Results for Cranberry Opalescent Offerings Sparkle During Virginia Glass Auction

MT CRAWFORD, VA.

: The winter catalog auction of 1,734 unreserved lots of glass and lighting at Green Valley Auctions, Inc, took place on January 30-February 1.

For the first time the entire catalog was posted on the Internet.

Auctioneer Jeffrey Evans remarked, "Cranberry opalescent water pitchers, sugar shakers, syrups and pickle casters are still at the top of the market and show no signs of slowing down. We saw records that we set last winter fall by the wayside at this sale."

Evans quickly added, "Demand for vaseline glass also continues strong, not just Nineteenth Century examples, but material from all periods. Cranberry might be king, but vaseline remains a strong second."

Despite the threat of inclement weather, the three-day auction drew a large crowd from 14 states. Additionally, there were over 1,000 absentee bids and numerous phone bids. The sale totaled $262,935.

Colored and clear glass, as well as Victorian lighting was offered. Featured items included Part II of the opalescent glass collection of Mr and Mrs Harold Trone of Littlestown, Penn., and Part I of the late Victoria Bedoukian collection of Wilton, Conn.

Friday's session #1 began with carnival glass. Prices ranged from $38 to $220. Evans then auctioned 198 lots of toothpick holders with prices from a modest $11 to $231.

Saturday's session #2 began with the sale of reference books and moved quickly on to toothpick holders including an amber stained feather, which brought a strong $550 as did a mint Findlay Onyx example.

Topping the list of pickle casters at $1,760 each were a cranberry opalescent wide stripe with a bright polychrome enamel floral decoration full round, and a cranberry honeycomb optic with bright polychrome enamel bird and floral decoration in a Webster quadruple-plated frame with applied pickles and leaves. A standing dog was on its cover.

Syrups included a chrysanthemum swirl in cranberry opalescent that climbed to $1,045, as did a cranberry leaf umbrella/Northwood No. 263. A Windows Swirl/Hobbs's No. 326 also in cranberry opalescent brought a high bid of $1,320. Sugar shakers included a cranberry opalescent ribbed opal lattice in a rare short version, which brought $1,265.

Mt Washington Glass Works continues to have strong appeal. Topping the list at $3,300 was a 331/2-inch Colonial ware kerosene banquet lamp in a previously unrecorded shape. A signed Napoli sweet pea vase with polychrome spider mums and gold tracing sold for $2,090; a ribbed peachblow mustard pot sold at $1,870; a ribbed Burmese four-piece breakfast caster/condiment set with satin finish in its original frame reached $1,650; a fig sugar shaker brought $1,320; and a chick-head salt shaker attained a high bid of $935.

Selling to the phone for $3,520 was a cranberry opalescent Arabian Nights water pitcher. A buttons and braids cranberry opalescent water pitcher brought $3,410 and a cranberry opalescent ribbed Christmas snowflake water pitcher sold for $3,080 to a phone bidder. A New England plated amberina tumbler realized $2,970 while a Loetz silver overlay 51/4-inch vase in mottled iridescent blue and peach sold for $1,045.

From an Atterbury duck, to a hen on braided weave basket, to a George Washington bust, milk glass lots attracted much attention. A boar's head covered dish with red glass eyes and an embossed 1888 patent date in excellent condition escalated to $1,980.

Saturday's session ended with over 150 lots of clear and colored Early American Pattern Glass (EAPG). Central Glass Co products always draw strong interest proved by the bidding on several lots. A blue elephant mug brought $660, and a Log Cabin 53/4 by 8-inch high standard covered compote sold for $660. Also included in the sale was a collection of wildflower pattern glass in a variety of colors. Made by Adams & Co and the US Glass Co, a vaseline cake basket realized $467 and a blue cake stand reached $220.

Sunday's session #3 of Victorian lighting offered a dozen piano lamps. An example with a ball shade, stamped and rolled brass elements, and an ornate cast brass three-leg base brought $1,045. Another with a ball shade, stamped and rolled brass elements, and a three-leg brass base topped with a Griffin head made $990 and a third with a ball shade, a brass font and font holder and a reeded brass stem with a cast iron turkey foot base reached $935.

A vase-type parlor lamp with a matching ball shade in a blown-out grape design brought $880 and another vase-type parlor lamp with a matching ball shade having green highlights and a red and yellow floral decoration brought $550. Despite minor damage, a Honeycomb canary font kerosene stand lamp reached $935. The session ended with 49 lots of burners, chimneys, shades and other lamp parts. Prices in this category ranged from $16 to $330.

This total and other prices cited include the ten percent buyer's premium.