American cut glass posts brilliant results for Woody Auction

KANSAS CITY – A museum-quality Dorflinger cranberry cut to clear glass ewer soared to $75,000 at a sale featuring two major collections of American Brilliant Cut Glass, held Nov. 18 by Woody Auction. It was the final major cut glass auction of the year for Woody Auction, which is based in Douglass, Kan. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.

“It’s refreshing to see that quality glass still commands strong interest,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction, describing a sale in which 10 lots sold for $10,000 or more, 17 lots sold for between $5,000 and $10,000 and 61 lots sold for between $1,000 and $5,000. Nearly 375 lots came up for bid. About 65 bidders attended the auction in person, while 246 registered and approved bidders bid online.

The Dorflinger ewer (above) was the undisputed star lot of the auction. The 17-inch-tall ewer boasted an extensive pattern and embossed sterling silver base by Redlich & Co. of New York City. A matching ewer, only in green, is on display at the Dorflinger Museum. A set of red and green such ewers, either 12 of each or 12 total, was commissioned for the wedding of William K. Vanderbilt to Virginia Graham Fair in 1899.

The auction was co-headlined by the American Brilliant Cut Glass collections of Tom Grabb of Indiana and Bill Chandler of Tennessee. These include many rare patterns including Pueblo, Waldorf, Bellevue, Crystal City, Atom, Rex, and others. Following are additional highlights from the no-reserves auction, where all lots sold regardless of price. All figures quoted are hammer prices.

The runner-up top lot was an American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) round tray, signed Hawkes and in the Pueblo pattern, also known as the Concentric Circles pattern, 11 inches diameter ($24,000). That was followed by a fantastic ABCG pedestal punch bowl in the Stars and Stripes pattern by Sinclaire (below), with a hobstar foot and the finest quality blank, 9 inches in height and 14 ½ inches diameter ($14,000).

Lots 111 and 112 were both red cut to clear wine glasses, signed “Fritsche” and offered as individual lots, and they gaveled for identical selling prices of $11,000 each. The 5 ¾-inch-tall stems were in the Webb Rock Crystal pattern and made specifically for Daniel J. Sully accompanied by photocopied correspondence from Thomas Webb & Sons. Bidders were drawn to the two glasses’ outstanding color.

Another superb cranberry cut to clear ABCG wine glass – this one in the Parisian pattern by Dorflinger – hammered for $9,000. It was a cut stem of the highest quality and had a fine, scalloped base. Also, a group of five solid cased ruby ABCG wine glasses in a spiral pattern by Dorflinger (below), each 4 ½ inches tall showing fantastic color and a scalloped ray cut base, saw spirited bidding before finishing at $27,500.

Two very different lots posted the same selling prices of $9,500. One was an exceptional ABCG pedestal rose bowl in the Croesus pattern by J. Hoare, with outstanding quality and heavy blank. The other was a round ABCG tray, 13 inches in diameter, signed Tuthill in the Rex pattern, superbly cut.

A set of four claret ABCG glasses in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, each one 5 inches tall and with a scalloped hobstar petticoat base and extra nice blanks, finished at $13,000. Also, a 10 ¼-inch-tall ABCG claret jug (below) in a hobstar, swirled tusk, clear bar and fan motif, comprising a fine Gorham sterling repousse spout, lid and handle, an example of the highest quality, breezed to $9,000.

The glass pattern of the claret jug just described matched the 7-inch-tall ABCG cider pitcher (below) in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey with a pattern cut handle, a piece of excellent quality, with deep cutting and outstanding blank. It fetched $8,000. Also, a set of four 6 ¼-inch-tall ABCG water goblets, also in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, each with an outstanding Hobstar petticoat base, hit $13,000.

The sale also featured a set of four saucer Champagne glasses, all in the Wedgemere pattern by Libbey, showing wonderful clarity ($10,000); a solid green Rhine wine glass (below), Webb Rock crystal cut in the historical pattern of the Gary set, featuring a dragon and floral motif ($9,500); and a set of five yellow cut to clear ABCG wine glasses in the Russian pattern, all with star cut buttons ($13,000).

For details contact Woody Auction at 316-747-2694 or email info@woodyauction.com.