On Saturday, Sept. 6, Garth's Auctions will celebrate the symbolic end of summer with their annual Labor Day auction of Country Americana, Painted Furniture, Folk Art, Pottery and Lighting. The one-day sale will include over 650 lots of early lighting, pottery, painted furniture and accessories, Native American items and Ohio stoneware from the collection of Bob Treichler, author of “A History of Northeast Ohio Stoneware.” As our country celebrates this year's Labor Day, honoring the American labor movement, it is apropos that Garth's has cultivated a sale that highlights the extraordinary objects made by those very same exemplary laborers. Jeff Jeffers, CEO of Garth's Auctions commented, "As an auction house, we are in the business of preservation and conservation, and it is our privilege to share the breadth of painted furniture, folk art and Native American items found throughout this sale. Garth's Labor Day Auction showcases our countries' cultures, its' laboring trades people and their talent for artistry."
Garth's will lead off this all-American sale with an early 19th-century painted corner cupboard. The cupboard is attributed to the Ralph family from Sussex County, Del. The early pine one-piece cupboard features an upper section with two eight-pane doors and a lower section with a single diamond-paneled door. The entire piece is detailed in an elaborate molded and carved decoration and is estimated at $2,500-$5,000. An American decorated parcheesi gameboard with original paint in primary colors is sure to catch bidder's eyes and has a presale estimate of $500-$1,000. A mid 19th-century decorated pie safe cupboard, found near McConnelsville, Ohio, retains its aged blue and white paint and is expected to sell for $1,500-$2,500. An eye-catching bright green and orange 19th-century bucket bench will cross the block with a presale estimate of $800-$1,500.
The sale also includes a strong selection of blanket chests including a decorated blanket chest, which is probably Soap Hollow and dated 1860. The striking piece retains its original red and black paint with elaborate decoration. While this chest adheres to the standard Soap Hollow blanket chest form in terms of case style and construction, the stenciled decoration represents a significant departure from the norm. This could indicate that it was made in another Western Pennsylvania Mennonite community or possibly one of the communities in northern Indiana or southern Michigan to which some residents and cabinetmakers of Soap Hollow migrated. The estimate is $2,000-$4,000. Another decorated blanket chest featured in the sale is dated 1855 and also retains its original red and green paint with stencil decoration including, "Noah B 1855." The bird on tree stenciled motif on the chest is by Jacob Knagy and also appears on furniture made in northern Indiana and, of course, Soap Hollow. The estimate is $1,500-$2,500. Painted furniture and accessories will continue to add color throughout the auction and will include additional pieces of furniture, sugar buckets, firkins, pantry boxes and treenware.
Fine art featured in the sale will be highlighted by a pencil on paper on titled, “The Property of Peter Yoder, Wadsworth TP. Medina Co. Ohio, 1882” by Ferdinand Brader (Swiss/American, born 1833). The Ferdinand Brader drawing is from the original family and tells an unusual story due to its commemorative date. The date reflects not the date is was drawn but the the date the farmer died, seven years before the picture of the property was drawn. This Brader carries a presale estimate of $6,000-$9,000. Garth's Auctions is proud to support the scope of Mr. Brader's lifetime of work during the upcoming exhibit, “The Legacy Of Ferdinand A. Brader,” which will be featured at Canton Museum of Art in Canton, Ohio, from Thursday, Dec. 4, through Sunday, March 15, 2015. Collaborative exhibits at the McKinley Museum/Stark County Historical Society and at the Little Art Gallery at North Canton, Ohio, will substantially add to the number of drawings on display at the same time.
