LAGRANGE, Ind. – Anton J. Strassgschwandtner, (1827-1881) was born in Vienna and studied at the Vienna Academy. He painted landscapes, riding and hunting scenes; and also painted some in the military genre. One of his pieces, a signed oil on board of a barnyard scene with horse and men, which measured 11 by 15 inches, and was framed in a 24 by 18 inch period gilt frame, was presented at a Sept. 22 auction conducted by Michael Strawser in LaGrange. After spirited bidding the gavel fell and it was declared sold for $2,000.

Other works of art included an unsigned oil on canvas oval portrait of a lady in Victorian dress in a period frame that sold for $550 and a second oil on canvas lady’s portrait, also in a period frame and unsigned, caught the attention of several interested bidders and earned $500. Signed A. Wilscher, an oil on canvas depicting a barnyard with chickens, a stream and a town in the background sold for $120.

Available for the collector was an amazing 35-year collection of Phoenix Consolidated art glass. There were lamps, vases, and bowls in a variety of colors and patterns. Diving Girl Boat with an amber wash sold for $325; a blue Philodendron vase with a brass ormolu earned $275; and a Love Birds vase with blue birds crossed the block for $225.

A Phoenix Consolidated Dancing Girls vase with a brown ground saw $200; a Blackberry umbrella vase with a brown wash sold for $275; and a glass table lamp with a painted cottage scene on the shade earned $250. A 15-inch center bowl, Tropical Fish, with an amber wash sold for $180; and a custard Dancing Girls vase earned $275.

A pair of Staffordshire Red Riding Hood and the Wolf spill vases found several interested bidders before they were hammered down at $500.

More than 300 pieces of Greentown Glass crossed the block. A chocolate Cactus covered sweetmeat earned $450; a chocolate Serenade master pitcher earned $250; a chocolate Cactus water pitcher (a nick in the base) and six tumblers saw $100; and a Holly amber golden apple handled nappy crossed the block for $400.

One of the most interesting lamps in this auction was a 9¾-inch standing elephant miniature oil lamp with a floral milk glass decorated shade and a Kosmos Brenner burner that sold for $750. A Chicago Mosaic Lamp Co. art glass panel table lamp with a cottage scene reached $400; a 10-inch miniature oil lamp with an embossed pink cased glass base and shade earned $225; and a Royal Ivy Rubina miniature oil lamp crossed the block for $300.

In 1899 Frank Skiff began selling teas, coffee, spices and extracts door to door. In 1901 he was joined by his brother-in-law Frank Ross and they started the Jewel Tea Company on the south side of Chicago. In 1933 they offered china as a premium. That china, manufactured by Hall, was called Autumn Leaf. The first premium offered in 1933 was the three-piece mixing bowl set which proved to be so popular that it stayed in the line until its production was ended in 1976. In 1978 the National Autumn Leaf Collectors Club (N.A.I.C.C.) was formed and in 1990 the Hall China Company in East Liverpool, Ohio, agreed to produce a line of limited edition items for China Specialties, Inc.

With this background it was not surprising that there was considerable interest in the 75 pieces of Hall Autumn Leaf china at this auction. A Hall 60th anniversary automobile teapot reached $170; a punch bowl and 12 cups from 1993, $250; a 1993 donut teapot, $160; and an electric teapot brewed $400. A vintage drip coffeepot with the insert sold for $300; an ice tea pitcher and four glass dated 1993 earned $120; and two tablecloths and 10 napkins crossed the block for $250.

A pair of Venetian glass candlesticks with red ruby tops and bases and swans in center stem sold for $200; a Bohemian peachblow art glass epergne saw $160 and a large footed Imperial amethyst carnival bowl crossed the block for $120. A Fenton large cranberry opalescent Fern and Daisy vase sold for $170; a large Fenton cranberry opalescent Fern and Daisy pitcher saw $140; and a carnival Bird and Grape wall pocket earned $110.

Pottery included several pieces of Roseville with a pair of green Zephyr Lily wall pockets earning $200 which was also the selling price for a pair of green Apple Blossom wall pockets; a green Fuchsia bulbous vase seeing $200; a pink Apple Blossom vase earning $170; and a 6 1/8-inch Falline vase crossing the block for $450.

For the sterling silver aficionado there was a 131-piece set of Reed & Barton Frances I sterling flatware that earned $2,600; and a small set of Westmoreland Milburn Rose sterling flatware that saw $250.

A Kammer Reinhardt Simon Halbig 30-inch bisque doll with a composition body had many interested bidder and earned $650, while a 16-inch American Skookum doll with a child saw $120.

Among the many fine furniture pieces the ones that found the most interest were an oak watchmaker’s/jeweler’s bench with pull-out work tray that sold for $170; a walnut Victorian cylinder desk with burl walnut carved pulls and a high back that saw $950; and an oak china cabinet with curved-glass top with a mirrored back and flat glass lower door and sides that crossed the block for $850. An oak triple-door bookcase with leaded glass doors sold for $350; a quartersawn oak Arts & Crafts arm rocker with carved figure of monk with goblet seated at table in the back of rocker earned $450; an oak bookcase with drop-front desk and mirror saw $275; and the gavel fell at $400 for a walnut Victorian secretary/bookcase with a drop-front desk.

Prices quoted are the hammer prices and do not include the buyer’s premium.

Contact: (260) 854-2859,

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