Full Text:

GREEN MEANS GO AT LITCHFIELD

(with cuts)

LITCHFIELD, CONN. -- Two emerald-green Sandwich tulip vases gave a "go" signal

to glass dealers and collectors from Boston to Florida to San Francisco at

Litchfield County Auctions' December 5 sale.

The event featured early New England and Midwestern glass, pottery and

ironwork from the joined collections of the estates of sisters Gertrude Ervin

Hill of Redding, Conn. and Pearle Ervin Wardall of Tuscola, Ill. along with

selected additions of period furniture, paintings and accessories.

A pair of sapphire-blue Sandwich whale oils doubled their low estimate of

$3,000 for a hammer price of $6,100, while the aforementioned tulip vases went

to a telephone bidder for $5,200.

A Gorham sterling and rose cut-to-clear glass ewer was won by a floor bidder

in the jammed gallery for $4,200. A War of 1812 lead glass, copper wheel

engraved decanter brought $1,750, and an opalescent whale oil lamp reached

$1,250.

The big surprise of the glass lots was a pair of gothic green glass pickle

jars. That pair, and another large jar, were estimated at $200/300, but

fervent bidding by phone, mail and from the floor pushed the final price to

$2,800.

Other highlights included a pair of E. Liverpool, Ohio blue glazed lions,

which sold to a collector by phone for $2,200; a Federal cherry chest on

chest, which brought $6,200; and a Dutch or British Nineteenth Century

seascape, which brought a bid from a dealer in England but stayed home for

$1,250. Two Continental trammels, one with rooster decorations, reached $500

and $1,400.

Prices quoted do not include a ten percent buyers premium.

Litchfield County Auctions, Inc's next sale will be in the Litchfield

firehouse on February 27.