Grand prize-winning 1904 grandfather clock chimes on time for $17,825 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 23rd by Stevens Auction Company.
News-Antique.com - Jun 27,2012 - (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
