I am happy with the item I won, a 12” bronze Heintz vase, and the price paid, but I am downgrading this review due a shipping overcharge by Custom Pack & Ship, one of the recommended shippers. This item is metal and not fragile, but the shipper double boxed it with several thick layers of bubble wrap and heavy paper, charging $93.26 for shipping on the Eastern Seaboard. Double boxing was clearly unnecessary. In addition, without asking me they used signature required which was unnecessary and (as usual) created problems receiving the shipment. The shipping should have cost about half what it did.

I wish that I had read a few of the reviews that arent on Google before committing myself.I am out of state, and won a lot online. However, one of their preferred shippers (Custom Pack & Ship) charged 5 times the industry standard to package and ship the lot.As an example, I also won a similar lot at another auction in LA recently, and had it shipped across the country for 1/20th of the price that this auctions preferred shipper charged to send my other lot over two states.

John Fontaine recently handled the sale of my late fathers collection of over 150 antique clocks. The photographs and descriptions were amazing. He was able to get very good prices for the collection and we were paid in a very timely manner. Could not have asked for a better auction company to have handled my dads collection. Thanks!

Outstanding auction house with great reputation and staff.

Love this Auction Gallery. Really nice antiques. The people who work there are great.

In 2007 my husband and I contacted Fontaines after reading of a clock auction. I emailed pictures of items I wished to sell. I expressed concern as to how to get the items to their auction. They said they had a truck that picked up item in other states and would stop at our house on the way back from one of these pickups. We sent a large hand painted and dated German trunk, a slag glass tiffany style stained glass lamp, an old circus poster professionally framed and 2 large store display spice tinsel. After several months I inquired on the status. The girl was rude and said we owed them money. We never received a statement or any monies. We acted in good faith that we would receive a check. Nothing! My husband has since passed away and for some reason I am still on the mailing list. I do not recommend this auction and will always feel hurt that we trusted some our treasured items to this auction and got nothing.

Great place amazing collection love the staff

John Fontaine’ is an honest man that draws an amazing crowd because of the quality of his reputation. I’ve done business with him and can tell you it’s the best in the country. I was an antique dealer for 40 years and always new I could rely on John to take good care of me. It’s not often that you could find someone that cares and will always do his best . Cynthia Keller antique Dealer of quality antiques

I usually only bid in person or by phone but with covid, I was forced to learn how to bid online. I used their website and it was very easy to work and navigate, even for someone like me, would definitely recommend.

My wife and I have been going to Fontaine’s for years and finally decided it was time to write a review. The facility has been renovated and looks wonderful. The selection of items are so diverse and interesting that even if you can’t afford to buy them, it’s worth it to go and look. The owner John is a great man who is one of the best in the business. When I buy here, I know I can trust that the item is just as they say it is. The staff is very friendly and make you feel the utmost comfortable. My wife is very hard to impress, and she enjoys going just as much as I do.

Very nice selection and very helpful and understanding staff and owner. They will even pack your item and ship it for an additional price if you live far from the auction or bid online! Thank you again. You won’t be disappointed!

This is the best auction house in New England! I have been auctioning with John for years and have always had a five star experience. John is professional, experienced and highly knowledgeable on all items. I know I am in good hands and can trust John to manage my auction items in the most professional way.

I called John to ask for his opinion on the authenticity of a Tiffany lamp. I emailed him photos and he called me within the hour. Not only was he lightning fast in his reply, but very knowledgeable and courteous. I would highly recommend him.

I registered to bid online with Fontaines a few auctions ago and have been very pleased. The online platform is easy to use. When I called to ask some questions about how the auctions worked the person on the phone was helpful and pleasent to talk to. I definitely will be back to bid!

John Fontaine is so very helpful and willing to assist. He took time out of his schedule to help and educate me on a difficult sculpture. That speaks volumes regarding a persons character. Being in the Midwest, I am used to stuffy east coasters(LOL)- John is the furthest thing from that! Thank you John!

Be very careful when buying high-priced Laterndluhren and Dachluhren!Auction Nov. 17th 2018: Lot Nr. 121 - BIEDERMEIER LATERNDLUHR 1 YEAR ASTRONOMICAL REGULATOR is a total fake!A few years ago, an Austrian clock collector bought this Vienna Laterndluhr from the Viennese art dealer Stephan Andreewitch for a large sum of money. After experts found out that this was a complete forgery, Andreewitch had to take back the clock, refund the purchase amount and pay all the costs for the Vienna court and the lawyers. An expensive affair for a worthless Laterndluhr fake!Time and again, forgeries of Viennese Dachluhren and Laterndluhren you may see in the world of Internet.Unfortunately, such bad copies are also offered by antique and art dealers in large cities such as Vienna, London, ... but also in large auction houses as original and the customer needs a lot of expertise to distinguish original from replica.Therefore, my tip: Stay away from buying such high-priced copies, if you do not understand! You usually never see your money again!********Meanwhile, I have seen that Fontaine`s Auction Gallery has responded to my posting and has removed the clock from the auction. Thats a good thing and I hope, that the experts of Fountain`s Auction Gallery also have testet the remaining Laterndluhren for originality! They all seem to be also very suspect!

I have consigned and purchase several times. Very professional. Ill keep doing business with them

I brought in a pair of 18th century candlesticks to sell, not only did the owner say he wouldn’t want them in his house but he said a piece was missing that catches the dripped wax and that ‘someone really saw someone coming’. The candlesticks were purchased in Palm Beach, FL for $2500 but apparently I was taken but didn’t appreciate being insulted. I also had photos of a small painting purchased at the world renowned Wally Findlay Gallery along with several Eduardo Cortez paintings, Mr. Fontaine called the piece ‘tourist’ art as though it purchased in a convenience store! The third insult! Horrible place!

First class operation! Great people to work with. Thank you!

ONLINE BIDDERS BEWARE! After submitting a recorded bid via Live Auctioneers, the item went to another bidder for the same amount. After contacting Fontaines Auction Gallery to better understand where the glitch was, I was sent a rude, belittling and condescending email in response. This Auction house evidently does not want nor appreciate online bidders. Whether you are a professional designer like myself or a novice at online auctions, Fontaines is NOT the place to purchase online.

My parents and I have bought, sold and consigned antiques with Fontaines. We are very happy working with John Fontaine and his staff, and have never had an issue.This is a large auction gallery with monthly antique auctions. Easy parking and lots of seating inside. Each auction I have been too has had a small catered food concession set up.They have a A+ BBB rating. This site has no popups and tested clean and safe from malware. The site has a contact page, with email and a phone number for easy visitor support. AVG and quttera found no issues with this site. Sucuri SiteCheck reported Verified Clean, Google Malware Diagnostic Tool reported this site as safe. Ratings and Stats were as listed at time of this review.

I have bought items online and in person. I prefer to attend in person, but when I cant make it, the online bidding is simple and easy to do.

Great facility and great people to work with.

Not an antique store

One of the best!