Date: Fri 06-Nov-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Schmitts

Full Text:

Good Timing At Schmitts Auction

w/3 cuts

By Rita Easton

SALEM, N.H. -- Bob Schmitt's October 10 and 11 clock auction was one of the

best specialty events of the season, judging from attendance (311 buyers on

the floor and 400 absentees), and gross ($598,000 plus premium).

The 939 lots offered were consigned by three collectors, one from Long Island

and two living in upstate New York. In addition to clocks, a few musical boxes

and barometers were offered to the standing-room audience at the Nashua

Holiday Inn.

Selling at the highest bid of the day, $15,000, was an Ansonia hanging

porcelain china clock No. 3, with hand-painted floral decoration on its Royal

Bonn case.

A French industrial steam engine clock, 30 inches high, with nautical themes,

circa 1880, reached $5,800. The heavy automaton movement was housed within a

gunmetal capstan, and rotating the copper and brass section for about ten

hours on a single winding. The lighthouse atop included two clock dials

opposite each other, plus a barometer and a circular thermometer. A compass

was at the top of the clock, under the canopy. Surrounding the base were an

anchor and chain with block with hook, and a brass life saver, all intertwined

with a long length of brass marine line, the whole mounted on a round black

marble base.

An eight-day, wood works wagon spring clock by Olmstead and Barnes of

Brooklyn, N.Y., by Joseph Ives, 27 inches high, thought to be the only one in

existence of its kind, fetched $8,000.

"This very clock is pictured in Ken Roberts' book on Ives, page 87, as well as

in William Distin's book on American clocks," noted Schmitt. "Letters

documenting that the wooden movements were made by Samuel Terry for Olmstead

and Barnes are in the archives of the American Clock and Watch Museum in

Bristol, Conn."

"The unique thing," he continued, "is that it's the only known example of Ives

using his wagon spring power with a wooden movement. Every article that's been

written about Ives has talked about this being the only one extant. Even

though there was interest from a museum, it still went to a private

collector." The lot, which was dated 1829, was from the A.J. Finemore

collection and had a refinished case.

A circa 1885 rare French torsion mystery clock, in good running order,

featured a large female statue of bronze spelter holding a long clock in her

hand, with the clock rotating from side to side with no apparent impulse. The

28-inch-high lot reached $7,800.

A circa 1900 French crystal regulator, having four cut crystal corner pillars,

with fancy floral dial and a mercury pendulum, made $1,350, purchased by a

collector in Texas; and an 18-inch globe clock, circa 1875, made in

Canajoharie, reached $8,000. The 30-hour timepiece, standing 51 inches high

including four supporting legs, is commonly called the Juvet timeglobe, and

was made as an educational tool for schools and libraries. The clock had some

water stains and spots on its paper-covered globe and went to a collector.

A miniature bronzed spelter ball swing clock, circa 1890, standing 15 inches

high, estimated at $2/3,000, brought $3,000; and several French porcelain

clocks were excellent buys for the beginning collector: a Baroque example,

standing nine inches high, in good condition, with hand-painted floral and

bouquet motif sold at $350; a circa 1900 example in the Louis XV style, 17

inches high, went out at $400; and the bargain of the day, a 23-inch high, 2

piece clock in a china case, depicting the four seasons, having replaced

works, reached $1,300. Schmitt noted that an identical clock with original

works sold last year at $4,500. These French clocks were all in good running

condition but had a slight damage, chip, or a hairline crack.

A dozen Black Forest clocks ranged from $250 to $850; American weight

regulators ranged from $900 to $7,200; and double dial American calendar

clocks brought from $750 to $2,500.

A eight tune orchestral music box, with organ and Chinese figures playing

bells, garnered the top bid in that category, $8,150.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.