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A WEIGHTY SUCCESS AT DOUGLAS AUCTIONEERS w/6 cuts

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DEERFIELD, MASS. — Two antique weights, a three-color crown by Saint Louis and a piedouche by Clichy, brought top dollar at the paperweight auction held December 3 by Douglas Auctioneers. Each weight reached $3,450 after spirited bidding by collectors in the house and Internet.

Just under 170 antique and contemporary paperweights were on the block, including ones created by major factories: American, English, Scottish and French, and by contemporary artists such as Charles Kaziun Jr, Paul Stankard, Debbie Tarsitano, Delmo Tarsitano, Chris Buzzini, Bob Banford, Victor Trabucco, Parabelle, Gordon Smith, Ken Rosenfeld, James Brown, John Deacons and James Donofrio.

Antique weights included a fine New England Glass Co. fruit bouquet on latticinio basket, $748; a Baccarat dog on amber ground, faceted, $345; Baccarat concentric on clear ground with spaced silhouette canes, $1,725; and a Baccarat miniature closepack, unsigned and undated, $575.

Paperweights from 1950 on included several major Twentieth Century glass artists, such as Charles Kaziun Jr that included a blue and white pansy with blue and red torsade, $1,265; a “40s girl” silhouette, $1,150; and a gold foil dog on a light blue ground, garland of canes, $1,150. Paul Stankard weights included a blackberry and belladonna bouquet, $1,725, and a pink flower bouquet on clear ground, $1,265.

Weights by Delmo Tarsitano included early pieces; a two-strawberry enclosure brought $575. A brilliant red rose with diamond cutting around the base by this artist realized $920 and a more recent collage offering with snake and canes on a fiber ground reached $1,495.

Other makers and prices realized included: Rick Ayotte, Hawthorne berry illusion with red ground and intricate faceting, 1988, $1,725; Victor Trabucco, orange butterfly with blueberries and flower, magnum, $1,380; a Saint Louis closepack mushroom of complex canes with white and green overlay, 1981; and a Baccarat closepack, church window, circa 1960, $540.

Also an Orient and Flume pink and green marbrie, $310; a Perthshire closepack millefiori, with amber and white overlay, $460; Fred Wilkerson, spider on web with orange ground, signed and dated 1973, $126; a William Manson six-petal purple and yellow flower on purple ground, faceted, $287; and a bottle by Monart, blue shading to white millefiori stopper, paper label, $575.

Douglas Bilodeau, auctioneer, will conduct a second paperweight auction in the early spring. Those interested in consigning paperweights for this sale are asked to call the gallery, 413-665-2877 or make contact through www.Douglas Auctioneers.com. Deadline for submissions to the sale is February 20.

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PLAINVILLE HISTORIC CENTER TO HOST FARMINGTON CANAL LECTURE JAN 18

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PLAINVILLE, CONN. — The Farmington Canal comes to life on Tuesday, January 18, at 7:30 pm, at the Plainville Historic Center. Speakers will be Ruth Sharp Hummel and Dr Carl Walter, who will use an interactive computer program as well as slides to tell the story of the 1828–48 waterway.

The canal was a great influence on the development of the Great Plain, as Plainville was known, until it broke away from Farmington in 1869. The canal encouraged the development of small factories by offering safe and smoother transport of goods from Northampton to New Haven. Carriages, farm products, tinware, clocks, all sorts of wood products and thousands of dozens of corn brooms went over the water highway.

Walter will present information on the building and running of the canal. He has walked the total route of the canal taking photos of what is left. Hummel will talk of the people, boats and horses with the occasional bit of humor interjected. Hummel and Walter spent three years compiling a map of the canal, and on the back is a collection of facts and photos of the canal.

The public is invited and may also view the holiday decorations that will still be in place. The Plainville Historic Center is at 29 Pierce Street. For information, 860-747-6577.

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ULLA SURLAND IMPERIALE (no slug)

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FAIRFIELD, CONN. — Ulla Surland is currently showing the work of Matthew Imperiale through February 21.

Imperiale has lived in New York City since 1977. The city as well as personal experiences and observations are a key element in this series of eclectic and creative collages. Created from objects found on the streets and back alleys, collected and transformed over the years, this series reflects not only the artist’s concerns about a society mesmerized by consumerism and mired in its own wastefulness, but also his own profound and deeply humorous autobiographical journey.

Combining color and design, exquisite details, layers of objects and paint, Imperiale’s work is as intimate as a diary. Though full of social commentary, his work is humorous, friendly and a delight to explore. There is no finger wagging or self-righteousness here, only questions, irony and delightful parables.

Ulla Surland is at 11 Unquowa Road, For information, 203-259-1572. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 11 am to 6 pm.