THE ESTATE OF HENRY BROWNELL WILL LEAD A 450-LOT MULTI-ESTATE AUCTION PLANNED FOR OCTOBER 18 BY FONTAINE’S AUCTION GALLERY
(Pittsfield, Mass.) – A splendid period Queen Anne lowboy, made around 1750 in New Hampshire and with front ball-and-claw feet and the original brass hardware, is the expected headliner at a multi-estate sale slated for Saturday, Oct. 18, by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. The lowboy, showing great proportions at 31-1/2 inches tall by 31-1/2 inches wide, will probably fetch $80,000-$120,000.
“We got this fine piece out of a private home in New York,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “It was bought in the 1950s by the consignor’s father, from Ginsberg & Levy (the former antique American furniture dealers in New York City). It even has that sales receipt.” Mr. Fontaine added the lowboy has a sunburst center drawer and is in overall very presentable condition.
The lowboy is one of about 450 lots that will change hands over the course of the two-session sale. The first session, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., will comprise about 200 lots from the estate of Henry Brownell, a longtime antiques dealer from New Bedford, Mass., who passed away earlier this year. His estate – most of it early American period furniture pieces from his home – will be sold without reserve.
The second session, to be held from 1:30 p.m. until the last gavel falls, will feature about 250 quality lots, drawn from prominent local estates, as well as consignments from Oregon and Cleveland. Previews will be held Friday, Oct. 17, from 10-5, and on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. until start of sale, at 11 a.m. Absentee and phone bids will be accepted, and there will be multiple online platforms.
Following are some anticipated highlights of the auction, with low and high estimates given:
Four gilt bronze patinated relief sculptures, 23 inches tall by 19-1/2 inches wide, attributed to Paul Howard Manship (est. $30,000-$50,000).- An original painting by Adolph Schreyer (German, 1828-1899), titled The Startled Team (71-1/2 inches by 45-1/2 inches) (est. $30,000-$40,000).
A reverse serpentine mahogany four-drawer ball-and-claw foot Chippendale chest (39-1/2 inches wide by 34-1/2 inches tall by 23-1/2 inches deep) (est. $25,000-$35,000).
A formal satinwood inlaid Hepplewhite tall clock with fluted quarter columns and French feet (92 inches tall by 19 inches wide by 10 inches deep) (est. $20,000-$30,000).- A magnificent 9-piece figural carved walnut parlor set with standing putti, figural maidens and classical scenes (four chairs, two love seats, two foot stools and side table) (est. $15,000-$25,000).
- A Tiffany Studios dichroic acorn border table lamp (29 inches tall by 20-1/2 inches wide) (est. $15,000-$25,000).
A Tiffany Studios mottled dichroic Greek key border table lamp (22 inches tall by 15-1/2 inches wide) (est. $18,000-$22,000).
An original work by Thomas Moran (N.Y./Penn., 1837-1926), titled Windmill at Bridgehampton (9-1/2 inches wide by 5-1/2 inches tall). Mr. Moran was an accomplished marine and landscape artist (est. $15,000-$20,000).- A cast iron 19th-century fountain with standing griffins and frog and turtle base (est. $10,000-$15,000).
- A Tiffany Studios pomegranate border table lamp, with signed shade and base (24 inches tall by 16 inches wide (est. $10,000-$15,000).
Internet bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com, eBayLiveAuctions.com and Artfact.net All three will provide live video and sound, permitting bidders to submit bids in real time while watching the action, live, as it unfolds in the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery showroom, located at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, Mass. A free color catalog is available by calling (413) 448-8922.
Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, a national leader in the antiques and auction business, will conduct an Important Antique Clock Auction on Saturday, Nov. 8. Consignments are still being accepted. Fontaine’s is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at 413-448-8922. Or, you can e-mail them at info@fontaineauction.com.
To learn more about Fontaine’s Auction Gallery and its calendar of upcoming auctions, you may log on to www.fontainesauction.net.
