Fountain pens draw worldwide bidders

Page 2
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Contents
Vol 48. No. 2419
January 11, 2016
Insights
page 3
Sinatra Exhibit
page 6
Internet Connections
page 7
Mall & Shop Directory
page 8
Event Finder
page 10
Show Calendar
page 9
Auction Calendar
page 12
Classifieds
page 17
Contacts
Publisher:
Tony Gregory
Telephone: 1 800 876 5133 ext. 321
[email protected]
NEWS
Briggs’s diverse auction
Original York
performs well across genres Antiques Show
By Carole Deutsch
globe. The auction house was
established in 1932 at the same location
at which it stands today, although over
the years it has expanded to its current
10,000-square-foot facility to meet
customer demand.
GARNET VALLEY, Pa. — The Nov.
20 auction offered by Briggs Auctions
Inc. was a multi-genre showcase that
featured an extensive representation of
period,
mid-century
modern
and
c o n t e m p o r a r y
furnishings; traditional
and modern fine art and
sculptures; Asian and
French porcelains and
art glass, as well as
other decorative items
of distinction, including
silver, jewelry, oriental
rugs; and automobiles
and
musical
Above: A 2015 BMW 650i convertible that had only 2,243
instruments.
The
miles and was in “as new” condition realized a price of
auction was composed of $68,440.
collections and estate
items from Main Line, Pennsylvania
More than 1,800 bidders participated
and Delaware County.
both in-house and online for 422 lots
Briggs is a third generation family- that sold on four online platforms. The
owned business that over the last 82 in-house turnout was strong, with
years has become a community active bidding, and the top lots of the
landmark and gained the respect of the
See Briggs on page 5
antiques and fine arts arena across the
Managing Editor:
Rachel Shallenberg-Voyles
Telephone: 1 800 876 5133 ext. 131
[email protected]
Associate Editor:
Eric C. Rodenberg, ext. 132
Telephone: 1 800 876 5133
[email protected]
Associate Editor:
Mark Butzow
Telephone: 1 800 876 5133 ext. 121
[email protected]
Subscriptions/Delivery:
Telephone: 1 800 876 5133
[email protected]
After hours: 1 800 876 5133 ext. 177
Advertising Manager:
Dan Morris, (888) 342-3232
[email protected]
Fax: 1 850 342 1777
Advertising Representatives:
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Fax: 1 800 695 8153
Danielle Shelton (Central), ext. 133,
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AntiqueWeek (ISSN 0888-5451) is published weekly
(except Christmas week) by
MidCountry
Media, Inc.
P.O. Box 90,
27 N. Jefferson St.,
Knightstown, IN 46148-1242
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January 11, 2016
Above: A small 4 1/4-inch by 6 1/2-inch gouache by Colin Campbell Cooper
(American, 1856-1937) portrayed the O’Neill House, Charleston, S.C., and sold for
$6,050, against a high estimate of $2,000.
set Jan. 29-31
YORK, Pa. — The Original 166th
semi-annual York Antiques Show and
Sale, scheduled for Jan. 29-31 at
Memorial Hall East in this antique-crazy
south-central region of Pennsylvania, is
a good way to shake the post-holiday or
mid-winter blues.
Inside Memorial Hall East, within the
York Fairgrounds Convention & Expo
Center in downtown York, will be 96
fully vetted dealers, displaying a broad
range of antiques within room settings.
The merchandise at the York Antiques
Show will run the gamut, according to
show manager Melvin L. Arion, including
18th and 19th century American and
English furniture, American country
pieces with original paint, early china
and glassware, 19th and 19th century
silver, Chinese export porcelain, antique
toys and more.
Despite the small turnover among
vendors, a few new participants will be
showing their wares this year, including
Blue Dog Antiques, Stafford Springs,
Conn; American Garage of Los Angeles;
Dover House Antiques from Louisville,
Ky; Collette Donovan, Merrimac Port,
Mass; Richard M. Worth, Chadds Ford,
Pa; and Robert Snyder and Judy Wilson
of Mt. Joy, Pa.
Authors Gail and Rich Millin will be
at the show presenting and signing
copies of their new book, Collecting
Canton: In Pursuit of the Best.
