John Kruesel's General Merchandise & Auction Company Auction Catalog - Antiques Auction Online Auctions

Rossel Swiss Geneva pocket watch (watch #416)

Lot #1 (Sale Order 1 of 27)

circa 1840's, hunting case, white enamel dial w/ blued steel moon hands, Roman numeral hour markers w/ subsidiary minute markers & a sweep second hand at 6:00 position; case #39 on dial side; inside case numbers on movement side 38439; inside case cover markings over movement: "Patent Lever, Full Ruby Jewelled, Rossel Geneva #38439;" approx. 16 to 18 kt. yellow gold (no laws existed then to regulate gold purity); attached is the set key, stainless tube set w/ a round link/straight bar and round link chain attachment

Romilly enamel verge French pocket watch (watch #421)

Lot #2 (Sale Order 2 of 27)

circa 1780's, by Romilly Watchmakers, open face; Geneve - Calame movement #10059; all movement parts hand made; case is plated -- not gold; front of case has a large domed crystal w/ a key set between 1:00 and 2:00 positions; same key used on the center part of the hands to set them into position; back of case has a hand painted enamel picture of male & female walking in a garden; lacquer finish over the painting to protect it.

Romilly enamel verge French pocket watch (watch #422)

Lot #3 (Sale Order 3 of 27)

circa 1780's, by Romilly Watchmakers, open face; no names or serial numbers indicated on movement; 6250 is engraved on the box at the base of the bow and stem; key set located between the 1:00 and 2:00 positions; watch is plated -- not gold; all movement parts hand made; back of case is painted enamel with a female figure standing next to an urn in a garden; lacquer finish over the painting to protect it; approx. 56 seed pearl halves line the painted enamel back; approx. 20 are missing; 69 seed pearl halves line the bezel with one missing

Calendar and moon phase pocket watch (watch #430)

Lot #4 (Sale Order 4 of 27)

Rare dual sided open face calendar and moon phase pocket watch, pin set; Rud Beyer Company, Bonn, Germany (possibly made by Swiss company), 1860's/70's; phase of the moon is indicated through the aperture in the center of the dial on the front of the watch; second hand marker is at the 6:00 position; other calendar indications are on the back side of the watch; days of the week and date are shown by a single rose colored gilt hand and the month in a rectangular aperture; days of the week are indicated on an outer silvered ring; they can be rotated by the thumb wheel to align the correct day with the date; the date 1-31 can be changed with the slide lever, and the month can be changed with the second thumb wheel; visible on the inside of calendar plate is movement #52981; on the actual movement is an engraved shield by the balance wheel with the initials JVC; attached is a flat curb link 13" 3.0 mm wide chain, with an attached twisted heavy wire button hole keeper (2.0 mm round) on a light chain attached to an oval link slide; chain and button hole keeper are gold filled

Bourdillon & Co. open face pocket watch (watch #431)

Lot #5 (Sale Order 5 of 27)

340.0 mm open face pocket watch; inside of back cover engraved on the movement cover is an ornate shield which is hand engraved with the following: No. 640 Bourdillon & Co. In Geneva Cylinder Escapement Four Holes Jeweled. Movement cover is hand engraved; stamped on the inside of back case cover are the numbers 640 with a 7 below the 640 number;dial as a whole is karat gold, possibly 16 to 18 kt.; movement is a simple 5 bar and balance bridge movement; case is approx. 16 to 18 kt. yellow gold; attached is a light weight fine 1.50 mm wide flat curb link chain; attached to the opposite side of the chain is a hand made steel key meant for winding and setting the hand of the watch through the back of the movement case cover; chain is 14 kt. yellow gold

Bookcase by Gustav Stickley

Lot #6 (Sale Order 6 of 27)

Two-door bookcase by Gustav Stickley (with red label), 56" x 34" x 12", original finish with locks and key; one pane of glass is missing; one is cracked. Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Maryo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

Pair of hardwood dining chairs by Greene & Greene, c. 1906

Lot #7 (Sale Order 7 of 27)

Both chairs stamped "Sumner Greene His True Mark;" originally designed for the Dr. W.T. Bolton house in Pasadena, CA. (cf.http://www.usc.edu/dept/architecture/greeneandgreene/122a.html); both with original leather covered seat cushions and original finish; 38.25" x 20" x 16.75"; selling times two only. Provenance: Dr. W.T. Bolton, Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

$18,000.00 x 2 = $36,000.00 Total

1870's American bedroom set attributed to Mitchell & Rammelsberg

Lot #8 (Sale Order 8 of 27)

Hardwood bedroom set consisting of: massive bed with a carved bust, 92" length x 63.5" width x 95" height + 18.5" with attached bust; vanity, 27" depth x 65.75" width x 102" height; oval table, 27.75" x 32.75" x 20"; and single drawer side table. Provenance: originally owned by U.S. Federal Judge Rensselaer Nelson (1826-1904), who settled in Minnesota Territory in the early 1850's' according to family lore the bed was once used by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.

19th century shelf clock by Jerome & Darrow

Lot #9 (Sale Order 9 of 27)

Shelf clock by Jerome & Darrow, Bristol, CT., with carved American eagle; appears original and complete; interior adhesive label indicates the Balfours purchased it an antique shop in Waterbury, CT., in 1910; 30" height x 16.5" width x 6" depth. Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Cllinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

Victorian neo-Gothic cast iron garden fountain

Lot #10 (Sale Order 10 of 27)

circa 1880; 60" height, 25" diameter

1920's Louis Vuitton steamer trunk

Lot #11 (Sale Order 11 of 27)

Latch marked "Champs Elysees/ Louis Vuitton/ London/ 149 New Bond Street/ Made in France;" 22" width x 44" length x 22" height (note: these measurements are corrected as of October 3rd). Provenance: Lt. Colonel George Wood Beeler (1910-1951), West Point graduate and Assistant to Chief of Transportation on ports development in France and rail operations in northern Europe during the Allied thrust toward Berlin toward the close of WWII; his heirs.

