This 1947 Buick Woody Super 8 Roadmaster, garaged for decades and in remarkable shape, will be among the items up for bid in a weekend antique auction slated for Nov. 19-20 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates.

FLAT ROCK, N.C. – A pair of remarkable estates, plus hundreds of other fresh-to-the-market consignments—including many canine, equestrian, hunting and sporting paintings, watercolors, lithographs and etchings and hundreds of dog, horse and animal figurines—will cross the block at a weekend antique auction slated for Nov. 19-20 by Richard D. Hatch & Associates.

The sale will be conducted in the firm’s spacious gallery, located at 913 Upward Road in Flat Rock. Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

One of the estates is that of Jeanne Millett, who was born in England in 1922 and moved to this country with her family at age 11. For her 16th birthday, her father gave her a field-type English Setter dog, and thus began a lifelong love affair with that dog, the breed in general and eventually all creatures great and small. Her collections reflected that love until her death in July.

An original watercolor painting of a stagecoach scene by Harold Breul, done in 1936.

An original watercolor painting of beagles and hunters, executed by H. Murray.

Millett’s estate includes many canine, equestrian, hunting and sporting paintings, watercolors, lithographs and etchings; hundreds of dog, horse and animal figurines (by makers such as Dahl Jensen, Rosenthal, Herend, Royal Doulton, Beswick, Hutschenreuther and others); and animal bronzes and books. But there is one more item, kept in the family garage for decades.

That item is a 1947 Buick Woody Super 8 Roadmaster. It had been Millett’s father’s car, and she couldn’t bear to part with it. Hatch found it after going through the house and viewing an already amazing inventory.

“After 32 years in the auction business, it takes a lot to excite me,” Hatch said, “and that Woody, all covered with dust and spider webs, excited me.”

The other major estate is that of James Blackwell, a name familiar to folks in the cut glass associations. Over the course of his lifetime, Blackwell amassed an incredible collection of American Brilliant Cut Glass, widely known as ABCG and enormously popular with collectors. Blackwell’s fine ABCG collection is mostly signed, with superb patterns, shapes and forms.

An American Brilliant Cut Glass tray, circa 1900-1910, in excellent condition.

An American Brilliant Cut Glass gourd-shaped vase, circa 1900-1910, in excellent condition.

Over the course of his lifetime, Blackwell gathered examples by the greatest names in fine cut glass: Fry, Webb, Tuthill, Clark, Dorflinger, Libbey, Hawkes, Sinclaire, Hoare, the Unger brothers, Pairpoint and more. Now, with the occasion of his passing, Blackwell’s collection will be sold to the highest bidder. Glass collectors, mark your calendars.

“Per the wishes of these two individuals, upon their deaths, each one wanted me to find new owners for their cherished possessions,” Hatch said. “I am always honored when past customers name my firm to find new homes for the items they so loved.”

Bidders will be able to preview items on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 18-19, from 1-6 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9:30-11 a.m.

Other items from prominent estates and collections in the area that will also cross the block include lots of sterling silver and silver-plate (to include trophies, flatware, servers and more), a wonderful collection of inkwells and fountain pens, fine estate jewelry (to include diamonds, sapphires, emeralds and rubies), Art Deco, pocket watches and Rolex wristwatches.

Also sold will be pearls, many Oriental items, Persian rugs (from mats to room size), Art Deco Chinese Nichols rugs, fine furniture, china services, fine porcelains, a collection of Heisey with equestrian decor, lamps, fine clocks, steins, andirons and fireplace tools, early pistols, an Indian collection, art pottery (to include Roseville and Rookwood), coins, postcards and more.

A Royal Doulton porcelain setter, striking a point pose, one of many dog figures in the sale.

Millett’s love for dogs and horses cannot be overstated. She had many field trial wins with her first English Setter and had similar success with Beagles. But her greatest success came in the breed ring. She won countless Best of Breeds, Best of Groups and Best in Show awards. Her English Setter “Dirk” was crowned the top nationwide dog in its breed two years in a row.

The first horse Millett owned was a young Morgan that she learned how to ride by reading a book on how to break a horse. Her second horse was a saddle-bred filly she got in New Hampshire. She named the horse Charm and it followed her wherever she went, more like a dog than a horse. One day she heard about a carriage driving horse and yet another passion was born.

