Watches, American glass are unexpected gems in Keno sale
The gilt brass drum-shape pendant watch appears to be an early case with a later (18th century style) custom-made movement. It has an engraved 24-hour dial with a single hand. The estimate is $2,000-$3,000. Image courtesy of Keno Auctions.
As appraisers for the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, the twins spotted a card table and identified it as the work of 18th-century craftsmen John and Thomas Seymour of Boston. Purchased at an estate sale by an elementary schoolteacher for $25, this masterpiece of American furniture making, sold for $541,000 at auction in 1998.
Now Leigh has his own auction house in New York and has put together a sale of Important Americana, Paintings, Furniture and Decorative Arts on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the start of Americana Week. While a Thomas Seymour card table is one of the headliners in the auction, the unexpected items are attracting many collectors.
A small but unique collection of 17th- to 19th-century pocket watches from the estate of Atlanta art patron George E. Missbach is drawing much attention to the auction, which will have Internet live bidding provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.
“Some of the watches that may appeal to collectors include lot 254, a handsome silver and tortoiseshell pair case pocket watch with sun and moon dial, circa 1700; lot 266, two pocket watches, a unique silver gilt pocket watch with three dials, circa 1860-1880, and a gilt and white enamel pocket watch with painted scene, circa 1880; and lot 268 consisting of two engraved silver pocket watches, the first a silver and engraved brass pair case pocket watch, early 18th century, and a silver quadruple case pocket watch with inner tortoiseshell case, circa 1820,” said Leigh Keno, president of Keno Auctions.
The pocket watches are grouped in lots 253-268.
Of the glassware, grouped in lots 164-174, much of the presale attention has been on the flasks.
A Colombia blown flask in clear with blue tint cornflower, 7 inches high by 4 inches wide, has 13 six-pointed stars in a semicircle above the bust on one side and a large American Eagle on the reverse. This rare flask from a Rhode Island family home has a $5,000-$10,000 estimate.
Colorful pieces include a pair of canary dolphin candlesticks (lot 167) made by the Boston and Sandwich Glass Co., 1845-1865 (est. $1,000-$1,500), and a Sandwich Star-pattern spoon holder/spill, which are paired with a covered sugar bowl in the Gothic Arch pattern, both blue, (est. $1,200-$1,800).
ADDITIONAL IMAGES OF NOTE
The gilt brass drum-shape pendant watch appears to be an early case with a later (18th century style) custom-made movement. It has an engraved 24-hour dial with a single hand. The estimate is $2,000-$3,000. Image courtesy of Keno Auctions.
This rare blown flask is clear glass having a blue tint and pictures a bust of Columbia on one side and an American Eagle on the reverse. The 7-inch-tall flask has a $5,000-$10,000 estimate. Image courtesy of Keno Auctions.
Dolphin candlesticks by Boston and Sandwich Glass Co. are favorites of early American glass collectors. These canary-colored candleholders are 10 1/2 inches high and have a $1,000-$1,500 estimate. Image courtesy of Keno Auctions.
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