Augusta Auctions


33 Gage Street, Bellows Falls, US 05101
802-463-3333

About Auction House

Augusta Auctions represents museums, historical societies, universities and other institutions bringing to market museum deaccessions and patron donations, with sale proceeds earmarked to benefit their permanent collections. Our company also represents individuals and select estates in the auction of rare fashion items.

Auction Previews & News

6 Results
  • Auction Industry, Press Release
    Historical Fashion and Contemporary Couture Available at Augusta Auctions

    Augusta Auctions’ End of Summer Elegance sale, scheduled for September 25, 2024, offers a rare opportunity to own a piece of fashion history. This event will present 250 lots of couture, with historical items dating back centuries balanced with more contemporary pieces. Online bidding and the full catalog are available on Bidsquare.  Callot Soeurs Lame Evening Gown, Paris, 1927 Assorted fashion items from the 1920s and 30s are among the top lots in this event. Fine gowns and jackets from Fortuny and Vionnet will be available, as well as a flowing French evening gown from 1927 (lot #248; estimate: USD 1,800 - $2,500). This dress was designed by Callot Soeurs, a label founded by four sisters in 1895. The brand grew to become one of the premier fashion houses of the Belle Époque. The sisters were among the first to embrace fluid lines, looser cuts, and a modern aesthetic in their dresses. The offered evening gown is composed of tangerine-colored silk with gold and silver details. Gold lace adorns the flowing sleeves.  Robe De Style Wedding Dress, Mid 1920s Wedding gowns of all shapes and sizes will be offered in this event, including one from the mid-1920s (lot #2; estimate: $800 - $1,200). This cream-colored lace dress features a tiered ruffle skirt, velvet flower accents, and a sleeveless top. It is a robe de style gown, recognizable with its shell top, dropped waist, and flowing skirt. Silk wedding gowns from the 1830s and 40s can also be considered. Two of these dresses are offered in a single lot (#237; estimate: $00 - $1,200). The 1835 dress features a wide bateau neckline, balloon sleeves, and a full pleated skirt. The 1845 dress adopts a more structured, geometric form with its fitted boned bodice and gathered skirt.  Gents Assembled Late 18th C Style Suit, 1790-1850s Gentleman’s clothes in the catalog include an assembled late 18th-century style suit, offered with a frock coat, bobbin lace flounce, silk waistcoat, satin breeches, and other accessories (lot #238; estimate: $1,200 - $1,500). This outfit is full of small details, including shamrocks on the embroidered waistcoat and…

  • Auction Preview
    Vintage Fashion on Sale at Augusta Auctions, From 1750s Gowns to Vionnet Jackets

    Augusta Auctions’ End of Summer Elegance sale presents a wide assortment of vintage clothing and couture, with both men’s and women’s garments available. Among the top lots is a Vionnet labeled wool jacket from the 1930s. This chic jacket has a band collar, fox fur hem, and silk crepe lining. This piece was crafted by French designer Madeleine Vionnet. Best known for her innovative bias-cut dress, Vionnet was a prominent Parisian designer in the early 20th century. She favored geometric styles that eliminated the need for corsets, and her clients included the likes of Lady Foley, the Baroness Robert de Rothschild, and Greta Garbo. Another early-20th-century lot on offer is a mid-1920s lace and tulle wedding dress. Ruffles cover the base of the dress, which is outlined with velvet flowers.  Assorted 18th-century garments will cross the auction block in this sale, including a two-piece robe à la française gown and original petticoat from circa 1750. This pink and cream piece is adorned with brocade rosebuds and lacy ribbons. The 1750s witnessed the height of Rococo in fashion. Women’s dresses often embraced elaborate trimmings, floral patterns, and silk details. Bidders can consider other items from this era, including a patterned silk bodice and stomacher from the 1760s and 90s. More contemporary items in the catalog range from a Michael Mott traffic light mini dress from the mid-1960s to a Geoffrey Beene silk and velvet ball gown from the fall of 1984. Visit Bidsquare to browse the complete End of Summer Elegance catalog and browse other online auctions. Find the latest auction previews and news on Auction Daily.

  • Auction Industry
    A Clothes Call: Augusta Auctions’ End of Summer Elegance Sale

