There must have been a few bidders that REALLY wanted this Victorian-era terrarium.   Either they know something about it that I don’t know or they had some excess money on hand that they wanted to part with.

This terrarium just sold at Skinner’s in July for $4,594 – 61 times their top estimate.  Broken glass, finish loss and probably a missing finial leave me scratching my head.

press release:

The following Monumental R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Set. 12 Pc. Figural carved set will be offered at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield MA, on May 21st 2011 at 11am EST. The set includes a selection of the best American carved pieces of its time. The set is in a deep untouched original finish and in mint condition; the solid carving and variations, shown in each of these pieces, highlight the peak of one of the greatest furniture makers. Circa 1890.

What is being appropriately billed as an Exceptional Antique Auction has been planned for Saturday, May 21, by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, in the firm’s spacious showroom at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. Offered will be over 500 lots of antique furniture, vintage lighting, fine art, decorative accessories, period furniture, clocks, estate jewelry, watches and more.

“We’re calling it an exceptional auction because the merchandise truly is exceptional,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “These lots have been culled from better estates and collections in Massachusetts and beyond, resulting in a tremendous opportunity for people looking to redecorate, purchase investment-grade antiques or add to their collections.”

Folks unable to make it to the event may bid online through LiveAuctioneers.com (which they can access by logging on to the Fontaine’s website, www.FontainesAuction.net). Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Previews will be held on Thursday, May 19, from 10-5; Friday, May 20, from 10-5; and Saturday, May 21, from 9 a.m. until the start of sale, at 11 a.m.

The 60″ R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Table features massive legs with winged maiden busts, acanthus leaf carvings at the waist over a curved base with bell flower blossoms on the sides and hairy paw feet; solid deeply carved center pedestal, scroll carved apron with mythical lion’s heads, stranded leaf and vine pattern with bows in between. Complete with 3 leaves measuring 14″. Stands 31 ½” high.

The R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Sideboard has large winged griffins supporting the bevel mirrored back, muscular mountain men with goat’s heads at the waist, the 2 door panels have 3 figural putti in a medallion over a gargoyle head centered in scrolling floral, ribbon and leaf carving. 2 wide drawers with figural fronts and 3 smaller drawers set between the partitions with oversized lion’s head pulls. The pierce carved crest has a center medallion with large winged putti and mountain men on the outside; complete with unusual paw feet, centered with faces. 95″H x 73″W x 29″.

R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room China Cabinet. Beautiful double door bow front china cabinet with figural maiden busts over scrolling pilasters and acanthus leaf carving holding lion’s heads on the front. The frieze has a pair of winged griffins with an urn in between foliage carvings and centered between lion’s heads; pierce carved crest with center medallion, winged putti and eagle finials. 87″H x 55″W x 19″.

The R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Server has a pair of standing mountain men supports, the outside arm holds up the top, the inside arm hold a ram’s head with drapery, scroll carving on the sides over a cluster of summer fruit with exposed feet and a serpentine lower shelf. The bow front top has a center drawer with a pair of winged griffins and an urn in between foliate carvings and centered between lion’s heads; backsplash is topped with a pierce carved crest with a center medallion, winged putti and stylized fleur-de-lis corners. 61″H x 54″W x 23″D.

Set of 8 R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Chairs with inverted medallion backs, figural maiden busts on the sides over acanthus leaf carving and swirling leaves on the thick crests; serpentine seat rails, carved cabriole legs and claw feet. The two armchairs are garnished with figural griffin supports carved with the finest detail. Losses to upholstery, frames are excellent! 2 Armchairs are 45″ high and the side chairs are 42 ½” high.

Lot: 213

Monumental R.J. Horner Figural Mahogany Dining Room Set. 12 Pc.

$75,000 – $125,000

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is still actively seeking quality consignments for the May 21 Exceptional Antique Auction and all future sales. The firm also buys antiques and entire estates outright. For more information, or to consign an item, estate or collection, you may call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak with John Fontaine. Or, e-mail him at info@fontaineauction.com.

This credenza was bought at an estate sale, misidentified as an Italian piece, and now is coming up for sale at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers as lot 122 this weekend. Fortunately, it has been properly identified as a piece by Herter Brothers and it’s relation to this cabinet pictured below in the Herter Book on page 156 is obvious.  You’ll notice that the doors in the piece above are not decorated as those are below, but otherwise, it is almost identical except from some differences in coloration near the feet and incising at the bottom of the door panels.

