PITTSFIELD, Mass. – A three-session cataloged antique auction featuring over 500 lots in a myriad of categories will be held on Saturday, June 27th, by Fontaine's Auction Gallery, at 1485 West Housatonic Street, starting with a discovery auction that will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time, followed by the cataloged auction at noon and a watches, chains and fobs auction right after that.

The cataloged sale will feature antique clocks, lamps (by Duffner & Kimberly, Gorham, Handel, Pairpoint and others), porcelains, bronze statuary, art glass, estate jewelry, silver, coin-op and arcade machines, Victrolas, toys and dolls, advertising and country store, unusual gold Masonic items, Asian objects, paintings, posters, Icart etchings, antique furniture, garden items and more.

This auction comes on the heels of a highly successful spring sale Fontaine's Auction Gallery held May 30th that grossed over $1.685 million and featured a Howard & Davis astronomical regulator ($151,250), an R. J. Horner mahogany grandfather clock ($60,500), and a one-year Biedermeier Laterndluhr wall regulator ($36,300). Fontaine's is renowned for their clock sales.

Bidders at the June 27th auction will be treated to a visual feast of offerings. Advertising items will feature a Deacon Brown (“King of the Phosphates”) tip tray with patriotic theme portrait of a woman (est. $700-$900); a plaster Wills's Pirate Shag Tobacco caricature figure (est. $300-$500); and a large United Airlines standing figure, “The Menehune of Hawaii” (est. $200-$400).

Other advertising items will include a mache model of a bull, promoting The Holstein-Friesian Association of America in Brattleboro, Vt., in nice condition with the original paint (est. $300-$500); a Buster Brown Bread tin litho and embossed sign, for Golden Sheaf Bakery (est. $500-$750); and a wrought iron, wall-mounted hat display trade sign with coat hook (est. $200-$400).

The expected top lot of an impressive coin-op collection is a floor model Mutoscope vending machine, cast iron with large seashell panels on the sides (est. $7,000-$10,000). Also sold will be a rare floor model Mills Perfect Muscle Developer, with point markers to “Test Your Strength” (est. $4,000-$6,000); and a half-cent coin-op soccer game made in England (est. $1,200-$1,500).

Other coin-ops will include a 5-cent, test-of-strength drop-kick arcade game by Mutoscope (circa 1949), all original and 76 inches tall (est. $800-$1,200); a French crane digger coin-op machine in a mahogany case with beveled front door glass, in need of restoration (est. $1,200-$1,500); and a 5-cent trade stimulator skill game with fox hunt scene on the back panel (est. $300-$500).

In the music category there will be an extremely rare Victor VI Victrola with an original red & black paper mache horn from a local attic. Name plate bearing the serial #782.

Two clocks are expected to find new owners for $5,000-$7,500 each. One is a Pennsylvania tall case clock, 105 inches tall, having a 14-inch painted iron dial with center seconds sweep and a pendulum signed and dated “L. Masgreave, 1797.” The other is a Seth Thomas off-center pillar and scroll clock with inside/outside escapement and the original 10 ½ inch painted metal dial.

Also up for bid will be a porcelain and bisque annular urn clock, with Capodimonte mark and a case that's in nice condition (est. $3,000-$5,000); a circa late 18th century oval dial English tall clock with dial signed “Jn'o Hallam, Nottingham” (est. $3,500-$5,000); and J. C. Brown Model 1 acorn shelf clock with movement signed “Forrestville Mfg., Britsol, Conn.” (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Rare and unusual Masonic gold items will feature a lot consisting of a tested 18kt yellow and rose gold badge and hanger and a large gold-plated badge (est. $750-$1,000); a 14kt gold double bar hanger, signed “Chas Fischer, NY,” with a single blue sapphire (est. $1,200-$1,500); and a marked 14kt gold chain, 24 inches long, with oval Masonic gold pendant (est. $800-$1,200).