Collecting sporting art was more than just a hobby for Millett. After her handling days were over, she often set up lovely and fascinating sales booths at the bigger dog shows. She was known for having just the right and unique piece to complete or start a collection. Later in life, she relocated to Tryon, N.C., where she was a proud member of the Carolina Carriage Club.

A 10-percent buyer’s premium will be applied to all in-house sales, 15 percent on all Internet purchases via LiveAuctioneers.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. A full catalog, showing photos of all items to be sold, in full color, will be posted on the Richard D. Hatch & Associates Web site about one week prior to the auction.

For more information about this auction, 828.696.3440 or e-mail to hatchauctioninfo [at] yahoo [dot] com.

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This stunning Tiffany & Co. Favrille glass 3-handled vase brought $62,100 in a two-day auction hosted by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales on Sept. 17-18. It was the top lot of the sale.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – A stunning, early 20th-century Tiffany & Company Favrile lava glass three-handled vase soared to $62,100 at a two-session multi-estate auction dedicated to Fine Wine and Fine & Decorative Arts held Sept. 17-18 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales.

The vase was the top lot in a sale that saw more than 100 fine wine lots change hands on Sept. 17 and some 550 lots cross the block the following day. Overall, the auction grossed $750,000.

Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd. remarked that Asian objects, estate jewelry, fine art and ceramics were all strong performers in the sale, while English and American furniture prices (which aren’t being as rewarded financially due to tepid demand) didn’t do quite as well. “But even there,” he added, “we saw exceptions at the top level of merchandise. In the end, quality will override a soft market.”

He cited as an example an American Classical stencil-decorated center table, made in the 1820s, mahogany with mahogany veneers, attributed to Deming & Bulkley, New York cabinet makers. It went for $9,200, about triple the high estimate. Also, a Renaissance-style American marble-top buffet, made around the 1870s, walnut with poplar and pine, also did well at $4,140.

The Tiffany vase was the undisputed star lot of the auction, wowing bidders with its organic baluster form and rich gold overlay on a bluish-purple body. Another Tiffany decorated Favrile glass vase, baluster form with a green ground and pulled gold decoration, made $7,475, while a signed Daum Nancy French art glass low vase with nice forest scene garnered $3,680.

Online bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.

Following are additional highlights from the sale (all prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium):

This watercolor-on-ivory portrait miniature of Dr. Alexander Baron by Charles Fraser sold for $14,950.

• Americana did very well. A watercolor-on-ivory portrait miniature of Dr. Alexander Ladson Baron (1810-1842) by Charles Fraser (S.C., 1782-1860) fetched $14,950; an oil-on-panel portrait of Alexander Hamilton by William J. Weaver (1759-1817) brought $9,200; a 1773 letter signed by Patrick Henry hit $3,450; and ship’s papers signed by James Madison realized $1,035.

• From the European art category, an unsigned oil-on-canvas portrait of James Lockhart by Sir Henry Raeburn (Br., 1756-1823), in a gilt wood frame, achieved $12,650; an original oil-on-canvas by German painter Carl Triebel (1823-1885), depicting Lake Brienz in Switzerland, rose to $5,290; and a 19th-century Italian School oil-on-canvas of Aphrodite and Adionis made $2,185.

• Bronzes also hit the mark, with lots such as a work titled “L’Eclipse,”, by Emmanuel Villanis (Fr., 1858-1914), with a deep brown patina ($9,200); a nude titled “Vingt Ans (Twenty Years Old),” by Raoul Larche (Fr., 1860-1912), signed on the base and originally retailed by Tiffany ($2,645); and an equestrian work by Peggy Kauffman (Am., 20th century), signed and numbered ($2,070).

This Art Deco diamond and sapphire bracelet made circa 1930s reached $12,075.

• Fine estate jewelry was a strong feature category in the Sept. 18 session. An Art Deco diamond and sapphire bracelet made in the 1930s brought $12,075; a diamond solitaire ring with a stone weighing 5.56 carats set in platinum peaked at $41,400; a magnificent mid-to-late 20th-century diamond brooch went for $7,188; and a platinum and diamond cut bracelet (Jewelsmith, 1998) also made $7,188.

