The first lot across the block was the sale’s overall top lot, this circa 1910 Tiffany Studios Tulip table lamp with an 18-inch shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 1596” that attained $131,250.
PITTSFIELD, MASS. — Proving again that anything Tiffany is gold at auction, Fontaine’s important two-day fine and decorative arts auction May 18-19 was a powerhouse, hitting a grand total of $2.2 million. Tiffany Studios items — lamps, windows, vases and desk pieces — accounted for just over a million dollars alone. “It was a very strong sale. The Tiffany items, as expected, were all very desirable and did well. Anything with the Tiffany name received a lot of interest, and bidding was highly competitive,” said auctioneer and owner John Fontaine. “The sale was good all across the board; all the categories were covered.”
Setting the tone for how the sale would go was the very first lot across the block: a Tiffany Studios circa 1910 Tulip table lamp with an 18-inch shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 1596.” Bidders drove the lamp past its $70/90,000 estimate to $131,250, making it the top lot of the auction. Tiffany lots dominated the sale, securing all but two of the top 20 prices. Lamps were one of the most competitive categories with all hitting or exceeding their estimates. Coming in close behind the Tulip lamp were a circa 1920 Drophead Dragonfly table lamp with a Roman base and a 22-inch shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, NY, 1507”; and a Peony table lamp, circa 1915, with an adjustable base and 22-inch shade marked “Tiffany Studios, New York, 1505-14.” Each achieved $100,000, sharing the second-highest price of the day.
One of four pairs of Tiffany Studios Gothic Revival windows from St Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia in the sale, this pair, measuring 63 inches tall, brought $50,000.
The market has been very keen on ecclesiastical Tiffany leaded and stained glass windows, which were mostly commissioned by churches at the turn of the Twentieth Century. Four pairs of Gothic Revival windows commissioned from Tiffany Studios for St Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia crossed the block. Ranging in size from 3 to 7 feet tall, all the larger windows had vibrant mottled glass and depicted a Gothic Revival design of an arched window with four columns and shield. The top pair tripled its high estimate when it fetched $50,000 and as a group, the windows totaled $149,375.
The Tiffany outlier in the top 10 was a Steinway & Sons mahogany model B grand piano, which was part of the Crown Jewel Collection, circa 1995. It sold comfortably within estimate at $56,250. Another standout was the late Nineteenth Century Black Forest carved wood musical clock, which was surmounted by a hunter with a goat over his shoulder and holding a rifle. Boldly carved, the clock brought $26,250. Also noted for its fine carving was an R.J. Horner & Co. mahogany partner’s desk with winged griffins, circa 1890, that also hit its estimate at $15,000.
A standout in the fine art category was this oil on canvas hunting scene by Constant Troyon titled, “The Gamekeeper and His Dogs,” which fetched $18,750.
Highlighting the small but choice selection of paintings was a pleasing Barbizon hunting scene by Constant Troyon (French, 1810-1865) titled “The Gamekeeper And His Dogs” that performed well at $18,750.
Rounding out the auction were an Anton Chotka cold-painted bronze Orientalist lamp that blew past its $2,5/3,500 estimate to bring $10,000 and a Chinese Northern Qi polychrome painted limestone standing Buddha in the Abhaya Mudra pose, 39 inches tall, which made $7,500.
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is currently seeking quality items for all upcoming auctions, to include furniture, lighting, art glass, clocks and watches, paintings, porcelains, bronze and marble statuary, Asian items, art glass and cameo glass, Russian objects, silver, musical, coin-op, advertising, toys, banks, gaming and carousel items. Items may be bought outright or accepted on consignment. For more information, info@fontainesauction.com or 413-448-8922.
For additional information, www.fontainesauction.com.
