by Kellie M. Seltzer
Avid collectors and dealers have always looked for, if not longed for, the chance to discover special items during their forays to thrift stores, yard sales, and now, the big online auction venues. The probability of stumbling across something that everyone else missed may be small, but it energizes the hunt. Still, in today's economy, it is more of a lure than ever - to chance upon an item that can be added to a collection for very little or, more likely, be resold for great profit. On Saturday, May 23, 2009, Garth's Auctions, of Delaware, Ohio, was the scene of just such a discovery and a story to be shared among all antiques hunters out there.
Garth's hosted its Third Annual Ohio Valley Auction and displayed a wonderful selection of antique furniture and decorative arts. Among the assortment of both formal, painted, and folk material offered was a whimsical, ovoid form stoneware bank with a bright cobalt glaze and incised decoration of a child, as well as flowers, a bird, and the inscription "Barberton Ohio Earma L. Cox Was born Dec 25 1908". While a particular maker for the bank was not identified, the town of Barberton, located in northeast Ohio's Summit County, was right in the heart of the 19th-century pottery district. The small size, wonderful folksy design, and town of its origin all contributed to an outstanding sale price.
The consignor of the bank purchased it on eBay - purportedly for $500, a fraction of the final value. The diminutive 4-1/2-inch-high bank realized a healthy $5,875 early in the Ohio Valley session at Garth's. It just goes to show you that the Internet is a great platform to buy from if you have the time and energy to search. However, if you want to sell and realize your great value, your best best is to go with a traditional, "brick-and-mortar" auction house that recognizes quality, knows how to market antiques, and reaches the proper audience of bidders.
For over a half century, Garth's has been consistently recognized for handling quality Americana, and this sale was no exception. Garth's auctioneer and appraiser, Andrew Richmond commented "It's very gratifying to see folks from coast to coast focusing on Ohio Valley regional art and antiques in addition to buying the general Americana. As a greater understanding and appreciation of our region's material culture spreads, I'm sure that our annual Ohio Valley Auction will continue to grow and flourish." Several pieces decorated with a flourish or two commanded the most attention from the bidders.
Furniture with good painted surfaces included a fresh-to-the-market Eastern Ohio or western Pennsylvania decorated pine cupboard. The one-piece cupboard had four doors, two drawers, and an old brown and yellow graining over the original red on the exterior. The interior retained an old blue-gray paint as well. Purchased 25 years ago at a farm sale in Canfield, Mahoning County, Ohio, the 67-inch-high piece sold for $5,993 against an estimate for $1,000 to $2,000. A decorated poplar wardrobe possibly from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, circa 1820-1850, was also a nice small size with a single door and ball feet. It retained its original, brown over yellow, faux curly and bird's-eye maple decoration which helped it soar past estimate to a sale price of $3,173.
As a typical with the purchasing power of many collectors, the smaller the object - the greater the bidding. A diminutive 36-inch wide, decorated Windsor arrowback settee with its original faux curly maple graining with scrollwork and floral decoration served as case in point for bidders, who pushed the sale price to $4,583 against an estimate of $500 to $700.
A mid-19th-century decorated miniature blanket chest attributed to Coshocton County, Ohio, with ball-turned feet and its original brown over yellow sponge decoration measured only 13-3/4-inches high and 21-1/2-inches wide. Recently discovered in a Coschocton County attic, this chest related to several other decorated Coschocton County chests with one in the collection of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Arts Center (Williamsburg, Virginia). Estimated at $700 to $1,000, the chest sold for $2,233. A 25-1/2-inch high painted apothecary with 21 drawers and what appeared to be its original orange and yellow paint and its original painted pulls, impressed auction goers, with a hammer price of $2,233. Condition issues didn't stop the audience from appreciating an American carved spoon rack. Dating to the late 18th to early 19th century, it was determined to be poplar, and likely of New Jersey origin. The shaped tulip crest, chip carved and compass star designs, and an old crusty red surface all contributed to the robust sale price of $7,344 (estimate $600 to $900).