Pre-auction estimate is $8,000-$12,000.  More photos below:

(ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.) – The contents of the Conewago Manor Inn – an historic structure dating back to an original 1742 grant from the William Penn family, founders of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania – will be sold without reserve (everything goes, regardless of price) in an on-site auction slated for Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Inn itself in Elizabethtown, Pa.

Elizabethtown is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, just off Route 283, about midway between Harrisburg and Lancaster.

The auction will be conducted by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, based in Pittsfield, Mass. Over 500 lots of fine antiques and accessories will be offered, with online bidding facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, Proxibid.com and the Fontaine’s website (FontainesAuction.net). Phone and absentee bids will also be taken. The Inn is located at 2048 Zeager Road in Elizabethtown.

“It is difficult to fully appreciate the majesty and history of the Conewago Manor Inn,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “It has stood, weathering the passage of time, as it witnessed the birth of a nation and its struggles and triumphs, not far from both Philadelphia and Gettysburg. Iron from nearby forges may have been used to fight the American Revolution.”

The original survey of the property is dated June 1, 1739. Then known as the Conewago Manor Farm, it served as the residence for Samuel Smith, a local miller and Indian trader who received the original warranted deed from the William Penn family, in 1742. Over the years, it has been used as a United States Post Office, a railway ticket office and an inn (its usage today).

The Inn’s current owners – Keith and Laura Murphy – spent nearly seven years lovingly restoring the facility to its original glory. It’s been featured twice on Home & Garden Television and has been detailed in Woman’s Day Magazine and other media. And now, the contents of the Inn, much of it consistent with the period of the structure itself, will be sold at absolute auction.

Period furniture pieces will include a ¾ size walnut cylinder secretary, a Federal carved mahogany settee, an inlaid walnut Renaissance Revival pedestal, a crocheted mahogany Empire single-door cabinet, a monumental Renaissance rosewood credenza, a heavily carved rococo meridienne settee, and a heavily carved walnut card table decorated with birds, fruit and foxes.

Additional furniture pieces will include an inlaid rosewood tilt-top checkerboard table, a 9-piece Belter rosewood parlor set, an inlaid Hepplewhite mirrored wall shelf, a signed J. & J.W. Meeks rosewood marble-top corner etagere, a rococo marble-top rosewood etagere attributed to Meeks, an unusual mahogany claw-foot display cabinet and a nice walnut cylinder roll-top desk.

Beds and bedroom suites will feature a two-piece marble-top Eastlake walnut bedroom set, a rococo rosewood carved bed, a monumental carved rococo ½ tester bed and a carved rosewood full tester bed. Chairs will include a carved rosewood swivel vanity chair and a set of 12 John H. Belter laminated chairs. A Steinway & Sons Duo-Art player piano will also be sold.

Lamps and lighting will illuminate the room. Expected top lots include a beautiful pair of brass argand mantel lamps, a highly unusual piano lamp, an Auguste Moreau “Nereide” figural lamp and a large brass astral lamp with prisms. Also, a rare Regina Hepplewhite chime clock with bells will cross the block, as will several early historic samplers, including one dated 1846.

Dolls will feature a rare Steiner bisque automaton doll. Doll carriages will include a wicker mechanical horse-drawn doll carriage and an early ebonized doll carriage. Also offered will be a Regina upright mahogany 12-disc changer, and fine estate jewelry, such as a lady’s antique fashion ring and a nice lady’s gold ring with large emerald and yellow diamonds.

Decorative accessories will be served up in abundance. Some anticipated star lots include a mirrored brass display under dome, a James Tufts patented table fountain, a fine silver-plated wine jack, a fine silver-plated water set with porcelain insert, a porcelain “Pot de Crème” service for 12, a large silver plate and cut glass epergne and a Victorian silver plate and glass epergne.

Other decorative accessories will feature a 3-piece silver plate mirrored table plateau, a James Tufts toothpick holder, an unusual silver-plated jewelry casket, a Pairpoint silver-plated jewelry casket, many silver-plated combination sets, many rare and unusual napkin rings, a 17-piece Royal Worcester porcelain game set and a 14-piece Royal Worcester porcelain fish set.

Staying in the category: a 48-piece partial luncheon service (including left and right hand pieces), a Limoges “Grapes” pattern punch set, a large collection of Tiffany & Co. sterling in the rare “Blackberry” pattern, a collection of Tiffany & Co. sterling pieces in the “Chrysanthemum” pattern (including ice tongs), a large Dresden porcelain dinnerware set, a 6-piece Elkington Neoclassical silver-plated centerpiece set and a collection of Ironstone “Pattern #20” dinnerware.

