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French clocks

French clocks dominate Fontaine’s May 20 auction catalog

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
French clocks
French industrial steam engine clock, manufactured for the Chinese market, with an automaton driven by a spring motor in the rouge marble base. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery image

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Gorgeous French-made clocks will command center stage at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery on Saturday, May 20, when the firm conducts an antiques and fine art auction The sale will begin10 a.m. Eastern. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

The 325-lot auction will also feature 19th and 20th century lighting, fine watches, American oak and Victorian furniture, paintings, bronze and marble statuary, Royal Vienna, art glass, gold and diamond jewelry, fine silver, porcelains, KPM plaques, Black Forest, slot machines, phonographs, advertising items and decorative accessories.

Three lots share identical estimates of $15,000-$25,000 and are the expected top three earners. One is a French clock, not surprisingly: a French industrial steam engine clock (above), manufactured for the Chinese market. The automaton is driven by a spring motor in the clock’s rouge marble base. There is also a barometer with incised English words and Chinese characters and a thermometer.

The other two lots are a 19th century white marble sculpture by Cesare Lapini (Italian, 1848-1893), depicting a nude figure of Diana standing amid a crescent moon and stars, 43 inches tall and artist-signed; and a platinum and diamond ring, featuring a large four-prong set center diamond weighing around 3.37 carats (G color, SI2 clarity), in a platinum and iridium setting.

 

French clocks
Platinum and diamond solitary ring with a large 4-prong set center diamond weighing 3.37 karats (G color, SI2 clarity), in a platinum and iridium setting. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery image

 

Another unusual timepiece is a figural automaton clock (below) that features a standing figure of a Chinese man, who moves his arms eyes with the help of a start-stop switch. It even plays music (est. $10,000-$15,000).

 

French clocks
Figural automaton clock, 38 inches tall counting the ebonized base and glass dome. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery image

 

The furniture category will be led by an oak figural carved dining table with 60-inch diameter top having a beveled edge with leaf carved apron, in very good medium brown original finish (est. $15,000-$20,000). Also sold will be a rosewood Rococo Revival marble-top étagère with four original mirrored back panels with serpentine shelves, 80 1/2 inches tall (est. $5,000-$7,500).

Fans of Black Forest will be delighted to see several lots dedicated to the collectible, with two carrying estimates of $6,000-$8,000, both bear-themed benches. One is a figural carved bench with a pair of full standing bears having glass eyes and painted highlights. The other is similar, but with the two standing bears connecting to a third smaller bear using their outstretched paws.

Sculptures will include a carved marble figure of a woman seated on a stone formation, holding birds in both hands, 35 inches tall, signed “F Bottiglieri” (est. $8,000-$12,000.

 

French clocks
Nineteenth century white marble sculpture of Diana. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery image

 

A monumental relief-decorated bronze oval wall plaque with an autumn harvest scene and an allegorical nude figure of Demeter, 23 3/4 inches by 28 3/4 inches, should garner $7,500-$12,500; and a 14K gold sapphire and diamond bracelet having a center buckle design set with 10 oval blue sapphire cabochons and four old European-cut diamonds is expected to hit $5,000-$7,500.

French clocks
Relief-decorated wall plaque, oval, unsigned, with an autumn harvest scene and an allegorical nude figure of Demeter, 23 3/4 inches by 28 3/4 inches. Estimate: $7,500-$12,500. Fontaine’s Auction Gallery image

 

For more information contact Fontaine’s Auction Gallery at 413-448-8922 or info@fontainesauction.com.

 

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