Other items for sale will include
Oriental carpets, pewter, estate jewelry,
quilts, English samplers and other
textiles, early kitchen and fireplace
accessories, Navajo rugs, Pueblo pottery,
baskets, Native American artifacts,
historic American militaria and more.
Admission is $10 (or $9 with this
article) for the show, open from 10 a.m.
to 6 p.m. Jan. 29-30 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
on Sunday, Jan. 31. Parking is free. The
building is smoke free, and food will be
available.
Contact: (302) 542-3286
www.theoriginalyorkantiquesshow.com
Right: The sum of $1,752
was paid for an historically
relevant Titanic DNA artifact
fountain pen by Romain
Jerome that was in fact a
relic from the Titanic: The
pen barrel featured a ring
that combined rusting steel
from the Titanic and steel
from the Harland & Wolff
shipyard where the ship was
built from 1909 to 1912.
Fountain pens draw worldwide bidders
By Carole Deutsch
STATESVILLE, N.C. — Muscarelli Auction Company held
an exclusive auction of more than 200 iconic design fountain
pens and 50 inkwells, as well as other related items, from the
collection of the late Richard Hardaway III. On Nov. 21,
bidders from coast to coast in the United States, as well as
from 24 other countries that included France, Germany,
Russia, Japan, China and the Bahamas, competed for
important limited editions from prominent makers,
represented by Mont Blanc, David Oscarson, Montegrappa,
Visconti, Pelikan, Omas, Michael Perchin, Taccia, Curtiss,
Hero, Parker, Waterman, Stipula and a rare Roman Jerome
“Titanic DNA” pen, of which only 88 were made. The sale
yielded $113,000 with as much as $20,000 having sold to
France alone.
The first fountain pen was made as early as the 10th
century, and many versions followed with various
improvements, all of which failed to meet any standard that
would revolutionize the fountain pen and make it a practical
writing instrument. Lewis Waterman was the first to create
See Muscarelli on page 4
Left: A
dramatically
displayed
Montegrappa
Luxor Red Sea
pen was
unused and in
the original
pyramidshaped
display box,
but was
missing the
front panel,
and sold for
$1,469.
Page 4
Muscarelli
January 11, 2016
WWW.ANTIQUEWEEK.COM
From Page 2
a design that would not clog, spill or be
plagued with other mechanical problems
that rendered the fountain pen essentially
unusable.
Waterman patented the first practical
fountain pen in 1884. Since then, it has
become more than just a pen, but a personal
item connected to prestige and excellence,
made nobler by the fact it is an instrument
used to sign documents that have
monumental significance in an individual’s
private and business life, and has even
been used to make official the pivotal
moments that have changed the course of
history.
In today’s world, people still treasure
their fountain pens, which can cost many
thousands of dollars, and collectors pay
handsome prices for limited edition and
custom-made models of distinction.
A limited edition Pelikan fountain pen,
representing the Pyramids of Giza from its
“Seven Wonders of the World” series,
achieved $1,921. The theme of the pen and
presentation box referenced the historic
masterwork of the tombs of the Egyptian
pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and
Mycerinus, created between 2950 B.C. and
2470 B.C. The medium point 18K gold cap
was made in the form of the crown of
Pharaoh Cheops, and the box included a
resin pyramid display. The edition number
was 382/445, and it was unused in the
original box.
From the same Pelikan “Seven Wonders
of the World” series came The Hanging
Gardens of Babylon. The gardens were an
aesthetically astounding engineering
marvel believed to have been built by King
Nebuchadnezzar II, who ruled between 605
B.C. and 562 B.C. Inspired by the excellence
of the Gardens, Pelikan combined the
utmost precision with an artistic
presentation. The Hanging Gardens pen,
limited edition number 67/410, was crafted
in intricate detail with a gold plated cap
that depicted four stepped terraces. It had
a high gloss dark green lacquer barrel, was
edged by gold plated rings, and had an 18K
fine point gold nib decorated with an
embossed rendering of the terraces. It was
presented with a representation of the front
of two steps of the ancient terraced
structure, was unused in original display
box, and commanded $1,808.
