PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Two Chinese animated bracket clocks – one a rare two-sided model, the other a triple fusee example – are expected to sell for $50,000-$100,000 each at Fontaine's Auction Gallery's cataloged antique and clock auction scheduled for Saturday, February 27th , in the firm's gallery at 1485 Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

The two-sided clock, which is set up for two time zones, has a Chinese theme on one side and a Western theme on the other. Both sides have 6-inch porcelain dials. The gilt bronze clock has an animated, two-tier revolving carousel of figures at the top, rotating clockwise. The upper tier has a border of red and clear rhinestones, a palm tree umbrella that opens to expose the upper figures, plus glass rods resembling a fountain.

The triple fusee clock, housed in a carved teak wood bracket case, is in beautiful condition, with the original finish. It has a series of rods that rotate, emulating falling rain, while a row of ducks swim right to left in the front. All the while, a pair of carved wood Chinese acrobat figures on a platform appear from behind one door and disappear behind another door, as they dance and flip.

The auction will feature more than 500 quality lots, including antique clocks from several fine collections and private estates, antique furniture (by renowned makers such as John H. Belter, J. & J. W. Meeks and R.J. Horner), watches, chronometers, barometers, lamps, fine art glass, historical and political items, toys, banks, estate oil paintings, statuary, musical items and more.

The clocks will include makers such as E. Howard & Co., Seth Thomas, Ansonia, Ithaca, Elmer O. Stennes, Foster Campos, Chelsea, Atkins, Walter Durfee, J.J. Elliot, Waltham, Wm. Gilbert, F. Kroeber, New Haven, Waterbury, Eli Terry, E. N. Welch, E. Ingraham, Tiffany & Company, Sessions and LeCoultre. Sold will be French silk thread clocks, industrial clocks, mystery clocks, annular clocks, annular and animated clocks, English fusee clocks and more – a broad selection.

Clock collectors and horologists will instantly recognize the name E. Howard & Co. (Boston). They are a staple at many Fontaine's auction and this sale is no exception. Examples include a street post clock so stately and large (140 inches tall) it will only be available for pick-up by the buyer from the estate location (est. $15,000-$25,000); and a No. 82 grandfather clock, also quite impressive in size at 100 inches tall and housed in a fine mahogany case (est. $10,000-$15,000).

A full-sized violin by Giovanni Battista Ceruti of Italy dated 1801, with two bows, sporting an amber finish with nice patina and contained in a suspension case, is expected to change hands for $25,000-$50,000. From the fine art category, a fine quality watercolor study of a familiar scene by the renowned Western artist Frederic Remington (Am., 1861-1909), titled A Dash for the Timber (1889), of two riders shooting over their shoulders, should hammer for $15,000-$25,000.

Keeping with artwork, two fine sculptures are expected to do well. One is a carved white marble double figure sculpture attributed to Henry Spencer Moore (Br., 1898-1986), with gray striations, unsigned, 19 ½ inches tall, should garner $10,000-$15,000; while a bronze sculpture by Dimitri Chiparus (Rom./Fr., 1886-1947), titled Fille au Pyjama (Girl in Pajamas), of a girl standing in her pajamas, stretching as if waking up, 18 ½ inches tall, is expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000.

Tiffany lamps and lighting are always a big hit. Expected star lots will include an exceptional bronze and art glass chandelier with 7 stalactite Favrile glass shades, 53 inches tall, with excellent brown patina (est. $25,000-$40,000); a banded Dogwood table lamp, 27 inches tall, with 18-inch signed domical shade (est. $25,000-$35,000); and a Moorish-style oil font table lamp with an excellent 15-inch bronze wire frame shade and inscribed on the base with the President’s Trophy, Cranford Golf Club (NJ), Season 1905, Golf Class A, Won By Horace Rawlins,1905 golf club presentation (est. $8,000-$12,000).

Leading the furniture category is a 14-piece griffin-carved mahogany dining set with a large rectangular dining table having a gadrooned carved top edge, and 12 carved mahogany chairs with leather seats from Historic Barnes Hiscock Mansion in Syracuse, New York with Provenance to U.S. President Wm. A. Taft, designed by J.L. Sillsbee architect. (est. $30,000-$50,000). Two lots expected to fetch $8,000-$12,000 are a three-piece R. J. Horner carved mahogany parlor set with sofa and armchair and a matching side chair; and a pair of early John H. Belter Fountain Elms pierce-carved laminated rosewood armchairs.

Returning to clocks, a mahogany one-year Biedermeier Laterndluhr wall regulator with signed 9-inch porcelain dial, black Roman hour numerals and a sub-seconds dial, all in a fine mahogany Laterndluhr-style case with striped inlays, should breeze to $20,000-$30,000; and a George Jones astronomical floor regulator with massive 17-inch bronze astronomical dial with sweep minute hand, in a beautiful 92-inch-tall walnut case, is expected to hammer for $15,000-$25,000.

Swinger clocks are also popular with bidders. Offered will be a rare Houdin glass dial mystery swinger clock with a signed, 7-inch beveled glass dial and pierced-decorated and engraved gilt hands with counter balance and small mystery escapement and pendulum (est. $10,000-$15,000); and a large French mystery swinger clock by George Maxim, titled Idylle Printaniere (Idylls of Spring), showing two figures seated in a swing suspended from two trees (est. $8,000-$12,000).

A French industrial animated clock on a marble base, with a brass and black metal case in the form of an early automobile, with the driver's side of the cab having a 2-inch porcelain clock dial and silvered engraved barometer dial, should rise to $20,000-$30,000; while a French marble and bronze animated Wallace fountain clock with two-tone case in the form of a tower, and a cupola top having a fish scale pattern, dolphin finial and figural maidens, should bring $8,000-$12,000.

Fans of silver will not be disappointed. Top lots will feature a large, oval-footed Gorham sterling silver vegetable tureen with Kirk tray, monogrammed on the front (“G.L.C.”) and on the back with the date (1906), weighing 76.7 troy ounces, should command $5,000-$7,000; and a pair of Russian repousse silver cup holders, depicting a kneeling man playing his instrument, carrying the Cyrillic maker's mark for Mikhail Ovchinnikov (1885), are expected to reach $4,500-$6,500.

For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Previews will be held on Friday, February 26th, from 10-5, and Saturday, February 27th, the date of sale, from 8 a.m. until the first gavel falls promptly at 11 a.m. See the website for terms and conditions, plus info on how to register to bid: www.FontainesAuction.com.

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 the 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, Feb. 27th auction, please visit www.FontainesAuction.com. Updates are posted often.

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