Other Masonic gold lots will include a marked 14kt gold badge with 6-point star hanger that's monogrammed “J.S.A.” and presented circa 1921 (est. $750-$1,000); a marked 22kt gold ring with oval deep red agate center stone having a Masonic compass and arc symbol (est. $1,000-$1,250); and a tested 22kt gold ring with Masonic symbols and a sapphire (est. $750-$1,250).

An expected star lot of the lamps category is a Duffner & Kimberly table lamp with a 20-inch diameter leaded shade, with a green and caramel slag background and a border of pink flowers, 24 inches tall (est. $4,000-$6,000). Also sold will be a Suess leaded floral table lamp with a 17 ½ inch shallow form domical shade with an irregular border, 18 ½ inches tall (est. $2,500-$3,000).

Additional lamps to watch will include a Handel Tropical Sunset table lamp with an 18-inch diameter signed shade, with eight colorful bent slag panels overlaid with tall palm trees and low brush (est. $2,000-$3,000); and a Gorham geometric table lamp on a bronze base having a shade with green geometric design and dark green border with 24 red oval panels (est. $1,500-$2,000).

Asian objects are always a hit with bidders. The sale will feature a set of four Asian hardwood ox yoke back side chairs in overall nice condition (est. $800-$1,200); an Asian carved travel vanity hardwood box with filigree and dragon panels (est. $300-$500); an Asian bronze seated Guan Yin sculpture with two-tone gilt finish and medium-brown patina, 12 ¼ inches tall (est. $500-$750); and a pair of carved wood Asian foo dog bookends with gilt highlights (est. $250-$400).

Looking to buy that special someone a gold jewelry item? How about an 18kt white gold band with a center prong set diamond measuring about 1.53 carats, with SI2 clarity and J color (est. $3,000-$5,000)? Or an 18kt band (ring size, about 7) with a large and radiant cut center genuine blue sapphire measuring 1.5 carats and two European-cut diamonds (est. $3,000-$5,000)?

Watches, fobs and chains in the third and final session of the sale will include a rare repeater pocket watch that's actuated by a pusher in the stem with a highly decorated (and engraved) dust cover (est. $3,000-$5,000); and an 18kt gold Vacheron Constantin pocket watch, complete with chain, fob, knife and cigar cutter, all in a marked 18kt gold hunter's case (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Additional watches will feature a C.H. Meylan pocket watch with an unmarked platinum watch chain and fob, plus a silver Queen Elizabeth coin in gold bezel and a marked platinum pocket knife (est. $2,000-$3,000); and an 18kt gold pocket watch with chain and accessories in a private label hunter case in 18kt gold (E. Caldwell, Philadelphia), Swiss movement (est. $3,000-$5,000).

For those unable to attend the auction live, internet bidding will be facilitated by Invaluable.com and LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee (left) bids will also be accepted. See the website for terms and conditions: www.FontainesAuction.com. Previews will be held on Friday, June 26, from 10-5, and Saturday, June 27, the date of sale from 8 a.m. until the first gavel falls at 11 a.m.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is the oldest operating auction gallery in Western Massachusetts. It has earned the trust of collectors, investors and gallery owners worldwide. All cataloged lots receive nationwide exposure to the firm’s database of more than 19,000 select buyers. Seven times Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been voted “Best Antique Auction Gallery” by the public.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is actively seeking quality items, to include furniture, lighting, clocks and watches, paintings, porcelains, bronze and marble statuary, Asian items, art glass and cameo glass, Russian objects, silver, musical, coin-op, advertising, toys, banks, gaming and carousel items for future sales. Consignments are currently being accepted for all upcoming auctions.

The firm will buy outright or accept on consignment fine antiques, collections or entire estates. Call (413) 448-8922 and ask to speak with John Fontaine, or you can send Mr. Fontaine an e-mail to info@fontainesauction.com. For more information about the company and the upcoming Saturday, June 27th auction, please visit www.FontainesAuction.com. Updates are posted often.

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