Also sold will be a rosewood marble-top mirrored vanity, a 2-piece parlor set attributed to John Jelliff, a rosewood marble-top mirrored dresser and a 6-drawer lockside with butler’s desk as well as a 6-piece Tiffany Studios gold “Grapevine” desk set, a 39-piece Moser cranberry and enamel stemware set and a 12-piece set of miniature silver creamers and sugars.

Even an automobile will come under the gavel: a 1993 Cadillac Allante convertible with just 37,000 original miles. The auction will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and will be followed by an unreserved discovery auction. Previews for the main auction will be held on Thursday, Oct. 21, from 10-4; Friday, Oct. 22, from 10-4; and Saturday, Oct. 23, the date of auction, from 8-10 a.m.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality consignments for future sales. The firm also buys antiques and entire estates outright. For more information, or to consign an item, estate or collection, you may call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak to John Fontaine. Or, you can e-mail him at info@fontaineauction.com. For more info, log on to www.fontainesauction.net.

Springmeyer Brothers – Partners to John Henry Belter

Ever see a piece of furniture in the Renaissance Revival style with J. H. Belter’s name on it? I hadn’t until I saw this piece coming up for sale at Martin Auction Co. in Anna, IL. As most of you know, the Belter name is far more associated with the Rococo Revival than this style of furniture. The additional presence of the Springmeyer Brothers name on the stencil on this dresser provides a look into a slice of time immediately following Belter’s death and what the company produced after his direct association with J.H. Belter and Company ended.

History is sketchy, but from what I have gleaned from a few sources, Belter’s brother-in-law J.H. Springmeyer was listed in city directories as a furniture dealer after 1856 and became Belter’s partner.  1856 is the same year that Belter’s business name started having the word, “Company” following it,  the same year his bedstead patent was issued and the same year he moved from 547 to 522 Broadway.  Springmeyer’s cabinetmaker brothers joined the Belter business as partners around that time as well.

Belter became ill around 1863 and shortly after putting his will together, he died. According to the Magazine Antiques, September 1948 issue, the company continued under the J.H. Belter and Co. name until 1867 when the company went bankrupt. Artfact, however, states that the company name changed to Springmeyer Brothers in 1865.  The three Springmeyer brothers continued on as cabinetmakers in 1868 after the bankruptcy, but the business was soon sold to Blesson and Bolrath for $20,500.

That can only mean that this dresser would have been made between 1863 and 1867, since the label says “Late J.H. Belter”. More research would need to be done to see when this particular incarnation of their furniture stencils with both the Springmeyer and “Late” Belter names existed.  I have read of other stencil versions referring to the company as “Springmeyer Brothers, Successors to J.H. Belter and Company”.

Nonetheless, it is an eye-opener to see Belter’s Company name on a piece of Renaissance Revival furniture.

Thanks to 1881Victorian in the forum for pointing it out and Martin Auction for sharing the larger images with us.

As evidenced by the Hunzinger Parlor Suite sale, the results of Neal Auction Company’s Winter Estate Auction held January 30 and 31 are impressive indeed. Fine Victorian suites and cabinets were sale highlights.

Bearing the stamp of George Hunzinger, New York was this fabulous late 19th century American Renaissance carved and ebonized walnut parlor suite that reached $17,925. Prices include 22 percent buyer’s premium. The Hunzinger parlor suite consisted of a pair of armchairs and a sofa with each having anthemion crests, scroll, blocked and reeded stiles, pendant fruit clusters and rectangular backs. The button-tufted arms terminated in bosses and each sported pierced demilune aprons and canted front legs with hoof feet.

Another Victorian-era parlor suite of drastically different style than the Hunzinger parlor suite was this mid-19th century American Rococo carved and laminated rosewood grouping consisting of a sofa, four side chairs and an armchair made $13,145. Attributed to John Henry Belter, New York, the suite was done in the pattern known as “Rosalie with Grapes.” The sofa had a fruit and nut-carved triple crest, serpentine arms, a rose and leaf serpentine seat rail, acanthus and rose cabriole legs, while the armchair and side chairs were of a conforming pattern. The suite had descended in the family of John Brand (1785-1849) who was the owner of Rose Hill, Lexington, KY.

Another piece of mid-19th century furniture done in the “Rosalie with Grapes” pattern, this being an American Rococo meridienne sold for $7,170. Again attributed to John Henry Belter, New York, this meridienne with a low scrolled back and single serpentine arm measured 38 in high, 43 in wide and 26 in deep. This piece also once belonged to John Brand, owner of Rose Hill in Kentucky.

