Wave Crest collection selling without reserve

DOUGLASS, Kans. – The lifetime collection of Don and the late Carrol Lyle – dedicated collectors of Wave Crest, Nakara, Kelva and American Brilliant Cut Glass whose items have been featured in books, trade publications and museum exhibits – will be sold without reserve in a two-day auction slated for Sept. 7-8 by Woody Auction, at 130 East Third Street in Douglass, Kansas.

The Lyles, who hail from Washington State, began collecting glassware pieces decades ago, with their main focus being on items produced by the C.F. Monroe Company (Meriden Conn., 1882-1916). The Lyles loved the quality of the Wave Crest, cut glass and other items created by C.F. Monroe, and managed to assemble one of the foremost collections in the country that featured these lovely pieces.

“Without a doubt this is the finest Wave Crest collection to ever come to public auction,” said Jason Woody of Woody Auction. “Don and the late Carrol Lyle were well-known collectors and beloved members of the Wave Crest and American Brilliant Cut Glass clubs, as well as the American Cut Glass Association. Now their one-of-a-kind collection will be sold to the highest bidder, without reserve.”

Highlighting the two-day sale will be 350 lots of Wave Crest, Nakara and Kelva, plus over 300 lots of American Brilliant Cut Glass, which will play an equally significant role in the event. The Friday, Sept. 7 session, starting at 5 p.m. CST, will contain lots 1-250. The balance of the catalog (lots 251-670) will come up for bid in the Saturday, Sept. 8 session, starting at 9:30 a.m.

Stars of the Wave Crest category include an elaborate hand-painted panel featuring an early Venice, Italy scenic décor, signed “C.V.H.” (for Carl V. Helmschmied), mounted in a 29 3/4-inch by 23 1/2-inch oak frame; and an unmarked pipe holder plaque in green and cream tones with a portrait of a Native American in full headdress, plus an embossed scroll design and set in a brass frame holding five wooden English pipes.

The unmarked, 17 1/2-inch tall Wave Crest vase (10 inches across handles), has a hand-painted scenic décor showing two women near a bench and a reverse showing a chrysanthemum décor, with gilt metal feet and handles and a cobalt blue border, is outstanding; as is the unmarked Wave Crest dresser box in cream and blue tones with an underwater fish scenic décor, gold stencil highlights and gilt metal feet.

A Wave Crest banner mark vase, 17 inches tall, deep emerald green, showing a classic courting scene, with Vermillion trim highlights, gilt metal feet and handles, is nearly identical to the vase shown on page 47 of Cohen’s Wave Crest book. Also offered will be an unmarked Wave Crest wall plaque, 12 inches by 8 1/2 inches, depicting a woman in a sheer pink dress, housed in an ornate gilt metal frame.

American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) pieces in the auction include a high-quality punch bowl in the Sunburst pattern by C.F. Monroe with an exact pattern matched base and nine pattern-matched pedestal punch cups; and a decanter in the Croesus pattern by J. Hoare, 12 1/2 inches tall, with a ray cut base and quality blank.

Also sold will be an ABCG table lamp, 19 1/2 inches tall, signed Gundy and Clapperton, boasting a cutting of hobstar cluster and Millicent stripes, with a finely engraved scene of geese flying over cattails; and an ABCG vase, 14 inches tall, in the Odolet pattern by C.F. Monroe, with a hobstar base and heavy blank, as featured in the Monroe catalog #11, page 42 (only this one is larger).

Nakara is a trade name for a white glassware decorated in pastel colors and made about 1900 by C.F. Monroe. The glass was similar to that of Wave Crest. It had an acid finish and beaded or raised rococo scrolls. Boxes for dressing tables were the most common Nakara pieces. The mark isn’t found on every piece. The Nakara pieces from the Lyle collection include, but are not limited to:

A marked, 17 1/2-inch tall vase showing a night scene of sailboats in a harbor, done in cobalt blue with pale blue and cream side panels, Vermillion blue highlights and gilt metal feet and handles.

A humidor marked Nakara, 5 3/4 inches by 4 inches, done in brown and rust tones, with a portrait of a Native American in full headdress and the word “Cigars” showing on the humidor lid.

For those unable to attend the event in person, internet bidding will be facilitated by www.liveauctioneers.com/woody-auction-llc. Online bidders are encouraged to register at least 48 hours in advance.

Absentee bids will be accepted, with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid. The deadline to submit an absentee bid is noon Wednesday, Sept. 6. Absentee bids may be submitted by fax (316-746-2145) or e-mail (info@woodyauction.com). There is no phone bidding.

Woody Auction is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or collection, call them at 316-747-2694; or e-mail them at info@woodyauction.com. To learn more about Woody Auction and the Sept. 7-8 auction, visit www.woodyauction.com. 

This article was originally published in Antique Trader magazine. If you like what you've read here, consider subscribing to the print or digital versions of Antique Trader it's available for $26 per year (print) or $20 per year (digital) to receive 24 issues.
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