PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Two rare and highly desirable E. Howard & Co. astronomical floor regulator clocks (a No. 43 and a No. 68) could conceivably combine to sell for $300,000 or more at Fontaine’s Auction Gallery’s big two-session clock and antique auction slated for Saturday, Nov. 14. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide absentee and Internet live bidding.
The No. 43 Howard clock (below), 105 inches tall, has a 14-inch reverse painted glass astronomical dial with a sweep minute hand and five-hour numbers, housed in a beautiful carved walnut floor standing case with shell carved crest over a figural maiden’s head (est. $150,000-$200,000).
The No. 68 clock, also 105 inches tall, features the original 14-inch painted metal dial, signed “E. Howard & Co.”, with a case in superb original finish but with a replaced crest (est. $75,000-$125,000). Both clocks boast brass eight-day, weight-driven, time only signed movements.
The action will get underway at 11 a.m. Eastern time, featuring more than 475 items.
A bronze animated locomotive industrial clock with a case in the form of a steam locomotive on a black marble base with gilt rails, a stick thermometer, a compass, an aneroid barometer and wheels that are animated by a spring-driven movement mounted under the train, should realize $25,000-$35,000.
Also sold will be English, French silk thread, industrial, mystery, annular and animated clocks, plus watches, chronometers, barometers and related accessories. The auction will not be dedicated exclusively to horology and timepieces, however. Also sold will be silver, paintings, furniture, estate jewelry and lamps by renowned makers such as Tiffany, Pairpoint, Handel and Duffner & Kimberly.
In addition to the Howards, one other clock in the sale has the pedigree that could launch it into the six figures. It’s a Chinese triple fusee animated bracket clock with 6-inch porcelain dial and black Roman hour numerals (est. $75,000-$125,000). The animated mechanism has horizontal and vertical rods simulating falling rain, plus carved wood acrobats that appear and disappear.
A George Jones (N.Y.) astronomical regulator with a 17-inch silvered dial with Roman hour numerals and top-quality brass 8-day weight-driven, time-only astronomical movement, all in a massive, heavily carved, floor-standing case, should bring $60,000-$80,000.
A star lot of the estate jewelry category promises to be a massive Cartier platinum and pave set diamond ring in the form of a panther cat with its tail wrapped around to form a size 9 ring band, and with a black onyx nose and emerald green eyes (est. $25,000-$30,000).
The fine art category will feature a lovely portrait of a young woman with flowers in her hair and clutching a rose, attributed to Jean-Marc Nattier (French, 1685-1766), in the frame 36 inches by 30 1/2 inches (est. $15,000-$25,000.
For details call 413-448-8922 and or email info@fontainesauction.com.