The material had not been seen in years, since 1978, to be exact, when Mary Logan placed her things on loan at the then York County Historical Society in York, Pa.
Logan, a single school teacher with no heirs, passed away about 15 years ago. She had no stipulations in her will as to what should happen with her things on loan, which had been stored and insured for decades by the now, York County Heritage Trust. It is a story of what can happen when no planning and foresight occurs. To settle the estate, the material had to removed and sold. It was not deaccessioned by the organization because they were never gifted the material and they did not receive proceeds from the sale.
This was the case with the various antiques from the Logan estate which Gilbert & Gilbert Auctioneers of Wrightsville, Pa., sold on April 16 at the Hellam Firehall in Hallam, Pa. Proceeds from the estate were distributed to various local nonprofit organizations.
Scenarios such as this occur too often when an individual does not plan for the future. Policies are now in place at the York County Heritage Trust so this will not happen again.
What was sold included two figural redware dogs, an assorted offering of soft paste floral pattern china, English Staffordshire childrens plates, spatterware plates, cups, blue printed transferware, pink luster, glassware, a reverse glass painting of Andrew Jackson signed “Jayson,” and N. Currier lithos of George Washington, James K. Polk, and Lincoln, among other things. Much of the china had condition issues and prices reflected it.
One of the redware dogs was a seated example. A large portion of the rear base was broken off and missing. It sold to a dealer/collector for $3,300. It was possibly made by Solomon Bell of Strasburg, Va., or John Bell of Waynesboro, Pa. The second dog was a standing example without stamp decoration on the base. Both ears were broken off. It sold to the same buyer for $1,870. Two mocha bowls sold together for $583. A small German book brought $275 and an early cloth doll also sold for $275. Prices include a 10 percent buyer’s premium.
To learn more, call Brian Gilbert of Gilbert & Gilbert Auctioneers at 717-252-1656.