PITTSFIELD, MASS.- An exceptional set of eight multi-layered glass windows, executed by Tiffany Studios in New York, dated 1913 and depicting The 8 Beatitudes of Jesus (from Matthew 5: 3-10), is expected to realize $400,000-$600,000 at an antique estate auction slated for Saturday, Sept. 10th, by
Fontaine's Auction Gallery, at 1485 Housatonic Street in Pittsfield.
The windows use multiple layered glass, including drapery, enamel decorated and cameo cut glass. Each 48 inch by 23 ¾ inch window depicts an angel figure with blue banners, having purple cameo cut scripture. Each window is in its original bronze frame. One window in the matching set is signed in cameo, Tiffany Studios, New York, 1913, while one window frame is signed Tiffany Furnaces.
While The 8 Beatitudes of Jesus is the auction's undisputed headliner, one other lot could also reach six figures. It is a pair of large Chinese teak and porcelain floor screens, having a 31-inch diameter porcelain center panel decorated with a cherry blossom tree, penjing tree, peonies, cranes and flying birds. The screens, overall 68 ½ inches tall by 47 inches wide, are expected to sell for $80,000-$120,000.
The auction will feature over 600 quality antiques, to include lamps by Tiffany Studios, Handel, Duffner & Kimberly, Pairpoint and others; fine clocks and watches, music boxes, fine furniture, paintings, bronze and marble statuary, art glass, jewelry, fine silver, porcelains, gold and sterling items and related accessories. The full catalog may be viewed online, at www.FontainesAuction.com.
Two lots a clock and a lamp carry estimates of $50,000-$75,000. The clock is a Seth Thomas No. 20 standing regulator with a rare Grande Sonnerie strike and repeat movement, signed and dated Aug. 7, 1889, impressive at 98 inches in height and exceptional in every respect. The lamp is a Tiffany Studios curtain border floor lamp with a 24-inch domical shade having a geometric staggered brick pattern at the top and a green diamond pattern below with golden rippled curtain border panels, also tall at 88 inches in height.
An expected star of the furniture category is a walnut extra grade Wooten desk, carved in the Renaissance Revival style with a fancy carved gallery and large burled panels. The desk, in nice refinished condition, should hit $20,000-$30,000. Numismatists will be pleasantly surprised at the chance to bid on a collection of uncirculated Indian Head cents from 1857 to 1909-S (without the overdate). The 61-coin set, mounted in an acrylic display, should gavel for $10,000-$15,000.
Two Tiffany Studios Daffodil table lamps, each with 16-inch domical shades, are expected to wow the crowd. One has a leaded shade, showing nine golden daffodil flowers with green stems and leaves on an opaque mottled background, signed shade & base, in excellent condition, and should sell for $20,000-$30,000. The other also has a leaded shade with golden daffodil flowers in a vibrant mottled glass, with long green leaves and stems, signed shade & base. It should make $15,000-$25,000.
Another Tiffany table lamp is an Apple Blossom example with a 16-inch domical leaded shade displaying 20 scattered pink apple blossom flowers with yellow centers. The shade & base, in very nice condition, are signed. It should garner $15,000-$25,000. Also, an 18-inch Handel reverse painted Floral Poppy table lamp having a conical shade with a scalloped lower rim, in excellent condition and with a signed and numbered shade, is expected to earn $30,000-$50,000.
Industrial clocks will feature a bronze animated European locomotive industrial clock, boasting an excellent bronze case in the form of a steam locomotive, on a black marble base with gilt rails, a thermometer, a compass and an aneroid barometer (est. $20,000-$30,000); and a rare and unusual French industrial mystery swinger clock in the form of a hot air balloon, with a figure of a man in a wicker basket retrieving an anchor, acting as a pendulum bob (est. $15,000-$25,000).
Two very different clock lots by renowned makers have the same estimate of $15,000-$25,000. One is a mahogany R. J. Horner 9-tube grandfather clock with a 12-inch silvered dial signed Tiffany & Co., New York, and with a painted disk on the back signed Walter H. Durfee, Providence, R.I. The other is a mahogany 8-day weight-driven banjo regulator wall clock attributed to Simon Willard (Mass.), inscribed on the 12-inch painted metal dial with his name.
Other noteworthy clocks will include a one-month weight-driven Biedermeier Laterndluhr wall regulator with 8-inch porcelain dial signed L. Deffner, in Wein (est. $12,000-$15,000); a John Walker English mahogany astronomical regulator clock with an 11-inch signed silvered dial, in excellent condition, with enhanced original finish (est. $12,000-$15,000); and a Robert Houdin (Paris) glass dial mystery clock with signed brass hairspring movement (est. $10,000-$15,000).
The action will begin at 10 am Eastern time, but with an uncatalogued discovery auction (no internet bidding) of about 150 lots. At 12 o'clock noon, the catalogued sale, featuring 500 items, will begin, with live, internet, phone and absentee bidding. Internet bidding will be facilitated by four platforms: LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable.com, Ebay Live and Fontaines Live.
Previews will be held on Friday, September 9th, from 10-5, and Saturday, September 10th, the date of sale, from 8 a.m. on through the discovery session until the first gavel falls at 12 Noon in the catalogued session.