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16-B Maine Antique Digest, December 2016
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AUCTION -
16-B
Each measuring 34" x 16" x 49", the two
carved marble sphinxes sold for $18,755 (est.
$10,000/15,000). Each sphinx has a seated lion-form
body, large claw feet, and a curling tail as well as the
torso and head of a maiden with long braided hair
and a floral and filigree-carved crown.
As is true at many auctions, Asian items
continue to be in demand, especially Chinese
pieces. Fontaine’s offered a pair of large Chinese
floor screens, each having a 31" diameter decorated
porcelain center panel surrounded by a 42" square
pierce-carved frame seated atop a pierce-carved
base. The pair made $54,450 (est. $80,000/120,000).
Each screen’s porcelain center was decorated with a
cherry blossom tree, a penjing tree, peonies, cranes,
and flying birds; one was a mountain scene; the other
was a pond side scene.
As is evident, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery’s
September event featured an eclectic mix. Offerings
also included watches, music boxes, furniture, silver,
jewelry, and fine art. Also selling this day were
clocks, with several mystery clocks doing well. A
Robert Houdin glass-dial mystery clock had all the
bells and whistles that collectors look for, but the fact
that its round French brass hairspring movement was
signed on the front plate “Robert Houdin Paris” made
it popular; it ended at $20,570 (est. $10,000/15,000).
This clock was headed to the United Kingdom.
Lamps also crossed the auction block. “Handel
is a bit soft,” Fontaine said, “but for those signed
Tiffany, if in great condition, there are always
buyers.” A Tiffany Studios Curtain Border floor
lamp, with a 24" diameter dome-like shade with
a geometric, staggered brick pattern done in
hot orange with green diamonds, came in at
$60,500 (est. $50,000/75,000).
“The in-gallery crowd was decent,”
Fontaine noted, “with about a hundred
and thirty [people] present, but we had
approximately twenty-three hundred registered
bidders overall, if you include online,
phone, and absentee bidders. At times
we had ten people bidding on one item,
which made it fun.”
With a sale total of just under $1.5 million,
obviously Fontaine’s Auction Gallery’s September
10 sale offered what the buying public wanted.
For more information, call (413) 448-8922 or
check the website
(https://fontainesauction.com).
The wonders of a Wooton desk could be seen
in this walnut example that sold for $16,335
(est. $20,000/30,000). Ornate with a fancy
carved gallery, burled panels, and bronze
hardware, these desks also feature oodles of
cubbies. This example has 40 postcard boxes
behind the right door and multiple letter
racks and a mail slot behind the left.
With its high irregular drop
border, the 22" leaded glass
shade of this Gorham table
lamp is a beauty. Having a
mosaic pattern with caramel
background with yellow, green,
and lavender, this lamp made
$11,495 (est. $10,000/15,000). The
bronze lamp base has three claw
feet and maidens’ heads.
The shade of a Tiffany Studios Daffodil
table lamp with its vibrant yellow
flowers and long green leaves is usually
the main draw, though the base of this
example played a part. The early bronze
base with its stepped platform, column
stem, and three shade-supporting arms
is special as well. Aprice of $24,200 (est.
$15,000/25,000) took this lamp home.
What desk
wouldn’t look
great showcasing
this Tiffany
Studios zodiac
Turtleback lamp?
The lamp’s iridescent
Turtleback panels on both
the front and back of the
shade are eye-catching. Its
selling price of $11,495 (est.
$8000/12,000) reflected
its desirability.
This kneeling Japanese
bronze archer drawing his
bow is signed on the back in
Japanese script and sold for
$6050 (est. $3000/5000). The
warrior stands 15¼" high and
weighs nine pounds.
With its original pierced
decorated pigtail heat cap
and 24" Tiffany Studios
Curtain Border shade, this
lamp with a bronze Senior
floor base went to $60,500
(est. $50,000/75,000).
Collectors of Black Forest items were
eager to acquire this bear hall tree as
is evident based on its $6352.50 (est.
$4500/6500) final price. This hall tree
stands 78" high.