(PITTSFIELD, Mass.) – Exactly 300 lots of quality fresh-to-the-market items will be sold in a catalogued auction on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2014 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield. Headlining the auction will be items from the home, shop and personal collection of Randy Gottesfeld of Gaslight Time in Brooklyn, N.Y., at 11 a.m. (EST).

After acquiring and restoring his historic Brooklyn brownstone in the 1970’s, Randy’s interest turned to 19th century lighting and continued with clocks thus giving his store the well known name Gaslight Time.  After 40 years Randy has decided to retire and Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been commissioned to sell the unreserved collection he has amassed over 4 decades.

This diversified auction will include 19th century furniture by John H. Belter, J & J.W. Meeks, Alexander Roux, R.J. Horner and Herter Brothers, exceptional 19th century lighting and chandeliers, marble and bronze statuary, porcelains, art glass, cameo glass, sterling silver, jewelry and watches, leaded windows, paintings, pottery and hundreds of decorative accessories.

A subsequent Feb. 22 auction will feature the lamp collection of Mr. Gottesfeld (Part 2). This will include dozens of 19th century lighting fixtures, as well as matching sets of hundreds of etched glass and cut glass gas shades of all descriptions.

In the Jan. 11 auction, three lots figure to slug it out for top achiever of the sale. The first is a Tiffany Studios leaded stained glass window titled The Resurrection and the Life. The window measures about 53 inches by 35 inches and depicts Jesus standing before a kneeling woman holding a goblet in her lap. The window, signed L.C. Tiffany (N.Y.)  is expected to change hands for $60,000-$80,000.

The second is a massive, 16-foot leaded wisteria architectural dome, containing 24,000 pieces of leaded glass in eight large arched panels with iron framework along the edges. Each panel contains 3,000 individual pieces and depicts beautiful purple wisteria, with leaves and stems on an opaque and blue background. The dome, structurally sound and ready to install, should hit $40,000-$60,000.

The third is a five-piece parlor set by the renowned 19th century American furniture maker John H. Belter, in the Fountain Elms pattern. The pierced carved and laminated mahogany set features a sofa (51 inches tall by 68 inches wide), two armchairs and two side chairs. The set, having a carved crest with overflowing cornucopia is expected to hammer for $40,000-$60,000.

Another lot that could reach or even exceed the $20,000 mark is an International Watch Company perpetual calendar 18kt rose gold men’s wristwatch (est. $10,000-$20,000). The spring drive, 64-jewel, 7-day automatic winding movement has a lever escapement, with balance wheel exposed through a clear sapphire glass back. The original leather alligator skin band is included.

Two lots from the lamps and lighting category have identical pre-sale estimates of $10,000-$15,000. One is a magnificent 16-arm bronze and onyx gas and electric chandelier, 5 feet high by 3 feet in diameter, with beautiful spiral and leaf decorated center post. The other is a 4-arm Cornelius & Baker figural gasolier, electrified, showing maidens holding floral bouquets.

Decorative accessories will include a porcelain and bronze Bombay casket, attributed to Sevres, 16 ½ inches tall by 16 inches wide, the body having four large painted panels showing playful winged putti (est. $10,000-$15,000); and a Royal Vienna porcelain top serving stand, 14 ½ inches tall, with a beehive mark and panels depicting Cupid and Venus (est. $6,000-$8,000).

A pair of furniture lots is expected to command $6,000-$8,000 each. The first is a pair of French rosewood marble-top credenzas, 45 inches tall by 47 inches wide, with the original finish. The second is a pair of J. H. Belter laminated rosewood side chairs having pierced carved backs with acorns and leaves, a floral cluster and a cornucopia.

The fine art category will feature a late 19th century oil on canvas painting, signed lower left “J. Alsina” (Spain), depicting a man standing in the shade with a camel, watching over a woman and child (est. $5,000-$7,500); and a Madonna Della Arpie porcelain plaque (KPM quality, but unsigned), depicting Madonna and child with two winged putti (est. $5,000-$7,500).

Bronzes will include a figural bronze grouping by Michel C. Clodion (Fr. 1738-1814), of a satyr family, with a nude mother satyr figure with hoofed feet, a child in her lap and an infant at her feet (est. $6,000-$8,000); and a primitive bronze figure of a hunter with his dog, rendered by Marcel Debut (Fr. 1865-1933), with a nice rich patina, 31 inches tall (est. $5,000-$7,500).

Also slated to be sold Jan. 11 will be a large and vibrant Tiffany blue iridescent leaf and vine art glass vase, with a silvered iridescent surface and purple highlights, signed L.C. Tiffany, 8 ½ high x 9 ¾ wide (est. $6,000-$8,000); and a standard grade, two-hinge Wooten desk (est. $5,000-$7,000). The fine two-door cabinet secretary has a Renaissance Revival carved gallery.

In addition to live and Internet bidding, phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Previews will be held on Friday, Jan. 10, from 10-5, and Saturday, Jan. 11, the date of sale, from 8-11 a.m. The auction will begin promptly at 11 a.m. (EST). Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, iCollector.com and Invaluable.com (the new name for Artfact.com).

With over 40 years in the auction business, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is a name that has earned the trust of collectors, investors and gallery owners worldwide. Cataloged lots receive nationwide exposure to the firm’s expansive database of over 17,000 qualified 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 consignments for future sales. The firm also buys antiques, estates & collections outright. To consign or sell your items, call (413) 448-8922 and ask for John Fontaine. Or, e-mail him at info@fontainesauction.com. For more information about the upcoming Jan. 11 auction, log on to www.FontainesAuction.com.

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