Among the sale's fine selection of portraits are a striking pair presenting Mr. and Mrs. David Weld by William Doyle (Massachusetts, 1769-1828). The pastels on paper are signed and dated 1808. The finely rendered portraits depict a lady in an embroidered cap and her husband wearing a blue coat. Born in Boston, Doyle established himself as an artist in the area and is known for silhouettes and miniatures as well as pastel portraits. The sitters are identified on the reverse as David Weld (1734-1821) and Sarah Weld (1737-1817), married in 1756. Research located Weld as a lifelong Roxbury, Suffolk County, resident and revealed Sarah's maiden name as Davis. The estimate is $3,000-$6,000. Fine art will continue to draw attention over the course of the day with offerings for experienced collectors and novice buyers alike. Bidders will see folksy portraits, several landscapes and two lots by David Ellinger, to name a few.
A wide range of native items will dot the landscape of the sale including a tobacconist's figure (cigar store Indian) from an Illinois grocer. The original base is inscribed "Terry and Nobiling" and appears to be signed "In. A. Clong Ptr." The American Indian maiden stands 80.5 inches high and has old polychrome paint. It is estimated at $4,000-$8,000. Other notable highlights include a Hopi Pottery vessel seed jar marked for Preston Duwyenie of N.M. An American figure riding a horse, known as “The Apache,” by George Phippen (American, 1915-1966), is signed and numbered "32/50" and has a presale estimate of $1,000-$3,000. Another signed bronze titled “The Blackfeet Ritual” is by Oreland C. Joe Sr. (born 1958). The Native American is shown in an elaborate headdress and is expected to sell for $1,000-$2,000. Several native rugs will cross the block, including a Navajo Yei rug made by Daisy Mae Begay with a presale estimate of $600-$900. A bronze, “The Healer of the Ancients” by Dan Garrett (born 1948), is signed, dated and numbered "93, 14/50.” The bronze depicts a Native American figure wearing an elaborate animal-skull-shaped headdress and is expected to sell for $1,000-$2,000. An Acoma Pottery vessel signed "Marie Z. Chino" (1907-1992) has a polychrome grid design and is expected to bring $1,000-$2,500. Other notable native items selling over the course of the day will include additional pottery vessels and bowls, a large Hopi Katsina doll, baskets and paintings.
An eclectic array of folk art should certainly garner a vast amount of enthusiasm among the day's bidders. The cover lot of the sale, a folk art owl by Ernest "Popeye" Reed (Ohio, 1919-85), is made of sandstone, Popeye's signature material. The owl is signed and dated "1974" and carries a presale estimate of $300-$500. An Indian maiden, also created by Popeye Reed and carved from stone, is quite impressive at almost 30 inches in height and is expected to sell for $800-$1,200. Two folk art portraits by John "Jack" Savitsky (Pennsylvania 1910-91), will also be sold. A focal point of the folk art selection being offered is certain to be a eagle plaque by Peter Libbey (Maine, born 1944). The eagle is signed on the back, "P. Libbey, Westbrook, Maine” and is estimated at $2,500-$4,500.
In addition, the auction features a range of Ohio stoneware and redware, including a late 19th-century Ohio stoneware crock by Hormell & Smyth, Tuscarawas County, Ohio. The four-gallon crock shows a rare extensive script description that reads, "Hormell + Smyth Manufacturers of Stoneware Newport Tuscarawas Co. Ohio." A redware flower pot attributed to John Bell (Waynesboro, Pa.) features two slip tulips and rope twist handles (ex. Clark Garrett collection). Additional highlights of the sale include a betty lamp by John Long (Pennsylvania, 1787-1856), made from wrought iron with a distinct copper bird final estimated at $600-$1,200. A sewer tile figural chimney cap featuring a bust of a WWI aviator signed "By E. Thomson” is among a large offering of sewer tile pottery to be sold.
Garth's main gallery is located at 2690 Stratford Road in Delaware, Ohio.
For catalogs or additional information, call 740-362-4771 or email info@garths.com. The digital format of the catalog may be viewed at www.garths.com. Garth's website enables users to view every lot in the auction and to bid live, in real-time, through www.garthslive.com.
Images courtesy Garth’s Auctions.