There are around 250 lots of fine clocks, estate jewelry and other small items that would make excellent holiday presents. These items will be sold in an online-only auction slated to end Friday, Dec. 10, by Gordon S. Converse & Co. What makes it special is that the auction is already online and all lots may be viewed at the website only.

"If payment is received promptly there will be no trouble shipping in time for the holidays," said Gordon Converse of Gordon S. Converse & Co. "The jewelry includes many affordable precious and semi-precious mounted pins, pendants, necklaces, rings and earrings. Vintage clocks make wonderful presents, too, and there will also be unusual and wonderful gift items galore."

While most of the expected top lots will be vintage clocks and timepieces, many great gift items will also cross the block. These include a large, important Swiss orchestral music box featuring a rosewood cased box with inlay that plays the drums, castanets and bells (est. $2,000-$4,000), and a Swiss-made feathered mechanical singing bird in a cage (est. $1,500-$1,800).

Rare and vintage clocks are the niche for which Gordon S. Converse & Co. has built its reputation, and many fine examples are expected to draw high dollar amounts. The anticipated top lot of the auction is a fine tubular chime hall clock with clockworks signed by the Herschede clock company (est. $7,000-$15,000). The clock has an especially fine carved case, corbel style.

Another clock expected to do well is a signed walnut tall case clock attributed to Jacob Kling of Reading, Pa. (est. $6,000-$8,000). The eight-day clock was taken from a local house where it had not been kept running or been altered for years.

Two clocks are expected to bring anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000. The first a fine Regency "bracket" (or chamber) timepiece in a solid mahogany case, with a mellow color, dark stained glass inlay pieces, cast and gilt Egyptian style feet and pineapple finial. The second is a cast brass cased mantel adapted Chelsea bronze metal clock with high-quality casting standards.

A 56-inch mahogany, mirror and cased wall clock by Ives with an iron painted dial above the mirror and a reverse painted pendulum lentical should reach $1,800-$2,500. The case with reeded columns support a sleight molded frieze and a scroll crested top. And a Tiffany mantel clock in the style of Louis XV, with a faux tortoise and ormolu case, should hit $800-$1,500.

Other stars of the clocks category include an outstanding decorative 18th or 19th century Swiss Neuchatel mantel clock with a finely painted surface (est. $1,500-$2,000); a nice late 19th or early 20th century carved walnut paneled provincial standing French provincial clock (est. $300-$1,500); and an early 19th century French made ormolu pillar clock (est. $400-$1,000).

If you are interested and want to find out what an antique item might be worth, you can find it out by sending a photo of the item, along with a check for $40, to Gordon S. Converse & Co., Attn: Gordon S. Converse, 758 Mancill Rd., Strafford, PA 19087. If you are looking for more information, you are welcome to visit the official website of the auction. There are updates posted frequently there.