I’m encouraged by some of the prices realized at the Fontaine sale yesterday.  Here’s a sampling of some of the healthy results:

• Meeks Hawkins sofa - $10,000
• “Pottier & Stymus” Aesthetic Sideboard - $12,000
• Meeks  Rosewood Etagere - $50,000
• Belter 3-piece Milwaukee parlor set - $21,000
• Pierce-carved Belter slipper chair - $17,000 (expected $6-8k)
• “R.J. Horner” Library Table - $15,000 (interesting side-story)
  

Some of the items had some questionable attributions and the bidders affirmed that message with their bidding:

• Pair of Herter Brothers twin bedsteads - $1,250 for the pair
• Thomas Brooks marble-top table - $1,000

Some items did disappoint and Jelliff items were in that category:

• John Jelliff triple-back sofa - $1,750 (we’ve seen it sell for $5,750)
• Jelliff three-piece parlor set - $2,000

Following on my concern about some of the attributions, the basis of the Pottier & Stymus attribution for the sideboard was:

This piece has a 5 digit number on the back (10278) indicative of the work of Pottier & Stymus

I don’t know about you, but I can’t imagine that P&S were the only makers that had 5-digit inventory numbers of the tens of thousands of shops in the world at the time.

Overall, however, I think the sale showed that the good stuff is still selling well (despite Wall Street tumult) and anything below that level is scraping by.

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Plenty of high-end Victorian coming up in the Fontaine sale in a few days with all the usual suspects: Belter, Roux, Meeks, Jelliff, Baudouine, Pottier & Stymus, and Horner among others.  The Meeks Hawkins pattern set above is expected to bring $35,000-$50,000 and a Belter Milwaukee 3-piece set, $20,000 to $30,000.  A surprisingly unassuming bedstead in the sale is signed A. Roux, which shows you that the best makers of the time absolutely made simplistic pieces for everyday use.

Quick post to address some of the comments on the previous post:

I now have the Egyptian Revival set by Pottier & Stymus in my possession and I’ve done some digging to see if the upholstery is original and based on a tip from Woodwright to look for tack holes other than those of the current upholstery, it appears the set indeed has the original upholstery (no other tack holes).

I found the “PS” markings to denote Pottier & Stymus under the mount on the skirt of the chair.

I will be receiving two additional mounts shown below and one of the missing feet in the mail shortly. I assume the two heads are from the sofa that is now no longer with us in this world

The red velour fabric is about 50% worn off of the set, there is significant fading or discoloration on much of the original tassels, and one of the chair backs is shattered and will need repairing so I am nearly set on reupholstering, while holding on to the original for posterity.

Much will need to be done to bring this set back to an acceptable state and it will take time, but I hope to bring you all along for the ride as the journey unfolds.

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