MT. CRAWFORD, VA, November 24, 2025 —- The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates November 20-22 Premier Americana Auction was a much-anticipated event, and the results did not disappoint. Overall, the sale produced robust prices in multiple categories, along with a few surprises. The three-day format consisted of just under 1,500 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 nearly 5,000 registered bidders participating online, by phone, in-house, and through absentee.
Day One on Thursday featured property from a prominent New York, NY private collection, including many lots from the William Elsholz collection; the Larry Kemmerer estate collection, Barto, PA; the collection of the late Eleanor and David Gestler, Trafford, PA; Glen Schlotfeldt and the late Tom Neale, Bridgewater, VA; part two of the cup plate collection of Matthew T. Hardesty, Peterborough, NH; plus others. The auction offerings featured the firm’s usual fine selection of free-blown, pillar- and pattern-molded wares; rare Lacy, including toys, cup plates and salts; rare colored vases and candlesticks; cut overlay and other early lighting; Pittsburg and other early cut; 18th & 19th century European glass, bottles and flasks; plus more. Top lot for the day was a fine pressed Lacy Princess Feather Medallion and Basket of Flowers compote in brilliant canary yellow, which sparked strong pre-sale interest. Ultimately, it was a private collector on the floor who prevailed, pushing the final price to $7,930 (Lot 359 – all prices include a 22% buyer’s premium). Other highlights from Day One included an extremely rare diminutive Pressed Three-Printie Block whale oil stand lamp in vibrant peacock blue at $5,795 (Lot 93); a fine pressed Sandwich Heart vase in medium blue at $5,490 (Lot 139); and a fine pair of pressed and pillar-molded vases in amethyst at $5,490 (Lot 60).
Day Two on Friday featured property from the important collection of Benny Long, New Market, VA; the collection of the late Carol H. Forrer, Northville, MI; the collection of Barbara and the late Charlie Hunter, Staunton, VA; the Sisson/Ward estate, McLean, VA; a Georgia private collection; plus others. The Long Collection, which included a special printed catalogue, constituted a single-owner session to begin the day, and featured an outstanding selection of Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and other Southern backcountry material. The Long Collection was immediately followed by the firm’s usual fine selection of American stoneware and other folk pottery, including a collection of face jugs; other ceramics, including Michelle Erickson, English pottery and porcelain, etc.; country accessories, including burl treen, pantry boxes, and a selection of baskets; textiles, including samplers, quilts, and coverlets; and early lighting. Top lot of the day (one of two offerings from the Long Collection to break six figures) was a fine Stirewalt Family paint-decorated yellow pine diminutive blanket chest. The rare form in vibrant painted surface captivated bidders, including a private collector on the phone, who pushed the final price to $103,700 (Lot 1067). Other noteworthy results from Day Two included a rare Page Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia paint-decorated yellow pine blanket chest at $103,700 (Lot 1089); an important Salem, North Carolina Moravian pressed-molded earthenware figural turtle flask at $91,500 (lot 1111); an extremely fine and rare Augusta Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia punched-tin-paneled cherry valuables safe $91,500 (lot 1064); and a rare and important Shenandoah Valley of Virginia sulfur-inlaid walnut hanging cupboard at $91,500 (lot 1058).
Day Three on Saturday featured 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; a Georgia private collection; the Larry Lee McCallister Estate, Indianapolis, IN; the Valentine Museum, Richmond, VA; Preservation Virginia; a private VA collection of early maps, proceeds to benefit the MESDA Field Research Endowment; plus others. The day’s offerings included the firm’s usual fine selection of rare Virginia & other Southern material; 18th & 19th century formal and country furniture, including many painted examples, fine Southern pieces, a variety of pie/food safes; textiles, including quilts, coverlets, and samplers; American fine & decorative art; historical material associated with the University of Virginia; a fine selection of American folk art, including fraktur and related works on paper, other carvings, weathervanes, trade signs, hooked rugs, miniature portraits, and other naïve works of art; antique firearms and accessories; Oriental rugs and carpets; plus more. Top lot of the day was an extremely rare Tiffany & Co. 18K gold presentation chalice given in 1889 to Dr. James Cabell, founder of the University of Virginia Medical School, upon his fiftieth year of teaching at the university. The fresh-to-the-market form in remarkably well-preserved condition captivated everyone in its orbit, but it was ultimately a figure in the trade bidding online who pushed the final price to $48,800 (Lot 2072). Other noteworthy results from Day Three included a recently discovered Shenandoah Valley of Virginia punched-tin-paneled walnut sideboard safe of impressive size at $42,700 (Lot 2228); a very fine Pendleton Co., Virginia (now West Virginia) fraktur birth and baptismal record at $26,840 (lot 2226); and a very fine Confederate Civil War-period hand-sewn battle flag with Arkansas association at $25,620 (lot 2063).
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 Long Collection was particularly popular and drew in large numbers of new customers for us.” Evans added, “Looking forward, we have strong auctions lined up for 2026, so we are excited about the upcoming 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.