    Augusta Auctions of Bellows Falls, VT– an auctioneer specializing in nonprofit institutional deaccessioning as well as vintage couture– is presenting its End of Summer Elegance sale on September 25, 2024. This auction offers 250 sartorial temptations, ranging from 18th-century outfits to late 20th-century formalwear by some of the world's most respected designers. Of note is a collection of antique day, evening, and party dresses previously owned by the Valentine Museum of Richmond, VA. Here are some stunning highlights from this timelessly fashionable event. Lot #249, a Fortuny stenciled velvet evening jacket, is estimated at $5,000 to $8,000. Image courtesy of Augusta Auctions.  Two 1930s-era garments from the Italian brand Fortuny share top lot status in this September sale. Both have USD 5,000 to $8,000 presale estimates. The first, lot #249, is a stunning stenciled velvet evening jacket. This draping, belted black silk top is decorated with a gold stenciled reticella lace pattern. It is lined in champagne silk satin and measures 50 inches by 28 inches overall. This elegant example retains its original labels, which read “Mariano Fortuny, Venise” and “Made in Italy, Fortuny Depose.” The second, lot #250, is a Delphos gown with two belts. This 58-inch long, dark green pleated silk dress features rows of brown Murano glass beads which are decorated with blue and red stripes. The stenciled black silk belts are based on Medieval stylized foliage patterns. The dress is tagged “Fortuny Deposee, Made in Italy." Lot #250, a Fortuny Delphos gown with two belts, is estimated at $5,000 to $8,000. Image courtesy of Augusta Auctions. Fortuny, which is still in business today and is headquartered in Venice and New York, was founded by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo (Spanish, 1871 - 1949). Fortuny was an artist at heart and had a passion for textiles since childhood. In 1907, he and his wife created the signature Delphos gown, famous for its pleating and glass beading. It was designed to be worn without underwear and based loosely on an ancient Greek aesthetic. Celebrities including Eleonora Duse, Isadora Duncan, Ellen Terry, and Oona Chaplin were pictured in this legacy…

  • Auction Preview
    Museum Deaccession Bulk Sale by Augusta Auctions Commences with Paul Poiret Vintage Couture from 1917

    Museum Deaccession Bulk Sale by Augusta Auctions commences with a Poiret brown crepe-back silk satin wrap coat. Poiret, famously known as the king of fashion, was born Paul Poiret (1879-1944) in Paris. He was a French fashion designer, and master couturier during the first two decades of the 20th century. Poiret started as a cloth merchant in the poor neighborhood of Les Halles, Paris. He apprenticed to an umbrella maker, forced by his parents. But it led to him collecting scraps of silk left over from the cutting of umbrella patterns, and fashioned clothes for his dolls given by his sisters. By 1903 he had established the Paul Poiret fashion house liberating the female body from petticoats and corsets. The available satin wrap was made in 1917. This oversized wrap coat by Poiret has front panels ending in tasseled tabs with twisted silk fringe. The hanging sleeves have functional thread-covered pod buttons up to the cuffs. The sleeves are trimmed with a cuff, bone crepe back, and a satin lining. Vintage couture lovers can also bid on an 1880 three-piece riding habit coat & skirt. Riding habits were women's clothing for horseback riding since the mid-17th century. A formal habit for riding sidesaddle usually consisted of a tailored jacket with a long skirt to match. It is available for sale is made of heathered grey wool broadcloth & original cream wool knit-base broadcloth breeches. The coat has a notched collar, short lapels & full-length sleeves with CF button closure, fully lined in twill silk. The skirt is ankle length with a narrow waistband & CB hook closure. The sale will offer jewelry, Asian works of art, couture & textiles, and collectibles. View the complete catalog and register to bid, visit the Museum Deaccession Bulk Sale. 

  • Auction Preview
    Augusta Auctions Offers 1800s Boy’s Indigo Suit and Paul Poiret Evening Coat

    The upcoming fashion sale from Augusta Auctions will feature historical clothing, couture, and vintage items, including a wide range of early menswear. Leading the catalog is a rare boy’s indigo and white cotton double-breasted suit. This classic wear features a high-revere collar and handwoven waistband with a geometric design. It has a single interior coattail pocket and matching fall-front trousers with covered buttons. According to the auction house, the lot’s provenance can be traced to the Estate of Lydia Gordon. Also available is a silver lamé basket weave evening coat by French fashion designer Paul Poiret. Born in Paris, Poiret was considered one of the prominent couturiers in the early 1900s. He rose to prominence for his draping techniques and designs characterized by bold, geometric shapes. The available piece has a band collar and long sleeves. Other notable lots include the 1937 couture Jeanne Lanvin evening gown, a complete three-piece Adrian Plymouth rock ensemble made in 1946, and early Issey Miyake pieces. View the complete catalog of the upcoming Spring Sartorial Spectacular sale and find other online auctions by visiting Bidsquare.

  • Auction Preview
    Augusta Auctions Offers 1770s Silk Robe, Rare Vintage Dresses, and Jewelry

    A fashion and textile designer, Maria Monaci Gallenga (1880 - 1944), was known for her medieval patterns and unique designs. Her invention of the metallic block printing technique for fabrics made her instantly famous. A peach silk velvet tabard over a dress designed by Gallenga is a key highlight of the upcoming sale, presented by Augusta Auctions. The dress with simple, Old World motifs includes vermillion velvet medieval slashed sleeves. The piece also features Gallenga’s hallmark stencil print designs in silver and gold.  Another striking lot is an open silk robe dating back to the 1770s. The delicate robe has ornamental floral sleeve line work. It was re-made in the 1840s and comes with a matching waistcoat hand sewn from the original petticoat. The waistcoat features functional front pockets, a single side breast pocket, and corded edging. Additionally, the sale includes a selection of vintage dresses, bags, and jewelry. To view the complete catalog and find other online auctions, visit Bidsquare.