CHARLOTTE, Mich. – A chance encounter at a musicbox and phonograph auction in West Virginia, led a woman from the Mountain State to consign to Michigan-based Stanton Auctioneers and Realtors. Her items were moved to Michigan and sold during a recent auction at the Eaton County Fairgrounds. A second auction held by the firm recently also offered a large selection of quality antiques and collectibles.

A Tiffany Arts and Crafts double wooden and bronze inkwell with a single candleholder, turtleback glass well covers, marked Tiffany glass inserts and pen rests proved to be the star of the recent offerings. This piece was in excellent condition except for some minor grinding on the glass inserts which had taken place many years ago. Steve Stanton presided on the podium. He brought the gavel down and declared this fine piece sold at $6,300.

For the collector of old vending machines there were two from which to choose. One was a green, porcelain, double one-cent vending machine. It was complete with locks, keys, and the decals were in good condition. This piece sold for $475. A Master red and white gum vending machine, in which you could use either a penny or a nickel found a final bid of $225.

An item of local interest was a very nice mahogany dining room suite that had been made by the Lentz Table Factory Co. in 1906. This company was located in Nashville, Mich., only about 15 miles from Charlotte. This suite included a round dining table with large reed pedestal base and large claw feet and five leaves, six chairs with claw feet, and a sideboard with mirror and reached a final selling price of $850.

A china cabinet with its original oak finish, a mirrored-back interior, drawers, raised panel sides, inlaid and applied carvings saw the gavel fall at $825.

Signed H. Zatzka, an oil painting by Hans Zatzka, an Austrian artist, was another one of the outstanding pieces that crossed the block. It was entitled The Cherry Picker. This painting was on canvas laid down on board and was in excellent condition with no repairs or repainting and earned a final bid of $4,000. One of the other oil paintings was a delightful picture of two kids out in the snow with their wheelbarrow taking home some Christmas greens. This piece sold for $400.

Another piece of art in a different form was the bronze statue of two greyhounds by P. J. Mené. The final selling price for this item which had some slight damage was $400.

An American Indian oval burl wooden bowl that measured 14¾ inches long, was in excellent condition with strong burl and an old surface. This piece crossed the block for $1,700. A West Coast Indian basket with a figural design that was 9 inches in diameter and 6 inches high was in excellent condition and sold for $850.

During the 19th century a tellurian was used to demonstrate to children the solar system and how it worked. It is a 3-D model of the sun, the moon, and the earth with gears, chains, and pulleys to explain how the earth spins once a day, how it revolves around the sun, and why there are eclipses. A fine example sold at the auction for $950.

For the lamp devotee there were several very desirable hanging lamps. One with cranberry glass shades and prisms crossed the block for $800. Another with pink swirl shades earned $450.

Other desirable lamps included a four-arm hanging Angle lamp that sold for $400; a hanging student lamp that earned $325; and a crystal chandelier that crossed the block for $500. A pair of Van Cliff lamps sold for $200 each; and a newel post lamp saw $160.

Then, there was the interesting wood weather vane with a jointed figure that was added to someone’s collection for $1,100. Also in the primitive vein a wood scoop with a painted bowl sold for $350.

Redware pieces are usually very desirable and this held true at this auction with a large redware plate crossing the block for $625.

It was impossible to miss the selection of clocks which had drawn many people to this auction. There were wall clocks, mantel and shelf clocks, grandfather clocks, and an interesting sleepy-eye belly clock. This last one crossed the block for $1,050. Other examples included a beautiful large Seth Thomas wall clock that sold for $1,350; an Ithaca double-dial wall clock that saw $400; and a Seth Thomas double-dial calendar clock that that earned $925. A Raggot Bros. banjo clock sold for $525 and the grandfather clocks including a Silas Hoadley cherry tall case clock sold for $550 to $1,050.

Several of the furniture pieces proved to be very desirable. A linen press sold for $300; a glass-door corner cupboard earned $600; and a glass-door china cabinet (could also be used for a bookcase) crossed the block for $375.

An old drop-front desk with several pigeonholes sold for $500; a wall cabinet with three shelves and a drawer saw $350; a drop-leaf gate-leg table earned $225; and an old blanket chest crossed the block for $325.

A double handle Imperial or Fenton polished pontil art glass vase in cobalt spatter sold for $1,100.

Prices reported do not include the 10 percent buyer’s premium.

Contact: (517) 726-0181,

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auctions.com