PROVENANCE AUCTION GALLERY – 8 CUTS –

SS/jl set 12-23

BLOOMSBURG, N.J. — The 76-foot-high Christmas tree that dominates Rockefeller Center in New York City this year came from Bloomsbury. And appropriately, some prices were also high at the Provenance Auction Gallery’s antique sale at the Bloomsbury Firehouse on Sunday, December 15.

The 103 bidders, including 30 phone and absentee, who registered for the gallery’s Select Antique Auction undoubtedly had the countdown to Christmas in the backs of their minds as they vied for 345 lots of furniture, jewelry, textiles, pottery, clocks, silver and decorative items.

The top lot in the jewelry category, and perfect for holiday gift-giving, was a Rolex Oyster watch in working condition with its original box and paperwork. The timing for the lucky bidder was right at $650. A gentleman’s diamond and ruby ring went to an absentee bidder for $400. Weighing in at 11/2 ounces, a 14K gold bracelet with a satin finish and a twisted rope edge design was purchased for $330.

But jewelry was not all that glittered during the afternoon sale. In the Hampton Court pattern, a Reed & Barton sterling silver tea set consisting of two teapots, a covered sugar and a creamer, sold to an absentee bidder for $1,600. A silverplate tea service by Poole in the Lancaster Rose pattern sold to a phone bidder for $270. This complete set consisted of a tipping pot, coffeepot, teapot, covered sugar, open sugar and creamer, all neatly fitting on an oval tray. A Tiffany sterling silver baby rattle shook the crowd at $150.

The furniture drew a lot of interest during the preview as witnessed by the number of attendees turning over tables and chairs and pulling out drawers to closely inspect construction. The winner, bringing $1,350, was an early Nineteenth Century country two-door cupboard. Showing an early mortised and pegged construction on the doors, this piece also retained its original red paint. In a close second was a centennial Hepplewhite period server for $1,300. An eight-foot-long country pine bench from the late Nineteenth Century achieved $725.

Despite a missing base, a Mission oak three section barrister bookcase left the hall at $685. A Mission oak flat-top desk with a single center drawer, flanked by bookshelf sides, went to an absentee bidder for $400. A refinished mahogany Empire chess of drawers (circa 1820) with tiger maple columns brought $650. A fine walnut Sheraton one-drawer stand, with a single dovetailed drawer, standing on delicate turned splayed legs ending in three-quarter-inch balls, went to a floor bidder for $550. In spite of a split top, a Nineteenth Century settle table hammered down at $500. A birch Eighteenth Century candlestand with pad feet sold to a phone bidder for $475.

Samplers dominated the textiles category. A wool on linen example in strong colors with an alphabet, trees, florals, animals and birds and mounted in a bird’s-eye maple frame, changed hands to an absentee bidder for $500. An English sampler signed and dated “Ann Bond 1800” showing verses, flowers, birds, lions and crowns, left the hall at $450. An English silk-on-silk map sampler with a cartouche in the upper corner having the inscription, “Entire map of England and Wales Mary Barker-Messingham 1815,” was routed out the door at $300. An early Nineteenth Century shirred multicolored wool rug in a geometric diamond pattern sold to the trade for $325. A handmade bonnet of homespun fabric was capped at $270.

Several other items also captured the buying crowd’s attention. An early mahogany barometer with a broken pediment crest and brass finial soared to $450. Just in time for holiday guests, an 85-piece Noritake “Rosamund” pattern china service with place settings for 11, reached $390.

Of all the lighting offered, the top lot was an early 1900s table lamp with a shade made of eight marbleized colored slag panels. It will light up the lucky bidder’s home for $325. A set of seven (circa 1900) Arts and Crafts pottery tiles (Providence Tile Co., Trenton, N.J.), with three center tiles depicting buildings in a landscape, sold to a phone bidder for $410. A collection of Roseville pottery ranged from $70 to $140. For the decorator who needs to make a statement, a Nineteenth Century Oriental pottery floor vase, 36 inches in height, with a repaired rim, reached $270. An artist signed hand painted Nippon vase sold for $200 and a salt glazed stoneware two-gallon jug with a cobalt slip trail bird, attributed to Fulper, was purchased for $230.

Prices quoted do not reflect a 10 percent buyer’s premium.

Provenance Auction Gallery conducts four auctions a month with collectibles auctions on Mondays and antiques on Saturdays.

For information, www.provenanceauction.com., or 908-479-1600.