Soaring to 20 times its high estimate was an estate-fresh Chinese jardinière with a bird motif that ascended to $20,000.
Review by W.A. Demers
CANAAN, N.Y. — Bidders were warned to bid quickly. “We will be selling fast,” said Ralph Fontaine of his eponymous Heritage Auctions on October 6. An estate-fresh Chinese jardinière with a bird motif flew to 20 times its high estimate, finishing at $20,000. “The estate was about 15 miles away from the gallery,” said Ralph Fontaine, “and the jardinière had been in the family’s collection for many years.” It was 14 inches wide and 10 inches tall. Fontaine said that about 20 Chinese bidders were lined up to vie for it, one of which was the victor, bidding online.
“To start out the sale, we sold several lots of estate silver and gold, totaling more than $80,000,” said Fontaine.
The 700-lot auction included Midcentury, Victorian, oak, French, Mission, period and country furniture, as well as lamps, art glass, a collection of Toby mugs, lots of early toys and more. “It was a lot of estates, a lot of collections,” Fontaine said, when Antiques and The Arts Weekly caught up with him after the sale. With an approximate 90 percent sell-through rate, it served 890 signed-in bidders and 15 participating countries.
One of six lots of pre-Columbian and Egyptian artifacts that came out of New York and Connecticut, a lifelong collection of pottery and accessories, sold for a combined $13,500.
Six lots of pre-Columbian and Egyptian artifacts that came out of New York and Connecticut sold for $13,500. It was a lifelong collection of pottery and accessories. It was rumored that some of the Egyptian items came from King Ramesses II’s tomb, which may have been apocryphal. There were 48 pieces in total, selling together in one lot.
A Herman Miller Eames chair and ottoman crossed the block in need of some reupholstering. Nevertheless, it found a new home at $3,400.
Garden décor came in large sizes. Specifically, it was a huge garden cast-iron urn that brought $4,062. In two pieces and with a classical design, its bowl was in great condition bowl and very heavy. Large, too, was a room-size Oriental estate rug. The Kashan, featuring a crown, brought $1,875. The catalog deemed it to be in very nice condition and color, and its super medallion resulted in a great looking antique rug. The icing on this lot was that there was no evidence of damage from moths or animals.
This room-size Oriental estate Kashan rug featuring a crown brought $1,875. A great looking antique rug with no evidence of damage from moths or animals, it measured 139 by 177 inches.
Bluegrass fans were treated to a great five-string Bacon Blue Ribbon banjo, circa 1920s, which twanged to a final price of $1,125. It looked nice too. Inlaid and carved, the sharp looking instrument produced a great sound. Accompanied by a case, the antique instrument was approximately 38½ inches long.
A group of three early Nineteenth Century miniature portraits, estate fresh, earned $1,187. One had a typed history, dated 1836, affixed to its back and another had a small chip out of the glass (the portrait was fine).
Prices given include the buyer’s premium as stated by the auction house. Ralph Fontaine does not have a specific date yet for his next sale, but said it will be in the first week of December. It’ll be an anniversary event, marking 28 years of auctioneering. For information, 518-781-3650 or www.fontaineheritage.com.
