Remembering a long deserted nightclub takes center stage as more than a half dozen local auctions should keep bidders busy.
J.S. Dill Auctions
J.S. Dill journeys down memory lane with a pair of sales that includes a slew of fine furniture and keepsakes from a North Hills landmark that has seen better days.
This Thursday sale's is heavy on good collectible furniture ranging from Victorian to 1950s contemporary. The standout is a small but handsome roll-top desk with a bookcase with glass doors. In addition, bidders will find an Art Deco walnut bedroom suite, porcelain and glass. Previews start at 5 p.m. Thursday , followed by the 6 p.m. auction.
Until the day she died last summer, Constance Costa Schaefer never surrendered her dream of restoring the Beverly Hills Hotel to its former splendor. As the owner of the once-elegant Ross supper club, she dreamed of the day when the now-decaying structure ravaged by fire, time and neglect would reopen as a swanky nightspot. Closed for business in the early 1980s, the property's fate remains unsettled.
For a brief moment, J.S. Dill rekindles the magic of the Beverly Hills Hotel during its April 27 auction. This rare Dill Sunday sale puts on the block a good portion of the belongings of Schaefer, who collected many of the furnishings and decorations for her establishment from razed area mansions. Locked in storage for years, the items include French-inspired furniture, stained-glass windows and chandeliers.
Previews are from 4 to 6 p.m. April 25 and at noon April 27, followed by the 1 p.m. sale. All previews and sales are at the J.S. Dill showroom, 2341 Evans City Road, Zelienople.
Details: 724-453-0853, 412-362-9001.
Three Rivers Auction Co.
The doors will open an hour earlier than usual when Three Rivers Auction Co. sets up for Sunday'ssale of furs and jewels. The Washington, Pa.- based auction house even added an extra preview date.
First up are the furs, with a nice mix of mink and sable stoles, wraps, hats, muffs, jackets and mid- and full-length coats that at one time retailed for as much as $18,000. Then comes an array of dazzling baubles and beads for nearly every taste and budget, including rings, bracelets, necklaces, baskets and other trinkets made of platinum, silver, gold, rubies, pearls, emeralds, opals and other precious and semi-precious stones and metal.
A week later, April 27, Three Rivers returns with a general auction of glassware, china, crystal, silver and a collection of approximately 35 pocket watches.
Sunday's auction previews are from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday, noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by the noon sale. For the April 27 sale, previews are from noon to 7 p.m. April 24 and 11 a.m. April 27, followed by the noon sale. All previews and sales are at West Beau and Washington streets in Washington, Pa.
Details: 724-222-8020.
Constantine & Mayer
Jeff Constantine calls Saturday's auction a "spring fling" with a potpourri of goods ranging from furniture and ivory to silver and art glass. Gorham and Roseville are just a few of the names that should attract collectors to this sale, which features a large number of "smalls" that carry estimates from around $100 to $1,000. Ceramics and pottery dominate, with many vases and decorative items on the block. However, a Berkey & Gay mahogany, Georgian-style dining room set is the sale standout.
"This is rare find," Constantine says. "It's a fabulous set for two reasons. First, the condition is great. And, second, it's a complete 12-piece set. That is very unusual."
Among the pieces are the handsomely carved table with a handpainted floral design, eight chairs, sideboard and small server. It also comes with several inserts to expand the table size. Although machine-made, Berkey & Gay furniture was known for its outstanding quality and tends to hold its value well.
Previews are from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the sale.
On April 26, Constantine & Mayer goes on the offensive with a sale of antique firearms and "edged" weapons. Constantine calls this mini-arsenal an "extraordinary collection" of Colt handguns, daggers, long rifles and Civil War sabers. While most items fall in the $300 to $500 range, a handsome Kentucky rifle with a curly maple stock carries a $3,000 to $5,000 estimate. Sure to hit a bull's-eye with local sportsmen, the sale includes 500 lots with no reserves.
Previews are from 8 to 11 a.m. April 26, followed by the sale. All previews and sales are at 1306 Pittsburgh St., Cheswick.
Details: 724-275-7190.
Royal York Auction Galleries
"Muscle" cars were the rage in the 1960s, and the Dodge Coronet was one of the classier chassises of the era. The April 26 auction at the Royal York features a 1969 olive-green 440 series Coronet with 40,000-plus original miles. Rounding out the sale at the East Liberty mainstay is a sizeable collection of estate jewelry, silver, glass, furniture and household items. Previews are from 5 to 8 p.m. April 24 and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25. The sale begins at 9 a.m. April 26 at 5925 Baum Blvd., East Liberty. Details: 412-661-1171.
Recent Sales
Constantine & Mayer
One of the largest crowds ever for a Constantine & Mayer sale turned out for the March 29 sale, with sale prices breaking the $30,000 barrier. "When I stepped up to the podium, it was like looking out at the audience at a rock concert," Jeff Constantine says. Fetching top dollar was a Wooten "Wells Fargo" desk at $34,500, including buyer's premium.
