Kicking off the new year with something old is a hallowed tradition for antique aficionados, and Fontaine’s Auction Gallery will present an auction on Saturday, January 18, at 11 am, which will offer something for every collecting interest.

This auction will feature 400 lots of antiques, art glass, fine art and lighting, including art glass by Tiffany Studios, Steuben and Quezal, 19th and 20th Century lighting by Tiffany Studios, Duffner & Kimberly, Handel, Pairpoint, Wilkinson, Unique and Suess, cameo glass, leaded glass windows, fine clocks and music boxes, paintings, Royal Vienna and KPM porcelains, gold and diamond jewelry, fine silver, bronze and marble statuary, Black Forest items, plus related accessories. 

Highlighting the sale will be the Pairpoint lamp collection of longtime collectors Ed and Sheila Malakoff, who wrote the definitive book, Pairpoint Lamps, published in 1990. The highly curated selection of 50 lamps in this auction came from their personal collection. Also crossing the block here is the lifetime collection of Leo Woldon of Sedro Woolley, Washington, including over 300 pieces of art glass, lighting and paintings.

“Ed and Sheila were inveterate collectors with a deep passion and knowledge of Pairpoint lamps. The lamps offered here are ones they lived with at home and kept all the while selling many others over the years,” said John Fontaine, owner of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “The auction is diverse across the board and features rare and stellar items from top designers like Tiffany, Pairpoint, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Steuben.”

Pairpoint lamps have long enchanted collectors since they were first made in New Bedford, Mass., in the early 1900s. The Malakoffs’ lavishly-illustrated book detailed dozens of varieties of lamps, including puffy, ribbed, scenic, chandeliers, non-electrified, and floor lamps; several types of which are represented in this sale.

The auction kicks off with lot 1, a scarce Pairpoint Puffy “Owl” table lamp ($25/40,000) that is one of only a few known examples. The grey and white crouching snow owl perches on a branch over green foliage and pine needles and has golden-colored eyes and a brown beak. The lamp stands 21½ inches tall.

Other desirable examples from the Malakoffs’ collection are a Pairpoint Puffy “Orange Tree” table lamp ($15/20,000) with a signed Pairpoint reverse painted blown-out shade featuring butterflies, leaves, oranges and orange blossoms, 24 inches tall; a Pairpoint Puffy “Apple Tree” table lamp ($10/15,000) with butterflies and bumblebees against a background of apples and apple blossoms, 25½ inches tall; and a Pairpoint “Lucca” 12-inch Dragonfly hanging lamp ($5/7,500).

Tiffany has long been a leading competitor to Pairpoint and for collectors today, these two brands represent the highest quality of lamps. Represented in this auction will be several lamps and decorative items from Tiffany, led by a Tiffany Studios “Peony Border” floor lamp ($125/175,000) having a large domical leaded glass shade with a vibrant band of pink and red peonies surrounded by mottled green, red and amber leaves and stems. The upper portion of the shade has tapering geometric panels of green and pink striated glass. The signed lamp stands 77 inches tall overall, including the cap. 

Tiffany goods continue across the block with a Tiffany Studios dichroic geometric table lamp ($15/25,000), 27 inches tall, having a leaded glass shade with green mottled glass panels, which change to fiery amber when lit; and a large and rare Tiffany Studios Favrile glass decorated vase ($10/15,000) decorated with leaves, vines and flowers that has an unusual green and gold speckled iridescence with highlights of platinum, 13 inches tall.

European paintings lead the way in the fine art category, including a Henry Moret (French, 1856-1913) oil on canvas landscape, “Falaises, côte de Bretagne (Cliffs, Coast of Brittany),” ($60/80,000), that depicts waves crashing into the rocky cliffs of the Brittany Coast, 32 by 49 inches (framed), and a Leopold Carl Muller (German, 1834-1892) oil on canvas of a city square scene ($30/50,000), 41½ by 58 inches framed. A top American entry across the block is an oil on canvas by Elliott Daingerfield (American, 1859-1932) titled “Across the Pond” ($10/15,000), 32 by 33 inches framed.

Rounding out the auction will be a pair of six-arm bronze gasoliers attributed to Cornelius and Baker ($20/30,000) having floral, filigree and draping designs and the fixture measures 48 inches tall; a scenic animated porcelain and bronze clock ($10/15,000) with a detailed fenced-in farm scene with miniature porcelain farm animals and figures; and a Van Cleef & Arpels 18K gold lady’s watch ($8/12,000) in 18K gold with a mother of pearl dial and Swiss movement.

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 24,000 select buyers. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery has been voted “Best Antique Auction Gallery” eight times 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 the January 18, 2020 auction.

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 email to info@fontainesauction.com. For more information about the company and the upcoming auction schedule, visit www.fontainesauction.com. Updates are posted frequently.

Fontaine’s Auction Gallery is located at 1485 West Housatonic Street (Route 20), Pittsfield, Mass. For more information, visit www.FontainesAuction.com or call 413-448-8922.