• Export porcelain and Asian objects featured a woodblock in colors by Hasui Kawase (Jap., 1883-1957), titled “Zojoji Temple” ($6,325); a pair of 19th-century Chinese Export porcelain hexagonal form tall vases ($3,680); a pair of Famille Rose bowls with Fencai glaze, Republican period ($3,450); and a 19th-century Chinese Export porcelain Famille Rose floor vase ($3,220).

This rare, intact set of 10 Canton porcelain nesting bowls with figural scenes on each, sold for $5,060.

• Asian porcelains also included a rare set of 10 fully intact Canton porcelain nesting bowls, each decorated with a different figural scene ($5,060); a pair of Chinese Qing Dynasty ivory plaques, both etched and colored with figural and landscape depictions ($1,725); and a Chinese tin-wrapped teapot from the Qing Dynasty, angular form with ceramic body ($1,265).

• European porcelain performed well, too. A bisque figure of the Barberini Faun by 19th-century artist Volpato (after the antique by Barberini), impressed with an artist’s mark to the base, breezed to $5,520, while a gorgeous Meissen figural group with seven figures on a rocky outcropping with a musical theme and a bottom with under glaze blue crossed swords hit $2,530.

• Sterling offerings were led by creations by Georg Jensen. These included a pair of Jensen sterling compotes with applied grape design and circular footed base ($6,037), and a Jensen silver pitcher with ebony handle, ovoid body and beaded base ($4,830). Also, a fine set of four sterling candlesticks by Gorham of classic form with Corinthian capitals coasted to $2,645.

A beautiful circa 1820s mahogany American Classical stencil decorated center table achieved $9,200.

• Prices realized for European furniture from France weren’t flat at all. A pair of early 20th-century ormolu mounted arm chairs in the “Second Empire” style, beautifully crafted from mahogany and beech, climbed to $4,600, and a pair of carved eagle console tables made in the 19th century, with a mottled black marble top over an egg and dart molding, commanded $3,680.

• 20th century and modern pieces also held their own. A vintage Louis Vuitton trunk with the classic brown monogram canvas exterior brought $3,335; a bulbous form bottle vase with tapered neck by Peter Voulkos (Am., 1924-2002) hit $2,875; a teak rectangular form sideboard by Finn Juhl for Baker made $1,955; and a pair of vintage Barcelona chairs (1929) hit $1,322.

• Many wild and wonderful items that defied category crossed the block that weekend. A few examples include a Richardson’s New Map of the State of Texas (1860), colored lithograph, went for $4,140; a set of five illuminated Korans and Islamic prayer books from the 18th or 19th century brought $2,185; and an English wax portrait of Prince Leopold (circa 1816) hit $1,955.

As stated, the entire Sept. 17 session was dedicated to fine wine, a burgeoning genre of collecting that has been getting prominent attention at recent Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales auctions. “On a per-bottle basis, many lots sold for above the international average,” Little said. “We see that our wine department is strong and our prices are very competitive.”

• Top achievers included one lot of seven bottles of 1996 Chateau Mouton Rothschild from Pauillac, France ($2,185); one lot of three bottles of 1982 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion from Graves, France ($2,185); one lot of five bottles of 1980 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild from Pauillac, France ($1,725); and two bottles of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, from 1981 and 1988 ($1,495).

For more information about this auction, call 919.644.1243, e-mail to info [at] LLAuctions [dot] com or visit the Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Web site.

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“We spent 10 very successful and productive years at our previous location on South Nash Street,” said Leland Little of Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., “but this new gallery is a wonderful venue for showcasing fine and decorative arts. We are offering a professional and safe environment for buyers and sellers to view items from our regional collections that come to market.”

The June 13-14 sale will be preceded by a week-long preview at the new facility—located at 620 Cornerstone Court in Hillsborough, N.C.—highlighted by an Opening Night Gala on Thursday, June 11, beginning at 6 p.m. Then, on Friday, June 12, at 3 p.m., a special lecture will be presented by Johanna M. Brown, Director of Collections and Curator of Moravian Decorative Arts (the topic of her lecture) at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.

