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Past Sale Results for January 28 & 29, 2005 Highlights of the 2005 Annual Winter Catalogued Glass Auction Scroll down for photos and descriptions of highlighted pieces from this auction. Available for download are the Catalog Listing, Prices Realized and Addendum Sheet. Green Valley Auction's two main galleries were awash in a rainbow of colors for the firm's Annual Winter Cataloged Glass Auction held on January 28 and 29. The three session event featured over 2500 pieces of blown and pressed glass from the 1850s to the 1990s, with the main emphasis being Victorian period colored and art glass. Session #1 was comprised of a single-owner collection of blown glass which had been collected throughout the Ohio River Valley over the past 30 years. This extremely eclectic assemblage was offered in 316 cataloged lots and 950+ bidder's choice table lots. Highlights included a mid 19th century Pittsburgh region free-blown covered sugar bowl on foot in a rare translucent powder blue color which sold for $1870 (all prices include a 10% buyer's premium); a free-blown cream jug having a most unusual amethyst with turquoise swirls body and applied opaque turquoise handle and foot which was closely related to the example illustrated in Innes' "Pittsburgh Glass", figure 483, sold for $1265; and an early 1920s Central Glass Works art glass console set consisting of a footed center bowl and matching pair of tall candlesticks, all in amethyst with opaque white applied elements, quickly sold for $467.50 despite damage to one stick. Session #2 which followed on Friday evening drew a good crowd for the selection of 20th century collectible glass which included a collection of Fenton and L.G. Wright wares. The top lot of this session was a rare Dugan Glass Co. Butterfly & Tulip amethyst carnival glass footed bowl which was 13" in diameter and in undamaged condition, selling strongly at $2090. Saturday's Session #3 which included a huge selection of Victorian opalescent and art glass was the eagerly awaited main event for most collectors. Before the sale, head auctioneer Jeff Evans commented that interest leading up to the sale had been very strong; he added that the pre-sale interest had led to over 1000 absentee bids and that as many as five phone bidders would be competing with those in attendance on the most desirable lots. Evans started the sale promptly at 9:30am and in his legendary no-nonsense rapid-fire pace, began his 125+ lots per hour assault. First up was over 90 lots of the ever-popular vaseline glass from the late 19th and early 20th centuries which quickly sold between $33 and $220. Evans' announcement that Green Valley would be selling a 1000+ piece collection of vaseline glass in their Fall sale was met with both cheers and groans from the crowd. Vaseline was followed by a selection of colorless and colored Early American Pattern Glass which included a scarce green Feather four-piece table set with only minor roughness which sold for $605. Ruby-stained wares continue to be hotly pursued and a selection of original King's Crown drew much interest, led by a 11 1/4" high tankard water pitcher featuring a bird in flight and floral engraved decoration which soared off at $522.50. Green Valley offered up another fine selection of Victorian opalescent glass, and water pitchers again proved to be the most hotly contested form - the star of show was a fine blue Stars & Stripes tankard-form which sailed off at $4510. The next highest priced pitchers were all cranberry, including a rare Giant Diamond Optic by Phoenix Glass Co. which flew to $3720; a West Virginia Glass Co. Fern which reached $3410; and a Buttons & Braids example that topped out at $3190. Sugar shakers and syrup jugs continue to be in high demand and many fine examples were offered here. Two scarce cranberry opalescent syrups led the way - an Opaline Brocade/Spanish Lace and a Reverse Swirl, which marched off at $2200 and $1760 respectively. Most of the other opalescent forms performed very well also, including a rare satin rubina Criss-Cross covered sugar in outstanding condition which was battled to $2090. This sale also included part four of the Ken Depew collection of tumblers; Green Valley has now sold over half of this massive collection. This installment produced the biggest surprise of the entire auction when lot #1527, a Greentown Holly Amber tumbler, came to the block. As the bidding began it was quickly evident that this was not your normal Holly Amber tumbler; the difference being that this 3 1/2" high example had a beaded rim. While much speculation exists as to the actual intended usage of this piece, it has been listed but never illustrated in Greentown glass references. Karen Reed, head of the Catalog Department, commented that Green Valley had never sold an example of this tumbler before and that she didn't recall ever actually seeing one herself. She added that the $800 - $1200 auction estimate was based on the two most recent Greentown price guides. The tumbler opened at $500 with competing absentee bids; immediately a gentleman in the back row raised his bidding card high competing against absentee bids to $2100 at which point the battle switched to a phone bidder. The floor bidder, who had driven from Indiana just for this tumbler, never took his card down and eventually won the right to take it home for a record $8810, prompting the astonished crowd to break into applause. Another tumbler which had not been previously illustrated was a rare cranberry opalescent Fine Ribbed Coinspot example which sold for $880. Other Depew tumblers which performed well included a New England Glass Co. Plated Amberina at $2310 and a Mt. Washington Glass Co. Peachblow with satin finish at $1375. Art Glass made up the final part of the sale led by an extremely rare New England Glass Co. second etching Pomona tumble-up with cornflower decoration which generated tremendous interest and sold for $4510. Two Tiffany decorated Favrille vases also received many pre-auction inquiries - a 9" pulled-bulb form example with green philodendron decoration sold for $3190 and a 11 3/4" inverted trumpet form decorated with dark green leaves around the base brought $2090. A signed and finely colored Durand Heart and Vine shape #1722 5 1/2" vase doubled the pre-auction estimate, selling for $1265. Loetz art glass continues to be in high demand and Green Valley offered a signed gold iridescent 10" vase with pulled feather decoration which reached $2420. After the auction Jeff Evans and his staff were very pleased with the overall results of the sale which grossed just over $250,000. Evans noted "Victorian opalescent glass, especially cranberry, continues to have a large and passionate base of collectors who recognize the rarities and are not afraid to chase them aggressively." He added, "On the other hand, there are still many great opportunities for beginning glass collectors. Session #1 provided some real bargains for collectors of mid 20th century blown glass, much of which remains unidentified and has not found a large collector following." Evans noted that The West Virginia Museum of Glass was very pleased with the material that they were able to purchase, some of which will be the subject of a future article in their quarterly journal.
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