MT. CRAWFORD, VA, June 30, 2025 —- The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates June 26-28 Premier Americana Auction was an exciting event and produced robust prices in multiple categories, along with a few surprises and a record-breaking chair. The three-day format consisted of just under 1,600 lots of high-quality material and generated very strong levels of participation for the firm, a solid indication of continued vigor in the diverse Americana marketplace. With a busy gallery on each day, competition was intense throughout each session with over 5,000 registered bidders participating online, by phone, in-house, and through absentee.
Day One on Thursday featured property from the collection of Diana Stradling, New York, NY; Carl Dapp, Jr., Syracuse, NY; John Craft, Mt. Juliet, TN; plus others. The auction offerings featured our usual fine selection of free-blown, pillar- and pattern-molded wares; rare Lacy, including cup plates and salts; rare colored vases and candlesticks; 17th & 18th century European glass, including English wines; bottles and flasks; plus more. Top lot for the day was a rare pressed Sandwich Star/Quilted Diamond compote in brilliant electric blue, which sparked strong pre-sale interest. Ultimately, it was a private collector on the phone who prevailed, pushing the final price to $13,420 (Lot 206 – all prices include a 22% buyer’s premium). Other highlights from Day One included an extremely rare pair of pressed Sandwich tulip vases in brilliant deep violet blue with opaque marbling at $9,150 (Lot 208); a fine pressed Lacy Princess Feather Medallion and Basket of Flowers compote at $6,710 (Lot 333); and a covered Lyre pressed salt in opaque violet blue with strong mottling at $6,710 (Lot 359).
Day Two on Friday featured property from the collection of Heather and John Cooper, Wake Forest, NC; Glenn and Carol Goetz, Harrisonburg, VA; and Jan and Watt White, Stamford, CT; the estate of Richard and Lesley Harris, Branchville, NJ; H. Wray and Hilda B. Sherman, Williamsburg, VA; and Leland Nettles, Syria, VA; as well as deaccessioned material from the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, the Poe Museum, and the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA; plus others. The auction offerings featured our usual fine selection of American stoneware and other folk pottery, including a fine 15-gallon four-handled Daniel Seagle jar and a large selection of James River and Alexandria, VA pottery; other ceramics, including English pottery and porcelain; country accessories, including burl treen, pantry boxes, and a fine selection of baskets; textiles, including samplers, quilts, and coverlets; early lighting; and a fine selection of folk art. Top lot of the day was a recently rediscovered Salem, North Carolina Moravian slip-decorated dish. The rare form in exceptional condition captivated bidders, including a private collector on the phone, who pushed the final price to $14,640 (Lot 1147). Other noteworthy results from Day Two included an unusual Emmanuel Suter (Rockingham Co., Virginia) molded earthenware urn on pedestal at $6,710 (Lot 1001); a fine Coffman Family, Rockingham Co., Virginia decorated stoneware preserve jar at $5,490 (lot 1002); and a Mary Causby (Burke Co., North Carolina, 1873-1955) diminutive rib-type woven-splint basket in excellent condition at $3,965 (lot 1411).
Day Three on Saturday featured property from the collection of Heather and John Cooper, Wake Forest, NC; Glenn and Carol Goetz, Harrisonburg, VA; and Jan and Watt White, Stamford, CT; the estate of Richard and Lesley Harris, Branchville, NJ; H. Wray and Hilda B. Sherman, Williamsburg, VA; and Leland Nettles, Syria, VA; plus selections from a private Rhode Island collection; as well as deaccessioned material from the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, the Poe Museum, and the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA; plus others. The auction offerings featured 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; textiles, including quilts, coverlets, and samplers; American fine & decorative art, including Southern portraiture; a good selection of Native American material, including baskets, beadwork, and pottery; Civil War, firearms, and other historical material; an outstanding selection of American folk art, including fraktur and related works on paper, carvings, advertising, trade signs, weathervanes, canes, and other naïve works of art; and an excellent selection of decoys, including examples by Elmer Crowell, the Ward Brothers, and Ira Hudson. Top lot of the day, and for the weekend, was an extremely rare and important Boston, Massachusetts William and Mary carved and turned leather-back armchair. The fresh-to-the-market form in remarkably well-preserved condition, captivated scores of collectors and figures in the trade, but it was ultimately a private collector on the phone who pushed the final price to $256,000 (Lot 2397), what is likely a new auction record for this particular Colonial American form. Other noteworthy results from Day Three included an Edward Mitchell Bannister (Canadian-American, 1828-1901), attributed, landscape painting at $25,000 (Lot 2163); a very fine Rockingham Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Mennonite fraktur birth record at $20,000 (lot 2219); and a rare Southern School mid-19th century double portrait of siblings with Alabama association at $17,080 (lot 2143).
After the auction, company president and principal auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “This sale generated strong interest across the board, from bidders near and far. The caliber of the material offered across multiple categories was very appealing to a broad swath of collectors. The overall excitement and strong sales results reflect the freshness and high quality of the merchandise offered. Furthermore, the Cooper Collection and the Sherman Collection were both hits and drew in large numbers of new customers for us.” Evans added, “Looking forward, we have strong auctions lined up for the summer and fall of 2025, so we are excited about the remainder of the year.”
The firm is currently accepting consignments for upcoming auctions. For additional auction results, a schedule of upcoming sales, or more information, visit www.jeffreysevans.com, email info@jeffreysevans.com, or call 540.434.3939.