The Saturday, June 13 sale will begin promptly at 9:30 a.m., with a session dedicated to English and Continental silver. Included will be a beautiful Irish sterling silver tureen with an 1821 date letter. The day will conclude with another session of silver—American only—to include a 132-piece modern hammered flatware service by California artist Allan Adler. In all, 482 lots will change hands that day.

Watercolor work by the Italian painter Giuseppe Aureli (1858-1929).

Sandwiched in between the silver sessions on Saturday will be hundreds of other lots, starting with European and Continental fine art. Included will be four original paintings by the British artist Christiane Klitgaard-May (1876-1954), and a watercolor by Giuseppe Aureli (Italian, 1858-1929). After that, a Staffordshire collection will be sold, to include historical blue and white Lafayette pieces.

A star of the American furniture category promises to be a Southern cherry sugar chest (circa 1830s). Local art will also be offered, to include etchings by Louis Orr (1879-1961). A collection of around 10 garden and architectural items will cross the block, to include a Scottish architectural bench (circa 1850). Asian art will feature large (17-1/2”) Japanese Satsuma vases from the Meiji era (1860s).

Mid-18th century Raingo Freres French figural mantle clock.

English and Continental furniture will be sold both days. On Saturday, a star lot will be a 18th-century French walnut armoire. Decorative arts will include a terracotta bust of Benjamin Franklin, after the French sculptor Houdon (1741-1828). Also offered will be a selection of clocks and pocket watches, including a mid-19th-century Raingo Freres French figural mantle clock.

Lighting and chandeliers will illuminate the room, with lots like a signed Tiffany Studios counterbalance desk lamp, marked “Tiffany Studios, New York, 417” (16 inches tall). A selection of fine art by noted American artists will be headlined by an original oil on canvas painting by Louise Cox (1865-1945). The work was deaccessioned from the Granville County Historical Society Museum in Oxford, N.C.

From the Native American category, a beaded bandolier pouch, made around 1900, is expected to draw strong interest, as is a solid group of American tiger maple wood furniture from the collection of the late Charles Smith of Chapel Hill, N.C. A top lot will be a 19th-century corner wash stand. And from textiles and needlework, offered will be a rare and important Pennsylvania Lititz girls’ school needlework. The piece was pictured in the book Girlhood Embroidery (Vol. I, p. 448), by Betty Ring.

Original oil on canvas painting by Judy Lodge (Mich., b. 1951), titled The Table.

Additional American art will come up for bid in the form of the Mead Corporation Art Collection. The collection was begun in 1955 and works were actively acquired until the early 1980s. Two works of note from the group include an original oil on canvas by Judy Lodge (Mich., b. 1951), titled The Table; and an oil on canvas by Frank Roth (N.Y., b. 1936), titled Lady McGowan’s Dream.

A collection of around 25 portrait miniatures and silhouettes will include a mourning miniature with hair brooch, attributed to Samuel Folwell (S.C., 1802). Also, estate jewelry will be sold both days.

The Sunday auction, June 14, will begin at 11 a.m. Featured will be Southern folk and art pottery (to include Lanier Meaders and Burlon Craig face jugs); about 15 estate antique rugs from prominent Southern homes; and nearly 50 decoys, many from the estate of the late Charles Smith of Chapel Hill.

Previews will be held on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, June 10 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (start of sale); and Sunday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. (start of sale). Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, the firm’s provider of choice for about five years. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd.’s next two big cataloged auctions will be held the weekends of Sept. 19-20 and Dec. 5-6, also in the new gallery facility at 620 Cornerstone Court. The guest speaker for the December event will be another MESDA curator, June Lucas, the museum’s Director of Research. Her talk will center on Southern decorative arts, with a primary focus on painted Piedmont (North Carolina) furniture pieces.

Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them at (919) 644-1243, or e-mail them at info [at] llauctions [dot] com. To learn more about the company and its calendar of upcoming auctions, log on to www.llauctions.com. The June 13-14 sale online catalog has been posted.

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Royal Vienna-style vase.

A close-up of the hand-painted portrait of a Victorian woman with rosy cheeks and flowing hair.