The Temple of Artemis, also from
Pelikan’s “Seven Wonders of the World”
series, gave tribute to the Artemis Temple
in Ephesus, built to honor the Greek
mythological goddess of fruitfulness,
hunting, and war. The temple was
completed in 440 B.C., and the writing pen
was reflectively limited to 440 editions. The
one offered was numbered 111/440 and was
crafted of palladium white metal with gold
trim in the form of a Greek column. A
likeness of the goddess was engraved on
the barrel. It had an 18K gold nib, was
unused and in the original box that included
a stone casting display of the temple, and
sold for $1,356.
This Pelikan pen Maki-e Fireworks M1000, limited edition
number 19/88, was unused but did not have a box and
commanded $1,921.
Right: The Temple of Artemis, from Pelikan’s
“Seven Wonders of the World” series,
came in the original display with a stone
casting of the temple and sold for $1,356.
An unusual and historically relevant
artifact fountain pen by Romain Jerome
was in fact a relic from the Titanic, in
which the pen barrel featured a ring that
combined rusting steel from the Titanic
and steel from the Harland & Wolff
shipyard where the ship was built from
1909 to 1912. The Titanic DNA Limited
Edition pen was crafted with a myriad of
precious materials that included palladium,
stainless steel, gold and brass to exemplify
the opulent aesthetics that comprised
elements of the Titanic. It uniquely featured
a porthole made of sapphire glass, through
which one could see how a wheelhouse
steering gear drew ink into the pen nib
through a propeller. It was conceptualized
by the world famous designers Jean-Pierre
and Benjamin Lepinem, together with
Yvan Arpa, who was CEO of Romain
Jerome at that time. The example that sold
for $1,752 was edition 10/88 and was
unused and in the original box.
Creations by David Oscarson were well
represented. One of the most sought-after
was a Jaques de Molay fountain pen that
commemorated the 700th anniversary of
the 1307 Friday the 13th arrest and
subsequent martyrdom in 1314 of Jacques
de Molay of the Knights Templar, France.
The honorarium design depicted a blackand-white checkered hard enamel cap
adorned with the sword of the Knights
Templar. It had an 18K fine point nib, was
limited edition 134/700 and unused in
original box, and commanded $1,865.
The sum of $1,808 was achieved for a
David Oscarson Valhalla pen in red, limited
edition number 11/88. Valhalla is perceived
as a Viking heaven into which Viking
warriors pass upon their death. The
Medieval design of the pen required three
separate stages of engraving, which
terminated in the images of a serpent in
high relief. This item was also unused and
in the original box.
A Pelikan Maki-e Fireworks M1000,
limited edition number 19/88, was unused
but did not have a box and commanded
$1,921. Maki-e is the art of Japanese
lacquer painting prized for its beauty and
artistry. The word Maki-e literally
translates as “sprinkled picture” because
the design is spattered with gold or silver
Above: : This Montegrappa Luxor Red Sea
pen was unused and in the original
pyramid-shaped display box (see page
2), but was missing the front panel, and
sold for $1,469.
powder. The technique played well into the
theme of fireworks in which the artist also
vividly employed mother-of-pearl and cutgold work. This fountain pen was made in
the historical Japanese region Kaga, which
is famous for traditional Japanese arts.
A dramatically displayed Montegrappa
Luxor Red Sea 18K white gold nib pen had
a rich red celluloid barrel and a cap that
was decorated with ancient Egyptian
symbolism created in high relief vermeil.
The cap was topped with a scarab accented
with pink sapphires and the clip was in the
shape of a cobra with pink sapphire-set
eyes. The pen was presented on a pyramid
inspired display, limited edition number
514/688. Although it was unused and in the
original display, it was missing the front
panel of the pyramid and sold for $1,469.
Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s
premium.
Left: The
Hanging
Gardens of
Babylon, from
Pelikan’s
“Seven
Wonders of
the World”
series, was
crafted in
intricate detail
and realized
$1,808.
AntiqueWeek DEADLINES
Above: A limited edition Pelikan fountain pen, representing the Pyramids of Giza from its
“Seven Wonders of the World” series, achieved $1,921.
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