MT. CRAWFORD, VA, October 3, 2025 —- Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates is pleased to announce its 49th Semi-Annual Premier Americana Auction to be held November 20-22, 2025. The three-day event features consignments from estates and collections across the country as well as institutional deaccessions, all highlighted by the single-owner collection of Benny Long of New Market, Virginia, to be offered at the start Day Two on Friday, November 21. Overall, with a gallery packed full of high-quality, fresh-to-the-market material, the sale is sure to generate plenty of excitement within the collecting community.
Day One, beginning at 9:00 am EST on Thursday, November 20, 2025, will feature property from the collection of the late Eleanor and David Gestler, Trattford, PA; Glen Schlotfeldt and the late Tom Neale, Bridgewater, VA; part two of the cup plate collection of Matthew T. Hardesty, Peterborough, NH; and a prominent New York, NY private collection; plus others. The day’s offerings will include our usual fine selection of free-blown, pillar- and pattern-molded wares; rare Lacy, including cup plates and salts; rare colored vases and candlesticks; 18th & 19th century European glass, including English wines; bottles and flasks; plus more. Highlights for the day include an outstanding pressed-lacy Princess Feather Medallion and Basket of Flowers compote in brilliant canary yellow; a very rare pair of pillar-molded tulip vases on hexagonal bases in amethyst, and a fine pair of cobalt twisted loop vases.
Day Two, beginning at 9:00 am EST on Friday, November 21, 2025, will feature property from the collection of the late Carol H. Forrer, Northville, MI; Barbara and the late Charlie Hunter, Staunton, VA; the Sisson/Ward estate, McLean, VA; and Benny Long, New Market, VA. The Long Collection, which includes a special printed catalogue, will constitute a single-owner session to begin the day, and features an outstanding selection of Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and other Southern backcountry material, comprising folk pottery, furniture, country accessories, and folk art, highlighted by an important Salem, NC Moravian glazed earthenware turtle flask in an unrecorded size; an extremely fine and rare Augusta Co., VA punched-tin-paneled table-top cherry valuables safe; a Stirewalt Family, New Market, Shenandoah Co., VA paint-decorated yellow pine diminutive blanket chest featuring a spread-wing eagle and opposing parrots; and an 18th-century Shenandoah Co., VA walnut hanging cupboard with drawer bearing sulphur-inlaid initials. The Long Collection will be immediately followed by our usual fine selection of American stoneware and other folk pottery; other ceramics, including English pottery and porcelain; country accessories, including burl treen, pantry boxes, and a selection of baskets; plus more.
Day Three, beginning at 9:00 am EST on Saturday, November 23, 2024, will feature property from the collection of the late Carol H. Forrer, Northville, MI; Barbara and the late Charlie Hunter, Staunton, VA; the Sisson/Ward estate, McLean, VA; the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA; Preservation Virginia; and a private VA collection of early maps, proceeds to benefit the MESDA Field Research Endowment; plus others. The day’s offerings will feature our usual fine selection of rare Virginia & other Southern material; 18th & 19th century formal and country furniture, including many fine painted examples, several fine Southern pieces, and a number of pie / food safes, highlighted by a newly discovered Augusta Co., VA walnut punched-tin-paneled sideboard safe of impressive size, descended in the family; a pair of Boston, MA William Mary leather-back side chairs; textiles, including quilts, coverlets, and a fine selection of needlework samplers; American fine & decorative art, including a fine William Posey Silva landscape painting titled Jessamine Time in Georgia; historical material, including material associated with the University of Virginia, including several Thomas Jefferson signed documents and an important Tiffany & Co. 18K gold presentation chalice given to Dr. James Cabell, founder of the medical school upon the 50th anniversary of his tenure at the university; flags and political textiles; a fine selection of American folk art, including fraktur and related works on paper, carvings, weathervanes, trade signs, several excellent hooked rugs, and other naïve works of art; plus others.
Washington printed by Thackera and Vallance
Company president, Jeffrey S. Evans, commented, “We are very excited to bring such an outstanding group of fresh objects to the market for this auction, and we are especially honored to present the important collection of Benny Long. Mr. Long was a personal friend and long-time mentor, and his collection includes some of the finest examples of Shenandoah Valley furniture and decorative arts still in private hands. Overall, our varied offerings of American folk art, Southern objects, ceramics, early glass, and historical artifacts are especially strong and provide numerous unique buying opportunities for collectors of all types.”
The catalogues for each session will be posted online around November 7. The sale is on public preview November 18-19, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; and November 20-22, 8:00 am until end of auction on each day. For further information, please visit www.jeffreysevans.com, email info@jeffreysevans.com, or call 540.434.3939.