Fontaine’s has eye on interior design at Sept. 22 auction

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – As children return to school and the leaves begin to change colors, fall is also the season when many people redecorate their homes or add special decorating touches. From offering statement designer pieces to architectural elements that will be the centerpiece of a room, Fontaine’s Auction Gallery will present an antiques and fine art auction on Saturday, Sept. 22, that offers much to anyone looking to redo a room or just add a few standout pieces. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

 This auction will feature 350 lots of fine goods, including American figural carved and Victorian furniture, 19th- and 20th-century lighting by Tiffany Studios, Duffner & Kimberly, Handel, Pairpoint, Moe Bridges, Wilkinson and Unique; choice clocks and watches, music boxes and jukeboxes and Royal Vienna and KPM porcelains as well as gold and diamond jewelry, fine silver, art glass and cameo glass, bronze and marble statuary, Black Forest items, and Asian and Russian items.

“While the curated look is among the biggest design trends this fall, we find our buyers care less about curating a look than buying pieces that speak to them and ones that sing with history, charm and quality,” said John Fontaine, owner of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “They are looking for striking antiques that can be whimsical or formal but above all are well-made and will enhance the look of their home.”

The auction action kicks off on a high note with Lot 1, a carved Carrera marble sculpture “Sogno D’Amore (Cupid Dreaming),” estimated at $20,000-$30,000. This elegant work of art portrays a sleeping figure of Cupid and a winged Psyche floating above. The work, signed C. Dazzi, stands 56½ inches tall.

Also guaranteed to make a statement in any home is a monumental figural carved walnut fireplace mantel ($15,000-$25,000), circa 1880, that measures 108½ by 81½ inches. The mantel includes two large standing figures of Atlas. The three-piece cast-iron back panel has a dark red-brown original finish. The mantel retains its original marble insert.

An unusual pierced and decorated bronze entryway ($20,000-$30,000) has a transom having spiral turned borders with four geometric quatrefoil decorated panels and filigree decorated panels with urns at the ends. The doorway (below), measuring 125½ by 111½ inches, has intricate decoration on the sides with pierced decorated filigree comprising individual cast and mounted pieces containing large standing winged angel figures over relief panels of figures rowing a ship and turned torchieres with garland, birds and baskets of flowers. The piece is made of heavy bronze and weighs several hundred pounds.

When it comes to decorating, fine table lamps and overhead lighting are among the most important pieces as lighting sets the mood of a room and when done right, blends functionality and style. Leading a highly curated selection in this auction is a pair of ornate gilt bronze 15-light chandeliers ($25,000-$35,000) with tapered and fluted center post with arrow feathers pointing from the top. Each has three figural maidens facing back to back and supporting large cornucopias hanging from ribbons mounted at the top cluster; the maiden’s tails are entwined and ending in a floral teardrop finial at the bottom, 51 by 32 by 27 inches.

Tiffany Studios is synonymous with decorative lighting and this sale features several of its most popular designs. Included are a 12-light Lily table lamp ($15,000-$20,000) standing 20¼ inches tall, having a bronze pond lily pad base with floral buds and 12 long tubular stems topped with gold iridescent art glass lily shades, and an Apple Blossom table lamp ($18,000-$22,000) having a 16-inch domical leaded shade decorated with 20 scattered pink apple blossoms and a bronze double scroll lamp base.

Pairpoint puffy lamps are also popular such as the Pairpoint Puffy Begonia table lamp ($15,000-$20,000) in this auction. The 14-inch puffy shade is reverse painted with large begonia flowers and leaves in bold reds, pinks, greens and yellows. Also highlighting fine lamps in the auction is a rare Fred Robertson Flambe pottery table lamp ($8,000-$12,000) with a 12-inch pottery shade having four inset leaded glass butterflies with golden yellow bodies and green and cranberry striated wings.

Leading the paintings category is an Antonio Jacobsen (American, 1850-1921) oil on Masonite board Kenilworth, a fine portrait of the four-masted ship ($8,000-$12,000), dating to 1891.

Jewelry is perennially popular at Fontaine’s and crossing the block will be a 3-carat diamond and 18K gold ring that features the large center stone surrounded by 19 pavé set diamonds on a horseshoe-shaped bezel ($12,000-$15,000) and a pair of Tiffany & Co. platinum and diamond earrings having floral pendants ($10,000-$15,000) with six platinum links, each earring containing 15 diamonds.

Rounding out the auction highlights is a pair of huanghuali signed armchairs ($10,000-$15,000) featuring a turned bent wood yoke crest rail with serpentine arms, an inset paneled seat, a T-back with a carved center panel, carved corbels and double stretchers on the sides. Both chairs have an inscribed signature under the seat panel and their enhanced original finish retains natural wear and patina.

The auction will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

For details contact Fontaine’s Auction Gallery: 413-448-8922 or info@fontainesauction.com.