Selling strong at $17,327.50 was a wonderful Renaissance Revival carved, ebonized and burl walnut parlor cabinet attributed to Allen & Brother, Philadelphia. The circa 1870 piece had a gadrooned pediment, a centered door carved in high-relief with the bust of a maiden, and lion head brackets. The lower case had a blocked front with female terms and a frieze drawer. The cabinet door was enhanced with foliate-carved and beribboned reserve that contained a lyre-incised panel. Two acroteria wells flanked the plinth which had egg and dart molding. Measuring 65 ½ in high, 60 in wide and 25 in deep, this cabinet was impressive.

Coming in at $14,340 was another circa 1870 cabinet made in Philadelphia. This example, an American Renaissance inlaid, bronze-mounted rosewood cabinet was ebonized and gilded. Having a crest centered by a roundel with a Classical bust, the cabinet featured an arch pediment with anthemia. Adding to its appeal was the blocked central cabinet having a bronze bust of a female goddess and a door panel inlaid with a bird and ewer design. This door was then flanked by columns. The side cabinets had arch pediments and wore centered bronze plaques. These cabinets also had canted corners and doors inlaid with musical trophies. Sitting on plinth shaped feet, and wearing a pleasant old surface, this cabinet measured 67 ¾ in high, 65 ½ in wide and 20 in deep.

The inlay work featured on the top of this American Renaissance ebonized and gilt-incised walnut table was first-rate. Called a “Centennial” center table, this circa 1876 piece attributed to Kilian Brothers, New York featured a most impressive top. Inlaid with a bust of George Washington, the design was further enhanced with eagles and two American flags which were flanked with roundels of “1776” and “1876.” Having a conforming apron and standing on trumpet legs with an incurvate stretcher centered with a finial, this lovely table sold for $4,880. It measured 28 in high by 28 in wide and 19 in deep.

By Susan Mellish

Neal Auction’s latest sale is this weekend and it appears that the consignors with 19th Century furniture by famous Philadelphia makers will do better selling them in Louisiana than in Philadelphia area auctions.  I can’t blame them since Neal does such a great job.

I’m excited about this sale.  It is the first of the new year and I feel I need a new gauge of how the market is doing.  Secondly, and most importantly, there is some mega-cool furniture in this sale (yes mega-cool is a technical Decorative Arts term that real curators and book authors use behind the scenes).

Daniel Pabst is in the (auction) house.

A MATCHING PAIR of Daniel Pabst pedestals.  You will never see this again until this same pair is resold again.

The cut-through veneer panels that show through to a darker layer of wood is a signature technique for Pabst.  The vine tendrils with the same treatment encircle the four columns on each pedestal.  The final piece de resistance is the rotating table tops.  You can put your favorite matching statues up for display and turn them to admire from any angle.  Regardless of what these go for, this is an important set.

You know I must be taken by the Pabst pedestals if I’m writing about them first rather than the works of one of my most favorite makers: Allen & Brother.  I see at least 3 attributed Allen & Brother pieces in this sale and possibly others where they held back on the attribution.  It seems an Allen & Brother collector is letting loose some (all?) of their collection.  The cabinet below will be one of the main events.  If only I had a spare $20k lying around to spend on a space-filling cabinet …

Here are some Victorian furniture highlights from the sale with many more not profiled here:

[Click images]

[View with PicLens]

Some text accompanying a recent auction ad caught my eye that had made reference to a laminated Rosewood parlor set that would be part of the upcoming sale.  I had seen the pattern many times before (as any a long-time Victorian (Rococo) collector has) and am familiar with its usual attribution to George Henkels as being the maker.  What caught my eye was that the auction house was thinking otherwise – that it was made by Alexander Roux and had long been falsely attributed to Henkels of Philadelphia.

I contacted Adam Lambert (no, I don’t believe he is the one from American Idol unless the famous singer now has a side job) from Crescent City Auction Gallery to get their thinking on the attribution that was mentioned in the advertisement:

Welcome to the great debate in New Orleans that is like the Hatfields and McCoys.  Our experts on American furniture believe that this set was falsely attributed to Henkles [sic] early.  Two specific things about the set have our experts insist that it is Roux and not Henkles.  The first is that this pattern is similar to the Bird Pattern done by Roux, and unlike any proven examples from Henkles.  The second, and probably the most important fact is that there is no record of Henkels ever making laminated furniture.

In Dubrow’s book, this actual set is attributed to Henkles.  This was an attribution made from an Auction House in New Orleans, and is believed by our New Orleans experts to be incorrect.  Again, not everyone here agrees, but present day reasoning leads people to believe that it is Roux.  Hope that this answers some questions.

