Fontaine’s – Fine & Decorative Arts Auction
February 1 & 2, 2025
1485 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
www.fontainesauction.com

PITTSFIELD, MASS. — Fontaine’s will present a two-day fine and decorative arts auction on February 1-2, which will include more than 750 lots of Nineteenth/Twentieth Century lighting, Tiffany lamps, art glass, leaded glass windows, silver, porcelain, marble and bronze statuary, Asian items, paintings, American and European furniture, clocks and jewelry.

This auction features the fine art collection of Elizabeth Fox, a private collection of Art Nouveau furniture and accessories, the estate of Donald Oliver, and various other private collections. Preview by appointment is January 30-31. Available bidding methods are internet, phone and absentee. Sessions start daily at 11 am.

“We have been curating fine and notable items that are fresh to the market,” said auctioneer and owner John Fontaine. “Tiffany is, of course, a dominant feature and remains highly coveted. Buyers will find more than 100 choice pieces included in this auction.”

Leading the selection of Tiffany Studios goods are its famed table and floor lamps. An expected strong performer is a large, circa 1910 Drophead Dragonfly table lamp ($100/150,000), having a 22¼-inch shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 1507” and standing 35½ inches tall. Its base is impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 439.” It’s not the only example in the maker’s perennially popular Dragonfly patterns, however. Also piquing buyers’ interests will be a circa 1920 Drophead Dragonfly table lamp ($80/120,000) with a “Roman” base, 32 inches tall, and a trio of circa 1910 Dragonfly table lamps in three different sizes: 19½ inches, 25 and 28 inches tall. The latter three have estimates ranging from $80/120,000 to $30/50,000 and each has a different color palette: blue, green and amber.

The span of Tiffany lighting in the sale stretches to floral-themes like a circa 1905 Nasturtium table lamp ($100/150,000), with both its base and shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York;” a circa 1910 Oriental Poppy table lamp ($80/120,000) having a shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 1495” and the base impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 587” and a circa 1905 Geranium table lamp ($50/75,000), its 16-inch diameter shade impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York” and base impressed “Tiffany Studios, New York, 6859.” A dozen Tiffany floor lamps will be available in patterns such as Turtle-Back, Vine Border, Swirling Leaf and Geometric.

Standout paintings by noted artists are becoming increasingly hard to find, but buyers take notice when notable examples pop up. In this sale is an oil and bronze leaf on paper painting by contemporary Japanese-American artist Takako Yamaguchi ($60/80,000) measuring 48 by 83 inches. The Los Angeles-based artist has been making a splash at auction lately for her paintings. Apropos to this winter auction, the Fox estate yields a classic snowscape by Guy Carleton Wiggins. The oil on board, “Fifth Avenue Blizzard” is estimated at $30/50,000.

Rounding out the auction will be statement pieces like a Louis Majorelle grand piano ($50/75,000), circa 1903, and a circa 1908 Steinway & Sons Model B grand piano ($20/30,000) as well as a grouping of Art Nouveau pieces. The latter category is led by a Daum Nancy set of four Art Nouveau three-light sconces ($15/25,000) from the early Twentieth Century in mottled glass with gilt bronze and a Bruckmann & Sohne Art Nouveau silver five-piece tea and coffee service ($5/7,500). The circa 1905 set is .800 silver and weighs a total of 161 troy ounces.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is at 1485 West Housatonic Street (Route 20). For information, www.fontainesauction.com or 413-448-8922.

A Fine Gilt Silver, Enamel & Gem-Set Horse-Drawn Carriage
Takako Yamaguchi (Japanese/American, b. 1952)
15K Gold, Diamond, Amethyst Seed Pearl & Enamel Bracelet
Louis Majorelle Marquetry Vitrine
Tiffany Studios Flower-Form Vase
Tiffany Studios “Turtle-Back” Lantern
Guy Carleton Wiggins (American, 1883-1962) “Fifth Avenue Blizzard”
Tiffany Studios “Damascene” Desk Lamp
Tiffany Studios “Nasturtium” Table Lamp
Tiffany Studios “Twelve-Light “Lily’ Table Lamp
Tiffany Studios “Oriental Poppy” Table Lamp
Konstantin Korovin (Russian, 1861-1939) ‘Music by Moonlight’
Tiffany & Co. “Chrysanthemum” Centerpiece
Tiffany Studios “Dragonfly” Table Lamp
Tiffany Studios “Monumental Moorish” Ceiling Light
Eight Tiffany Studios “Pulled Feather” Sconces
1485 West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
info@fontainesauction.com
www.fontainesauction.com
(413) 448-8922