MT. CRAWFORD, VA, December 3, 2023 —- The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates November 30 – December 2 Premier Americana Auction was an exciting event and produced robust prices in multiple categories, along with a few noteworthy surprises. The three-day format consisted of nearly 1,400 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 several thousand registered bidders participating online, by phone, in house, and through absentee.
Session One on Thursday featured property from the Leo Greiner Collection, Roseburg, OR; the private collection of Julie Roe, Alexandria, VA; a New York, NY private collection; the collection of Ken Depew, Ft. Myer’s, FL; plus others. The day’s offerings included a fine selection of colored flint; collection of Pittsburgh area wares including rare pattern- and pillar-molded; free-blown and blown-molded wares, many in rare colors; a wide assortment of toy tumblers, tasters, and condiment articles; a good selection of whale oil lighting; cup plates, salts, and other pressed lacy; and early cut glass. Top lot for the day was a fine pressed Bigler vase in brilliant deep amethyst. The elegant form, probably made at the Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. around 1850, generated much pre-sale interest from private individuals and the trade, ultimately selling to a collector onthe phone at $4,200 (Lot 73 – all prices include the 20% buyer’s premium). Other highlights from the day included a pair of pressed loop / leaf vases in brilliant deep violet blue at $3,120 (Lot 69); a very rare pair of pillar-molded quart bar decanters in opaque white with applied black amethyst bar lips and neck rings at $3,120 (Lot 29); and a fine pressed six-flute whale oil / fluid stand lamp in deep brilliant teal at $2,520 (Lot 149).
Session Two on Friday featured property from the Layton Collection, Paris, KY; a New York, NY private collection; the estate of David Lee Fannon, Amissville, VA; a Wisconsin collection; the estate of Charlie Casper, Pittsboro, NC; the collection of Ken Depew, Ft. Myer’s, FL items deaccessioned by the Wilton House Museum, Richmond, VA, to benefit collections care, preservations, and future acquisitions; plus others. The weekend’s offerings included a good selection of free-blown glass wares, including rare trumpet vases; marbrie loop articles, including witch balls and flasks; utilitarian wares, such as milk pans and bowls; our usual fine selection of rare Shenandoah Valley stoneware and other American folk pottery; rare antiquarian books and other printed articles; 18th and 19th century silver, including Southern coin and English sterling; 18th and 19th century ceramics, including transfer-printed Staffordshire, English pearlware, and Chinese Export porcelain. Top lot for the day was a fine stamped “COMMERAWS / CORLEARS / HOOK” Manhattan, New York decorated stoneware jar from the manufactory of Thomas Commeraw (c.1772-1823), which sparked strong pre-sale interest. Ultimately, it was a private New Jersey collector bidding online who prevailed, pushing the final price to $14,400 (Lot 1207). Other highlights from Session Two included a rare New Market, Virginia slip-glazed earthenwareowl, which sold on the phone to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) at $5,400 (Lot 1170); a large Virginia decorated stoneware pitcher at $3,900 (Lot 1171); and a fine pair of American free-blown thistle-form vases in opaque white with applied cobalt embellishment at $3,120 (Lot 1001).
Session Three on Saturday featured property from the private collection of George Huffman, Carmel, IN; the Layton Collection, Paris, KY; the estate of David Lee Fannon, Amissville, VA; a Wisconsin collection; the estate of Charlie Casper, Pittsboro, NC; items deaccessioned by the Wilton House Museum, Richmond, VA, the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA to benefit collections care, preservations, and future acquisitions; plus others. The weekend’s offerings included our usual fine selection of rare Virginia & other Southern material, including Shenandoah Valley stoneware and other folk pottery; rare fraktur and an excellent selection of folk art; a good selection of decoys and folk art carvings from a private collection; 18th & 19th century formal and country furniture, including several outstanding examples from Boston and Philadelphia, as well as important Virginia and Southern pieces; 19th and early 20th century photography and related material; American fine & decorative art; Civil War, firearms, and other historical material, including a fine selection of early American flags and other political textiles. Top lot of the day was a fine carved and painted Native American tobacco / cigar store trade figure attributed to the shop of Thomas V. Brooks (New York, NY 1828-1895). The rare form, on its original base, captivated bidders, including a private UK buyer on the phone, who pushed the final price to $42,000 (Lot 2286). Other noteworthy results from the Saturday session included an important Shenandoah Valley of Virginia painted box dulcimer / scheinholt descended in the Modisett Family of Page County at $39,000 (Lot 2127); an important Shenandoah Valley of Virginia late Federal inlaid walnut child’s chest at $31,200 (lot 2223); and a very rare Confederate hand-sewn Bible flag with Texas association at $10,800 (Lot 2093).
After the auction, company president and principal auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “This sale generated robust 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. Levels of online participation in our auctions continue to grow for us – a real indication that there is sustained market demand for a diverse range of Americana and folk art. The overall excitement and strong sales results reflect the freshness and high quality of the merchandise offered.” Evans added, “We have several collections lined up for 2024, including a single-owner auction in February, so we are looking forward to more exciting sales ahead.”
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.