KANSAS CITY, Mo. – An exceedingly rare, museum-quality Dorflinger cranberry cut to clear glass ewer, 17 inches tall, soared to $75,000 at a sale featuring two major collections of American Brilliant Cut Glass, held November 18th by Woody Auction, online and at the Hilton Kansas City Airport. It was the final major cut glass auction of the year for Woody Auction, which is based in Douglass, Kansas.

“It’s refreshing to see that quality glass still commands strong interest,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, describing a sale in which ten lots sold for $10,000 or more, 17 lots sold for between $5,000 and $10,000 and 61 lots sold for between $1,000 and $5,000. Nearly 375 lots in total came up for bid. About 65 bidders attended the auction in person, while 246 registered and approved bidders bid online.

The Dorflinger ewer was the undisputed star lot of the auction. The piece boasted an extensive pattern and embossed sterling silver base by Redlich & Company of New York City. A matching ewer, only in green, is on display at the Dorflinger Museum. A set of red and green such ewers, either 12 of each or 12 total, was commissioned for the wedding of William K. Vanderbilt to Virginia Graham Fair in 1899.

The auction was co-headlined by the American Brilliant Cut Glass collections of Tom Grabb of Indiana and Bill Chandler of Tennessee. These include many rare patterns including Pueblo, Waldorf, Bellevue, Crystal City, Atom, Rex, and others. Following are additional highlights from the no-reserves auction, where all lots sold regardless of price. All figures quoted are hammer.

The runner-up top lot was an American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) round tray, signed Hawkes and in the Pueblo pattern (also known as the Concentric Circles pattern), 11 inches diameter ($24,000). That was followed by a fantastic ABCG pedestal punch bowl in the Stars and Stripes pattern by Sinclair, with a hobstar foot and the finest quality blank, 9 inches in height and 14 ½ inches diameter ($14,000).

Lots 111 and 112 were both red cut to clear wine glasses, signed “Fritsche” and offered as individual lots, and they gaveled for identical selling prices of $11,000 each. The 5 ¾ inch tall stems were in the Webb Rock Crystal pattern and were made specifically for Daniel J. Sully accompanied by photocopied correspondence from Thomas Webb & Sons. Bidders were drawn to the two glasses’ outstanding color.

Another superb cranberry cut to clear ABCG wine glass – this one in the Parisian pattern by Dorflinger – hammered for $9,000. It was a cut stem of the highest quality and has a fine, scalloped base. Also, a group of five solid cased ruby ABCG wine glasses in a spiral pattern by Dorflinger, each 4 ½ inches tall showing fantastic color and a scalloped ray cut base, saw spirited bidding before finishing at $27,500.

Two very different lots posted the same selling prices of $9,500. One was an exceptional ABCG pedestal rose bowl in the Croesus pattern by J. Hoare, with outstanding quality and heavy blank. The other was a round ABCG tray, 13 inches in diameter, signed Tuthill in the Rex pattern, superbly-cut.

A set of four claret (red table wine) ABCG glasses in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, each one five inches tall and with a scalloped hobstar petticoat base and extra nice blanks, finished at $13,000. Also, a 10 ¼ inch tall ABCG claret jug in a hobstar, swirled tusk, clear bar and fan motif, comprising a fine Gorham sterling repousse spout, lid and handle, an example of the highest quality, breezed to $9,000.

The glass pattern of the claret jug just described matched the 7-inch-tall ABCG cider pitcher in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey with a pattern cut handle, a piece of excellent quality, with very deep cutting and outstanding blank. It fetched $8,000. Also, a set of four 6 ¼ inch tall ABCG water goblets, also in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, each with an outstanding Hobstar petticoat base, hit $13,000.

The sale also featured a set of four saucer Champagne glasses, all in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, showing wonderful clarity ($10,000); a solid green Rhine wine glass, Webb Rock crystal cut in the historical pattern of the Gary set, featuring a dragon and floral motif ($9,500); and a set of five yellow cut to clear ABCG wine glasses in the Russian pattern, all with star cut buttons ($13,000).

Moving forward, Woody Auction will conduct regular auction events in its Douglass gallery, located at 120 Third Street, and occasionally at other venues. First up will be an online-only auction on Saturday, January 13th, 2018, featuring cut glass and art glass, pickle castors, RS Prussia, and more. That will be followed by a major auction on Saturday, February 24th, in the new Douglass gallery, featuring original paintings by Birger Sandzén, not offered for sale in over 40 years, plus bronzes, art glass and furniture. During this auction, Woody Auction will commemorate the completion of their new facility with an Open House celebration.

After that, Woody Auction’s 2018 lineup will include an antique auction on Saturday, March 10th; a cut glass auction on Saturday, March 24th, an antique estate auction on Saturday, April 28th; and a major cut glass auction on Saturday, May 12th, at the St. Charles Convention Center in Missouri. A July auction is also planned. Woody Auction is currently filling auction dates from August to December, 2018.

Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection you may call them at (316) 747-2694; or you can e-mail them at info@woodyauction.com. To learn more about Woody Auction and the 2018 auction lineup, please visit www.WoodyAuction.com.

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