. Converse & Co. is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004; or, e-mail them at Gordon@ConverseClocks.com. Gordon Converse replies promptly to all e-mails.
Anyone interested in finding out what an antique item might be worth may do so by sending a photo of the item, along with a check for $40, to Gordon S. Converse & Co., Attn: Gordon S. Converse, 758 Mancill Rd., Strafford, PA 19087. To learn more about Gordon S. Converse & Co., please log on to www.AuctionsatConverse.com. Updates are posted often.
