MALVERN, Pa. - Asian objects will be sold alongside items from the Western culture in an autumn East Meets West auction slated for Friday, Oct. 2nd, by Gordon S. Converse & Company, in the firm’s gallery located at 57 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern. Over 500 lots, in a broad range of categories – East and West – will come up for bid, starting promptly at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

Offered will be antique clocks (including examples by makers such as Aaron Willard, Griffith Owen and Isaac Jackson); fine art paintings, miniatures and prints; furniture (including pieces by Nakashima, Wikkelsø and Noguchi); ships’ models; books; religious and tribal art; and Asian items, to include huanghuali and zitan furniture, porcelain, enamel, jade, screens and bronzes.

The worldwide mix of merchandise is especially pertinent now, in light of today's strong interest in Asian items, at price points that will appeal to nearly every level of collector. Items will range from a Qing Dynasty-era bronze Buddha, 6 inches tall, with an excellent gilt gold surface (est. $5,000-$8,000), to a lovely oval devotional piece depicting Madonna and Child (est. $20-$50).

A strong candidate for top lot of the sale promises to be a New England mahogany shelf clock, made circa 1825 and signed “Aaron Willard, Boston” (probably Aaron Willard, Sr., 1757-1844). The clock, boasting an eglomise dial mask, handsome case with gilt bronze paw feet, a round enamel painted concave dial and 8-day weight-driven movement, should hit $10,000-$20,000.

Clocks and Converse are practically synonymous in the field, and this auction has some beauties, to include a solid cherry and inlay decorated early Federal tall clock attributed to Isaac Jackson (Chester County, Pa.), 94 inches tall (est. $8,000-$10,000); and a walnut late 18th century Pennsylvania tall case clock attributed to Griffith Owen, 92 inches (est. $4,000-$6,000).

Additional clocks will feature a late Federal 8-day tall case clock signed “Osgood Haverhill” (John Osgood, 1795-1840, of Haverhill, N.H.), with a solid maple case, 97 inches in height (est. $2,500-$4,000); and An early 19th century 8-day banjo timepiece signed by the Boston maker William Cummens (1789-1834), who apprenticed under Simon Willard (est. 1,500-$2,500).

In addition to the Qing-era bronze Buddha, stars of the Asian category include a Ming Dynasty charger in a dark style with a flowing vine design, 15 inches in diameter (est. $800-$1,000); a fine lidded cylindrical (or cushion form) cloisonné box with elaborate decorations inside and out, 10 inches in diameter (est. $3,000-$4,000); and a set of three framed Chinese paintings, with a mountain scene in watercolor flanked by calligraphic banners, all on paper (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Also from Asia is a 19th century Chinese solid rosewood étagère, probably made for export, 62 ½ inches tall, carved and mortise and tenon joined (est. $3,500-$5,000); a pair of Qing 19th century zitan chairs with exceptional workmanship relief carving on the legs and skirts and a pierced back rest and arm rests showing vine-like foliates (est. $3,500-$4,500); and a Chinese watercolor painting album, presented in book form, with 10 examples of fine original art (est. $800-$1,200).

Of particular interest is a black walnut (and other hardwood) “captain’s chair” attributed to George Nakashima (Jap./Am., 1905-1990), with a wraparound armrest and backrest supported by nine turned spokes (est. $1,000-$1,500); an easy chair attributed to Phillip Lloyd Powell (Germantown, Pa., b. 1919), minus seat cushion (est. $600-$1,200); and a Danish Modern lounge chair with the original leather (est. $200-$400).

Original art will feature a 19th century oil portrait painting of George Washington, after Gilbert Stuart, with original gilt wood mask frame, 33 inches by 28 inches framed (est. $1,500-$2,500); an oil on canvas portrait of Charles Viscount Townsend, the early 18th century Secretary of State for Great Britain, probably from the 19th century (est. $800-$1,200); and an oil on canvas after Correggio (It., 1489-1534), The Madonna of the Rabbit, 14 inches by 12 inches (est. $200-$300).

Returning to Asian objects, two Chinese swords with identical estimates of $2,000-$3,000 will be sold as single lots. One is a Qing Dynasty sword with a silver sheath engraved with symbols joined with flowing foliate designs, including dragons. The other is a sword with silver scabbard, 37 inches in length. Also sold will be a zitan bed with raised carving throughout (est. $2,500-$4,000); and a large, sumptuously decorated export porcelain punch bowl (est. $300-$500).

Returning to clocks, lots will include a late 18th /early 19th century Massachusetts shelf timepiece in a Federal mahogany and inlay case with hand-painted “kidney” dial and 8-day weight-driven movement (est. $2,500-$4,000); a triple fuse rosewood chime clock of “library” size, featuring quarter-hour chiming on five gongs and hour strike (est. $800-$1,500); and an early 19th century pillar-and-scroll mahogany and reverse painted shelf clock by Seth Thomas (est. $800-$1,200).

Also sold on Oct. 2nd will be a green Rookwood art pottery vase, 8 ½ inches tall, with relief decoration of floral and organic qualities (est. $400-$600); an antique violin with bows and a case (est. $100-$200); a Martin Sigma DM-3 6-string acoustic guitar with carrying case (est. $150-$300); a pair of porcelain Lladro Thai dancers, a man and a woman, dancing in theater dress, 21 inches tall (est. $400-$600); and a pair of Modern storage cabinets (est. $300-$500).

Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Auctionzip, eBay Live and Bidsquare. Traffic is also being driven through the Converse website: AuctionsatConverse.com, as well as the Converse Auctions iPhone app. Previews will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, and Thursday, Oct. 1st, from 10-4 Eastern time.

Malvern is situated in eastern Pennsylvania, not far off I-76, north and west of Philadelphia. A buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases. Gordon Converse has been an antique gallery owner for over 30 years. He has also served as an appraiser on the hit series Antiques Roadshow.

Gordon S. Converse & Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or an entire collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004; or, you can send an e-mail to Todd Converse, at Todd@ConverseClocks.com.

For more information about Gordon S. Converse & Company and the Autumn East Meets West Gallery Sale on Friday, Oct. 2, please visit www.AuctionsatConverse.com. Updates are posted frequently.

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