Textiles in the forms of quilts, coverlets, and samplers performed well. An early 20th-century Amish quilt in the "Pieced Nine Patch" variation sold for $1,116. An outstanding Ohio appliqué quilt was by Mary Ann Kepler, Green Township, Summit County, and dated 1856. The bright design of diagonal lines and feathered wreaths within a sawtooth inner border and bold outer border with red binding attracted many bidders. The quilt was shown and discussed in Ricky Clark's Quilted Gardens, page 34 to 37, and it brought $3,525. A Pennsylvania jacquard crib or sample coverlet measured just 37 inches by 39 inches. Made by J[ohn] Cleever, Easton, Northampton County, 1843, the wool and cotton coverlet was executed in soft shades of green with gold wool with stylized tulip borders, and sold for $1,293 (estimate $250 to $450).
The wonderful collection of samplers, which exceeded almost all estimates when sold, had a standout in the rare Vermont sampler by Tirzah Biglow, Guilford, Windham County, dated 1804. The sampler was filled with many motifs, including a red, white, and blue eagle, pairs of facing birds, hearts, baskets, and footed urns. With good colors and a bird's-eye frame, the sampler fetched $2,585. A sampler believed to be from the Mid Atlantic region was wrought by Eleanor Reeve in 1828. The silk-on-linen gauze needlework was adorned with a floral border, eight sets of alphabets and numbers divided by narrow bands, flocks of chicken-like birds on flowering shrub, and tall triangular mounds of fruit filling two-handled baskets. It sold for $2,056. A New Hampshire sampler by Elizabeth K. Hunt, Stoddard, Cheshire County, dated 1825, exhibited alphabets and numbers over a moral verse, all within a strawberry border. The finish bid was $2,115.
A group of belongings owned and carried by Civil War soldier William Walworth (1823-1864) of Cleveland, Ohio, were also offered in the finely photographed and detailed auction catalog. Walworth's important ID'd bowie knife was made by Edward Barnes and Sons, England, mid 19th century. With a double-edge blade and stag grip, marked "U*S" on the ricasso and leather sheath, the 12-1/2-inch long knife reached a hammer price of $2,585. A M1840 heavy Cavalry saber marked for N.P. Ames, Cabotville, Massachusetts, and marked "US" with
inspector's stamp "WD" and "1848" also descended in Walworth's family and sold for $1,528. Walworth fought at Gettysburg and later committed suicide in a camp hospital. Walworth's papers, which are in the collection of the Western Reserve Historical Society, included a letter dated May 15, 1864, from Camp Barry's surgeon, P.D. Leys, that details his numerous visits with the ailing Walworth, but that, tragically "About 6 a.m. Sunday, May 8th, I was hastily summoned to (Walworth's) quarters and on entering his room I found him lying on his back in bed dead from a pistol ball...a pistol lay just by his right hand..."
Rounding out the sale were an assortment of decorative items, each with strong prices, including a fine cut glass lidded compote. Throughout the preview and sale there were whispers from some that the compote was early Bakewell of Pittsburgh and general "oohs and aahs" from others about its impressive size and form. The 13-inch-high blown bowl with diamond band realized $5,288.
Showing that antique black memorabilia continues to gather momentum, an African-American, anatomically correct doll figure with needlework hair and face, applied fingernails, and wearing period clothing, achieved a price of $2,468.
President and principle auctioneer, Jeff Jeffers, reviewed the sale by commenting "Bidders appreciated the fun of the holiday weekend sale. My two daughters were outside of the selling room with their lemonade stand - I even offered quarters to those thirsty bidders who wanted partake of their wares, but save their pennies for auction purchases! Overall, the audience valued the diverse material presented, so the hesitancy to bid sometimes felt over past months seemed to fall away, and was replaced by the desire to participate."
For further information about Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers, visit www.garths.com or call (740) 362-4771. Garth's catalog auction featuring Asian, English, Continental and American Decorative Arts will take place on July 25.
