BOSTON – Skinner, Inc. will auction nearly 600 lots of antique microscopes, compasses, watches, clocks and more on Saturday, July 16, 2011 at their Marlborough gallery, 274 Cedar Hill St., Marlborough, Massachusetts. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
Antique Microscopes, Compasses and Lathes
The event features the important early microscope collection of Serafino Avella, which includes pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. Examples range from simple botanical microscopes to sophisticated compound binocular microscopes. Also to be auctioned is an extensive assortment of more than 1,000 prepared microscope slides. Most are labeled by the preparer, and they are organized in fitted cabinets.
There are fine examples of surveying compasses, including lot 183, an 18th-century compass made in New England by John Dupee. The intricately detailed, walnut compass is estimated to sell between $1,500 and $2,500.
A truly unique item is lot 212, one of the most complete ornamental turning lathes to come on the market in many years. These sophisticated early machines could create all manner of complicated forms and elaborate designs. This Holtzapffel & Deyerlein ornamental turning lathe was made in London around 1827. It has a mahogany bench with foot treadle, flywheel and drawers below the iron bed. The tall chest has shelves fitted to store accessories, many of which are included. The lower doors store 36 turning tools marked “Holtzapffel,” with handles of rosewood and other rare woods. Auction estimates for this piece range from $15,000 to $25,000.
Timepieces: Antique Clocks and Watches
The auction will include many timekeeping devices. The watch featured on the back cover of the catalog, lot 312, is a Patek Philippe & Co., chronograph register 18K gold hunter case watch. Made in Geneva, Switzerland in 1882, this piece features an 18K rose gold case with PPC mark which opens to reveal the enamel dial marked “M. Scooler, New Orleans, No. 6521.” The inside rear lid is engraved “Presented by Friends Dec. 25, 95,” the cuvette is engraved “No. 65214 Made to Order for M. Scooler, 105 Canal Street, New Orleans La, by Patek Philippe & Co. Geneva.” This lot is accompanied by an “Extract from the Archives” from Patek Philippe dated Dec. 11, 2009, providing the details of date of manufacture. The auction estimate ranges from $40,000 to $60,000.
Another noteworthy watch is lot 315, made around 1862 by the American Watch Co., of Waltham, Massachusetts. This 18K gold watch was presented by Abraham Lincoln to David Dudley Field. Field met Lincoln in Chicago in 1847 while a member of the “Barnburner” Democratic Party. By 1856 Field and Lincoln had both become Republicans. A member of a distinguished family, Field was often on opposite sides of the political discourse with Lincoln, but obviously highly respected as an advisor and frequent visitor to Lincoln at the White House. This watch is presented in its original rosewood box and has an auction estimate ranging from $30,000 to $50,000.
There are many unique and high-quality antique clocks set for sale. Lot 331 is especially interesting; it is the only known 90-day duration (i.e. it only requires winding every three months) wall clock, and the only wall clock known with “Fay’s escapement.” Made by E. Howard & Co., Boston, circa 1858, the walnut clock features Fay’s patented escapement mounted on the front. Henry C. Fay of Troy, New York, patented his “walking pawl” or “silent” escapement on May 11, 1858. The auction estimate for this unique piece ranges from $80,000 to $120,000.
From a wonderful collection of early Connecticut clocks comes lot 333, a Curtis & Clark spring-powered shelf clock made in Plymouth, Connecticut circa 1825. Its mahogany case with carved columns flanking the painted iron dial is signed Curtis & Clark, Plymouth, Conn. The clock has Arabic numerals and reverse-painting on its glass. According to Chris H. Bailey in “Heman Clark and the ‘Salem Bridge’ Shelf Clocks,” NAWCC Bulletin Supplement No. 13, 1980, pp. 22-26, Heman Clark undoubtedly designed and made the prototype for the Connecticut spring-powered shelf clock. An 1824 contract extant outlines the production of 200 of these clocks. Few survive to this day. This example was owned by the late Kenneth Roberts and was displayed for many years at the American Clock and Watch Museum, Bristol, Connecticut during his tenure as Director. The auction estimate ranges from $15,000 to $25,000.
For additional information on any lot in the sale, call 508-970-3000.
View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
