This highly collectible English astronomical regulator clock will be among the than 500 rare and vintage clocks from a single-owner collection will cross the block without reserve in the Antique Discovery Clock Auction, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – The first half of 2011 was kind to Fontaine’s Auction Gallery, and now the firm plans to finish the year strong with a series of four big auctions slated for August through November, including an Antique Discovery Clock Auction, an Exceptional Antique Auction, an Unreserved Estate Auction and finally, an Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction.

All of the sales will be conducted at Fontaine’s modern gallery facility, at 1485 West Housatonic Street in Pittsfield, located in western Massachusetts.

The first event of the second half of the year will be an Antique Discovery Clock Auction, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 27. More than 500 rare and vintage clocks from a single-owner collection will cross the block without reserve (everything sells, regardless of price). Sold will be American large wall clocks and case clocks, grandfather clocks and examples from England, France and Germany.

Also offered will be Vienna regulators, porcelain and novelty clocks, master and slave clocks, ships’ clocks, schoolhouse and wooden works clocks, skeleton clocks, calendar clocks, Howard clocks, pendulums, weights, watchmakers’ benches and multi-drawer cabinets, watch and clock ephemera and advertising signs. Previews will be held Friday, Aug. 26 (10-5) and Saturday, Aug. 27 (8-11 a.m.). Buyers must be present in the gallery to bid at this auction.

Then, on Saturday, Sept. 10, Fontaine’s will conduct a two-session Exceptional Antique Auction (previews on Friday and Saturday), aptly named because it will feature 500 lots of antique furniture, vintage clocks and lamps, porcelains, music boxes, a large Rogers Group collection, silver, jewelry, arts and crafts, paintings, firearms and militaria. Consignments are still being accepted for this sale.

The third event will be an Unreserved Estate Auction on Saturday, Oct. 15, beginning. More than 400 lots of period antiques and decorative accessories comprising the contents of two major estates—one from Short Hills, N.J., and the other the original homestead of the Brewer-Young family from Longmeadow, Mass. Previews will be held Friday and Saturday.

Finally, an Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction will be staged on Saturday, Nov. 19 (previews on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19). Set to change hands will be more than 450 lots of exceptional antique furniture, lighting by Tiffany, Handel, Pairpoint and others, paintings, silver, clocks, art glass and cameo glass, bronzes, jewelry, pottery and porcelains. Consignments are still being accepted for this auction.

“We are accepting quality consignments for all the auctions in our fall series, from one piece to an entire estate or collection,” said John Fontaine of Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. “Either way, we have the service and expertise to help you. We can provide free estimates and arrange pick-up and delivery nationwide. Our rates are the best in the industry and consignments are fully insured.”

Fontaine’s is actively seeking merchandise in the following categories, to include Early American, Victorian, Empire, custom mahogany and figural; carved furniture; lighting by Tiffany, Duffner & Kimberly, Handel, Pairpoint, Wilkinson, Reviere, Suess and other makers.

The firm is also looking for quality music boxes, clocks and watches, art glass and cameo glass, bronze and marble statuary, silver, Russian items, jewelry, paintings, porcelains, coins, Arts & Crafts furniture and accessories, art pottery, Oriental rugs, Asian items, toys, banks, military items, firearms and more. Prospective consignors can call the gallery at 413.448.8922, or send digital photos of their items by visiting the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery website or by e-mailing them to info [at] fontaineauction [dot] com.

The first half of 2011 was successful for Fontaine’s Auction Gallery. For example, at the firm’s Exceptional Cataloged Antique Auction held May 21—featuring a monumental circa-1890 R.J. Horner 12-piece dining set that soared to $100,300 in an auction—grossed a little more than $1.4 million.

Other highlights from the auction included a seven-piece John H. Belter laminated rosewood Henry Clay parlor set ($25,960), a Tiffany Studios Greek key table lamp with 18-inch serpentine leaded shade ($26,550); a large Chelsea ship’s bell mantle clock with 12-inch dial ($15,930); and a monumental bronze work by Arthur Waagen depicting a triumphant Kabyle hunter ($12,980).

For more information about these upcoming auctions, or to consign an item, estate or collection, call 413.448.8922, e-mail info [at] fontaineauction [dot] com or visit the Fontaine’s Auction Gallery website.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Well, that was all true before God invented Velcro, the magic sticky material which has replaced shoe laces in children’s shoes and has thousand other uses and applications, such as displaying an antique rug.

To display a rug on a wall, staple one strip of Velcro to your wall at a desired place making sure the sticky stuff shows. You may also put in a few nails, evenly spaced if the rug is on the heavy side. Then staple the other half of the tape to the back of the rug along the top edge making sure the tape is not showing. Don't worry, the staples will not hurt the rug and the rug pile will hide them from view in the front.

Here’s how. Buy a roll of inch wide Velcro tape the width of your rug. You can find them in drug stores, hobby shops or fabric stores. Measure your rug along the top side. Cut your Velcro just a little shorter than the width of the rug and separate the two sides of the tape (the fuzzy side from the plastic loop side, or whatever they call the two sides).

Staple one side to your wall at a desired place making sure the sticky stuff shows. You may also put in a few nails, evenly spaced if the rug is on the heavy side.

Now, staple the other half of the tape to the back of the rug along the top edge making sure the tape is not showing. Don’t worry, the staples will not hurt the rug and the rug pile will hide them from view in the front.

The Velcro will allow even heavy rugs to be displayed on a wall.

Finally, stick the Velcro on the rug to the Velcro on the wall and you are done. The display looks very professional, seamless and uncluttered.

A Word of Caution: Very delicate textiles, such as Cashmere shawls, embroideries and fragile old kilims should not be stapled. You should simply hang them over a rod. There goes that rod again!

Zoran Stamenic is a Worthologist who specializes in antique and collectible rugs and carpets.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles