MARION, MASS. — Marion Antique Auctions held a singing Thanksgiving weekend auction November 25 as a bird automaton, cataloged as late Nineteenth Century, surpassed its $2/3,000 estimate to land at $30,000, including the buyer’s premium. The automaton was from the estate of Cynthia Bryden, whose family owned the Pairpoint Glass Co., from 1970 to 1988.

The piece featured a gilt-engraved case with applied blue and black enamel around a hand painted center. The bird was in full working order and there were nine bidders competing on the phone.

With six automatons on offer at the sale, Frank McNamee, co-owner and partner with David Glynn, knew that this example, with its intricate detail, would bring the best result. “We featured it in the inside cover of the catalog, but we didn’t expect it to bring that kind of money. We expected $10,000, so it was a nice surprise.”

But the surprises did not stop there for the firm. Cataloged at a $2/300 estimate, a cut-to-clear aqua glass footed bowl brought $25,200, including the premium. The piece also came from the Bryden estate.

“There were no calls on it and no left bids,” said McNamee, as bidders laid very low on the lot, hoping to get a steal on the rarest color of cut-glass. The piece went to a Florida collector.

For more information, 508-748-3606 or www.marionantiqueauctions.com.