Here’s an excerpt from Victorian Details that I sent back to Adam which introduces a third maker, Ignatius Lutz, who HAS worked in laminated Rosewood.  It also references similar labeled Henkels furniture:

Here is the aforementioned Alexander Roux bird pattern sofa from the 1853 Crystal Palace Exhibition. I personally don’t see an adequate resemblance to the “Henkels” set to assert a Roux attribution but maybe I’m missing something.

Adam points out that Henkels didn’t work in laminated Rosewood and I believe that is true to our best knowledge today.   If that is the case then, who did make the “Henkels” set?

Crescent City Auction Gallery’s sale of the above suite and several other Victorian lots will occur on January 17th.  More from Adam on the sale:

On a side note, we have a couple lots that you may be interested in viewing on our website: Lot 352, a Rosewood Double door Armoire-probably New York.  Lot 348 Rosewood Double Bed, possibly Thomas Brooks. Lot 333, Centripetal Chair designed by Thomas Warren.  Lastly, Lot 317, Pair Kimbel and Cabus Walnut Armchairs.

North Georgia Antique Auction is offering up some fine Victorian pieces in their upcoming January 9th auction.  For me, this attributed Pottier & Stymus credenza with extensive ormolu bling is a standout.  I’ve seen those capitals and horse/chariot ormolu before but I can’t place it, even with some fairly involved searching of my research material.  The plaques are signed G.P. Giru (maybe as “GPG”, they don’t say) and I wonder if pulling off the caryatids would yield a signature behind those as well.  If not Pottier & Stymus, it is certainly by one of the New York greats.

The sale also includes attributed pieces by J.H. Belter, R.J. Horner, Karpen Bros., Mitchell & Rammelsberg and more.  There is some fine accessible (as in not Tiffany, etc.) early 20th century lighting such as a pine needle design floor lamp by Apollo Studios.

More photos below and the full catalog is online at their site.

By Susan Mellish

PHILADELPHIA – Close to 800 lots of Philadelphia architectural antiques and Victoriana made up the November 21 event held by Kamelot Auctions as they offered up a smorgasbord of furniture, lighting, art and rugs.

Victorian furniture and decorative items sold well with a pair of Victorian carved walnut cue racks of tripartite design bringing $3,200. Prices do not include 20 percent buyer’s premium. These circa 1890 racks had two outer mirrors mounted with gargoyle faces with bronze stick holders protruding from their mouths. The top and bottom of each rack were mounted with broken arch crests and north wind faces. Each rack measured 84” W x 10” D.

An American Victorian inlaid walnut center table in the Renaissance Revival style sold well when it made $6,000. This circa 1870 piece had wonderful inlay work throughout, a center medallion on the table’s skirt and a strong stretcher base which also featured two medallions. The inlay design on the table’s top featured a foliate design including a central flower ring.

A bid of $4,600 was needed to win a rare American walnut griffin fireplace mantel attributed to Daniel Pabst of Philadelphia. This circa 1875 mantel featured an open mouth griffin head which tapered into an acanthus carved corbel. This then supported a relief carved frieze of leather capped with a mantel shelf having a curved edge. The mantel’s opening was 36” x 40.5.”
Little description was given for a Victorian inlaid and ebonized credenza, but that didn’t stop it from reaching $4,000. Thought to be in the manner of Herter Brothers examples, this circa 1865 credenza did sport the letter “H” stamped on the lock of the central door (Note from John: the inlay on the drawer looks more Philadelphia to me than New York and the sale happens to have been in Philly).

Over the top would be a fair assessment of the amount of carving decorating an oak bookcase that sold for $3,200. Having three glass doors flanked by free-standing barley twist columns with open tiered shelving on top, this circa 1880 bookcase’s base consisted of a storage compartment made up of five doors with each displaying heavily carved images of game animals. The bookcase measured 101.75” H x 137” W x 26” D.

Four pieces of decorative Victorian items came in at the $3,000 mark. Included in this list are

• Victorian walnut dining table with large molded top and carved apron over a full-bodied winged griffin base, circa 1890. Selling with two 20.5” leaves. Measuring 30.5”H. x 62” W.
• Victorian carved mirror having a large carved dog head, circa 1890, 87” H x 46” W.
• American Victorian carved oak bookcase with shaped cornice over leaded and faceted glass doors. The doors were flanked by turned columns with ornate capitals; raised paw feet, 64” H. x 72.5” W x 18” D.
• Victorian Continental carved walnut bookcase with extensive carved animal mounts. Having two carved putti holding draping swags framing the glass front doors, flanked by figural and foliate decorated columns. Raised base with two drawers. Measuring 97” H. x 62” W. x 21” D.