A newcomer arrives on scene with an end of the month sale at a location that spawned a couple successful area auctioneers over the years. Meanwhile, Constantine & Pletcher moves up a sale to keep bidders' attention in Harmar Township.
Constantine & Pletcher
Talk about a ripple effect. When Dan Pletcher discovered that a couple of major antiques shows on the East Coast were scheduled for the same weekend as his originally planned mid-September auction, he scrambled to move the sale to Sept. 6 to avoid the loss of any major bidders.
“You'd be surprised how much effect even 10 serious buyers not being in the room can have on a sale,” Pletcher says. “I wanted to make sure that no one had any distractions during our auction.”
Bidders can focus on Constantine & Pletcher's lineup of nearly 450 lots of goods, with an opening round of primitives and country collectibles, such as blown glass from the 1840s; quilts made in Pennsylvania from the mid-19th century to the early 20th century; individual pieces, such as a cast-iron child's go-cart and miniature Griswold cookware; and a selection of Ohio pottery, including 30 pieces of Roseville.
On a blues note, a three-panel mural painted by Pittsburgh artist Kyle Holbrook captures the scene inside a 1970s-era Hill District jazz club. The triptych shows patrons watching a Steelers game on TV, flirting with bar maids, feasting on platters of fried chicken and enjoying a night out. Painted during the 1970s, the work hung in Larry's Bar on Fifth Avenue. Art selections also feature works from the American school, Dutch paintings, Picasso lithographs and 18th-century Continental paintings.
From Asia, buyers can choose among vases, bronzes, quartz and silver works, ginger jars, snuffboxes, umbrella stands and teapots. In the jewelry department, men's and ladies 14- and 18-karat rings, pocket watches and a Tiffany & Co. money clip stand out. Among the art glass, the top names include Daum Nancy, Waterford, Nippon and local companies, such as Fenton.
Also in the sale are French and Seth Thomas bracket clocks, a Handel leaded-glass lamp, World War II gear from the U.S. and German armies, a platoon of GI Joe action figures and 1979 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow II with 80,000 odometer miles.
The sale will be held at Futules' Harmar House, 1321 Freeport Road, Harmar, with a preview from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 6, followed by the sale. Details: 724-275-7190 or www.constantinemayer.com
Twisted Gavel Auctions
Their story sounds like a rom-com plot: Two people share a passion for auctions, fall in love, start an auction company and live happily ever after.
In real life, Michelle and Tony Bulger own Twisted Gavel Auctions, a new company that will have its second sale Aug. 30 at the West View VFW. After meeting at a Christmas party, they discovered their mutual interest in auctions. She loved attending sales, and he worked for an auction company as a teenager. As the relationship developed, they bought items at auctions and yard sales and would later resell them online. Over time, the idea of starting an auction company seemed like the logical next step.
So when Clarion University offered a charter auctioneering class, they signed on right away. Though they graduated in June 2012, the Bulgers didn't hold their first sale until this past March, mostly because they couldn't find a suitable place to have an auction. Their search ended at the West View VFW post, a spot not far from their Ross home.
When it came to naming the company, the Bulgers wanted something that expressed their sense of humor and settled on Twisted Gavel. Though some of their offbeat wit will be on display at the sale, they are dead serious about the auction business. They say they value the relationships they make with buyers and sellers and look to provide both with opportunities in a fun and fair marketplace.
“We enjoy meeting new people,” Michelle says. “Just about every item people bring to us has some sort of personal story that makes it a little more interesting to us and special to our buyers and sellers.”
A look at the merchandise on the block during Twisted Gavel's sale turns up a fair mix of antiques and primitives, with many pieces coming from dealers and other collectors. A nifty vintage metal motorcycle tow truck adds a playful element, as glassware from Fenton and Fostoria appeal to more grownup tastes. Among the primitives are crocks and a Dazey tabletop butter churn. Other cool items include advertising pieces, such as a set of antique ice picks and a Coca-Cola wall clock. In addition, bidders can compete for fishing rods, stained glass, hand and power tools and paintings.
Doors open at 9 a.m. Aug. 30 for the preview, with the sale starting at 10 a.m., at West View VFW, 386 Perry Highway, West View. Details: 412-559-7778
John Altdorfer is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.