Atlantique City is a massive antique show, held several times a year at the Atlantic City Convention Center, featuring hundreds of dealers selling quality antiques. One special “draw” to the show is that it offers free appraisals to the public, and last October show promoters invited several Worthologists to help evaluate the items brought in. That is where I met Linda Rubin.

Linda, and her husband, Arthur, were my second appraisal of the morning, following a “not-so-antique” set of collector mugs. It was a refreshing surprise when Linda reached into her bag and withdrew a carefully wrapped object that turned out to be a stunning porcelain vase. It stood nine inches tall and the background was a lovely iridescent emerald green, with alternating panels of flowers and blue jewels. There was a center medallion that had an exquisite hand-painted portrait of a Victorian woman with rosy cheeks and flowing hair.

As I examined the vase closer, it got even better, as I found the signature of the artist: Wagner. Wagner was an artist who worked in Austria painting some of the finest porcelain during the last quarter of the 19th century. I told the Rubins that the vase was in the Royal Vienna style and dated to the late 19th century. I also informed them that the name Royal Vienna—or Vienna Porcelain—refers to a style of porcelain painting that became very popular during the Victorian era, and that there were dozens of porcelain manufacturers in Germany and Austria that produced these magnificent portrait vases, plates and other porcelain articles. I estimated the value of the vase at $2,000. After the evaluation, I gave Linda my WorthPoint business card and assumed that was the last time I would see the vase.

But Linda and Arthur had been trying to downsize in anticipation of a move. They were going through their home, deciding on what to do with the many items that Linda had inherited from her grandfather and mother. Her grandfather was an antiques enthusiast who had amassed quite a collection. He passed these items down to Linda’s mother who, in turn, gave them to Linda. She decided to keep some of the heirlooms that she remembered fondly, like the grandfather clock from her grandparent’s home. Yet, when it came to the Royal Vienna vase, as beautiful as it was, she lacked a connection to it, and decided to sell. She also found a Royal Vienna cabinet plate with equally fine detail. In January 2009, she e-mailed me through WorthPoint, and said that she would like me to assist her in finding an appropriate venue for the vase and plate.

Picking an Auction House

Deciding where to sell porcelain required careful consideration. I wanted an establishment that dealt in quality antiques and that would advertise well to help get my client the best price. After much research, I found the perfect place—Dallas Auction Gallery—also simply known as DAG, has sold thousands of pieces of high-end porcelain and its past auction results were impressive. I contacted Adriane Shuford Crosland, vice president of Dallas Auction Gallery, who said that she would love to have the opportunity to sell the vase and plate. Ms. Crosland wanted to place it in DAG’s April 17, 2008, auction, and estimated the auction value to be between $500 and $7,000 for the plate and $700 and $1,000 for the vase. I was a little disappointed with the estimate of the vase, but as she pointed out, the economy was not working in our favor. Once again, I contacted Linda, who decided it was a go!

The vase and plate were rushed to Dallas and photographed for the auction. The photos were so amazing; they seemed to capture the true vibrancy of the vase. The pictures of the vase and plate were so clear that you could even make out fine details like the artist strokes. After seeing the items in the catalog and on-line, I was sure that they would attract many buyers and surpass the estimates. The auction was broadcast live on LiveAuctioneers.com, and the vase received six online absentee bids prior to the auction. In my role as broker, I felt that it was important to keep the Rubins informed and make them part of the process. I sent Linda and Arthur the Internet link so that they could watch the auction live and follow along with the bidding.

On the day of the auction, the vase sold for $1,800 and the plate for $600, not including the buyer’s premium. Linda was “thrilled” with the outcome of the auction and promised to keep sorting through her items as she continues to downsize in hopes of finding more hidden treasures. She also mentioned that it was hard to believe that a vase that was kept on a “wobbly table” could have been worth so much. As a WorthPoint broker, I thought that the sale was a successful match of item to auction house. But more than this, as an antique porcelain lover, it pleases me to know that the Royal Vienna vase is once again in the hands of someone who will treasure it as much as Linda’s grandfather did.

Audra Blevins is a Worthologist who specializes in French Limoges china and early American pattern glass.

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