French Second Empire candelabrum

Lot #12 (Sale Order 12 of 27)

Eight-light bronze dore candelabrum with putti support; 34" height; from Atlanta, GA. (42" support column selling separately)

Haviland china wild fowl game set

Lot #13 (Sale Order 13 of 27)

Hand painted Haviland china game set consisting of: 19.5" platter, ten 9.5" plates and two 7.5" oval bowls, all matching, each picturing a different bird; each piece signed "Norys"

Sculpture of nude woman seated on a bench by Charles E. Gagnon (American [Rochester, MN.], 1934-2012

Lot #14 (Sale Order 14 of 27)

brass or bronze, 5.75" width, 12.5" height

Sculpture of nude woman standing by Charles E. Gagnon (American [Rochester, MN.], 1934-2012)

Lot #15 (Sale Order 15 of 27)

brass or bronze, 4.75" width, 14.25" height

Sculpture of nude woman standing, hands held to face, by Charles E. Gagnon (American [Rochester, MN.

Lot #16 (Sale Order 16 of 27)

brass or bronze, 3.25" width, 9" height

Totem sculpture by Domenico Calabrone (Brazilian/Italian, 1928-2000)

Lot #17 (Sale Order 17 of 27)

bronze, 4" width, 8.75" height

1950's scoreboard

Lot #18 (Sale Order 18 of 27)

clock works and keeps time; lights work (some bad bulbs); horn works; when clock reaches the last minute of a quarter the red lights inside the board come on; 74" width x 44" height; weight 75 lbs. Provenance: from a Goodhue County, MN., school built in 1954 (the scoreboard is believed to have been original to the school gym)

Helen Keller's book "Teacher Anne Sullivan Macy" inscribed

Lot #19 (Sale Order 19 of 27)

Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1955. dust jacket (as is). black cloth hardbound. Inscription inside front cover in violet colored pencil reads "To Donald and Carrie Balfour/ In whose noble work/ Teacher would have taken great pride./ Affectionately/ Helen Keller/ November 24th, 1955;" tucked inside front cover also a 4" x 5" Christmas greeting card (which folds open to 8" x 5") -- which likely came with the book the same year -- signed in lead pencil by Helen Keller and her companion Polly Thomson, who succeeded "Teacher" Anne Sullivan Macy as Keller's companion following Macy's death in 1936. Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

"Helen Keller's Journal 1936-1937" inscribed

Lot #20 (Sale Order 20 of 27)

Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1938. no dust jacket. light maroon cloth hardbound. Inscription inside front cover in lead pencil reads "To Mrs. Balfour/ Whose Life God'e Eye/ Looks upon as a/ diary of helpful/ deeds and sweet/ Friendships,/ Lovingly,/ Helen Keller/ November 29th, 1938." Provenance: Carrie L. Mayo (Mrs. Donald) Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); her daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1812-1983); Mary's husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

"The Blue Hill," framed signed oil on canvas by Maurice Braun (American, 1877-1941), 20" x 30"

Lot #21 (Sale Order 21 of 27)

Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

"The Valley," framed signed oil on canvas by Maurice Braun (American, 1877-1941), 20" x 24"

Lot #22 (Sale Order 22 of 27)

Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

"Beside the Acequia near San Ildefonso," framed signed oil on canvas by Gerald Ira Diamond Cassidy (

Lot #23 (Sale Order 23 of 27)

Title is handwritten on verso of canvas. Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

Untitled framed signed oil on canvas dated 1905 by Charles Craig (American, 1946-1931), 18" x 26.25"

Lot #24 (Sale Order 24 of 27)

Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

Untitled framed matted signed watercolor by John Whorf (American, 1903-1959), 19.75" x 26" (sight si

Lot #25 (Sale Order 25 of 27)

Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963) and his wife Carrie L. Mayo Balfour (1887-1960) (daughter of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo); their daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); her husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

Framed matted patriotic American folk art petit point by Hattie Damon Mayo (1864-1952), wife of Mayo

Lot #26 (Sale Order 26 of 27)

Handwritten legend attached to the verso reads, "Petit point done by Mrs. W.J. Mayo 1889 (41 stars)." Provenance: Hattie Damon Mayo (1864-1952), wife of Mayo Clinic co-founder Dr. William J. Mayo; her daughter Carrie L. Mayo (Mrs. Donald) Balfour (1887-1960); her daughter Mary D. Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); Mary's husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz, Jr. (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.

"Winter Cheer," framed signed oil on canvas by Oscar Edmund Berninghaus (American, 1874-1952), 16" x

Lot #27 (Sale Order 27 of 27)

Accompanied by a 4.25" x 4.25" period photo of the artist in his studio; Provenance: Dr. Donald C. Balfour (1882-1963), who received the picture personally from the artist; inscription on verso reads, "Dr. D.C. Balfour -- Rochester, Minn. 9/19-23 'Winter Cheer' O.E. Berninghaus, St. Louis, MO;" Dr. Balfour's daughter Mary Balfour Helmholz (1912-1983); Mary's husband Dr. Henry Frederic Helmholz (1911-2012), all of Rochester, MN.


Antiques Auction
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Antiques Auction
by John Kruesel's General Merchandise & Auction Company Sat, Oct 6, 2012 1:00 PM Central Works of art, furniture, china, glass, silver, 1950's scoreboard, Victorian cast iron fountain, long guns and hand guns