ROANOKE, Ala. – A rare and beautiful laminated rosewood bed, made around 1850 by John Henry Belter and with the original finish, sold for $33,350 at a multi-estate sale held June 21 by Grand View Antiques & Auction.

The bed, in excellent condition and with seventeen layers of lamination, featured a raised border ending in C-scrolls and fleurs-de-lis. It was the top lot of about 250 lots sold.

With more than 125 bidders in attendance and more than double that bidding online, the sale is considered a great success by all involved.

“This sale was absolutely packed with high-quality merchandise, from several prominent estates and some consignments up North,” said Jim Sloan of Grand View Antiques & Auction. “I was amazed at all the pure, original pieces, in remarkable condition. The demand was high and the prices reflected that. The good merchandise brought good money. The mid-level items pretty much held their own.”

Some highlights from the sale include:

• A Victorian four-piece half tester bedroom suite (circa 1880) from the Opulent Period — with a bed; a marble-top and mirrored dresser and washstand; and a two-door wardrobe – structurally sound and with the original finish, soared to $21,275. Also, a signed American Gothic Empire mahogany Mitchell & Rammelsberg bedroom suite (circa 1860), with leaf and scroll carved crest, made $10,925.



• An American Renaissance Revival walnut bookcase (circa 1870), with raised burl panels and architectural carved detail, 92 inches tall and with good original finish, sold to a floor bidder for nearly double the pre-sale high estimate, bringing $14,375. Also, a pair of rare Victorian gilt-carved over-the-mantel mirrors (circa 1860), with a floral and urn decorated crest and in great shape, rose to $13,800.



• A French bronze annular clock – a 22-inch tall globe-shaped revolving dial clock supported by cherubs on a marble base and with a movement signed L. Auricoste of Paris – went for $9,775. Also, a 19th-century French porcelain-lidded urn with courting scene, possibly Sevres, changed hands for $4,657; and a period Italian Rococo pedestal with fruit and figural carvings (circa 1800) made $2,760.
• A John Henry Belter rosewood laminated settee in the Henry Clay pattern (circa 1850), 45 inches high x 62 inches long, with the original finish, realized $8,970; a John Henry Belter rosewood laminated side chair in the Henry Clay pattern (circa 1850), with a good original patina, hit $4,600; and a pair of American Rococo carved walnut corner cabinets (circa 1860), 77 inches tall, reached $4,312.
• A Victorian bronze statue of a horse-drawn chariot on a marble base by U. Checa, with the Black Star & Frost foundry mark and presented to Eddie Rickenbacker (the World War I flying ace and founder of Eastern Airlines), sold to a Russian collector for $8,337; and an oil-on-canvas painting by Joseph Malachy Kavanagh (Irish, 1856-1918), titled “Merry Tavern Scene,” 20” x 24”, fetched $5,750.

Collectors turned out in force to bid on a wonderful collection of rare glassware pieces, as seven lots, all attributed to Moser and crafted circa 1870, hammered for over $14,000 collectively. Highlights included a museum-quality, hand-blown enameled wine glass stemware set in excellent condition ($3,680); and a hand-blown enameled water glass stemware set, with no chips or cracks at all ($3,565).

• Also from the Moser group: another hand-blown enameled wine glass stemware set, museum quality and in excellent condition ($3,335); a hand-blown enameled champagne glass stemware set, in excellent condition ($2,645); a hand-blown enameled cordial glass stemware set, museum quality and in excellent condition ($1,150); and a hand-blown enameled glass sherbet bowl set, excellent ($1,265).
• An antique mahogany dolphin carved dining table in the Classical Empire style (circa 1880), with a pedestal base surrounded by dolphins and resting on gilded claw feet, extending to 97 inches with four original leaves, commanded $4,715; and a rare American Empire mahogany sofa attributed to J. & J.W. Meeks (circa 1840), in original finish and condition, 81 inches long, hammered for $3,910.
• Rounding out the top lots, a pair of Victorian brass banquet candelabras (circa 1890), 39 inches high, with urn-shaped base with graduated tiers having crystal prisms, went to an online bidder for $4,140; and an Empire mahogany mirrored console table (circa 1890), 36 inches high x 44 inches wide, with an ogee-shaped skirt with scroll carved columns and feet, gaveled for a very respectable $1,840.

Grand View Antiques & Auction’s next big sale will be held Saturday, September 13, beginning at 1 p.m. Included will be a collection of period and Victorian antiques from estates in South Carolina, New Jersey, Georgia and Alabama. Featured items will include several bed sets, a Pottier & Stymus half tester bed, parlor furniture, a period Chinese Chippendale server and two urn-shaped knife boxes. Visit the Grand View website for details and photos at www.grandviewauction.com. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, call (334) 863-6040. Or e-mail them at info@grandviewauction.com.

All prices include a 15% buyer’s premium.