Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates' Three-Day Americana And 19th-Century Glass Auction Generates Strong Results
Virginia Paint-Decorated Chest Sells For $24,570 To The Wythe County Historical Society
Sessions I and II on Nov. 8 and 9 were devoted exclusively to the dispersal of the 19th-century American glass and lighting collection of the late Alvina Breckel of Oley, Pa., and Winnetka, Ill. A fine assemblage of cup plates, lacy period salts, and childrens toys, the Breckel collection, for which two special color printed catalogues were created, generated significant pre-sale interest and produced strong prices, along with a few surprises, over the course of two days. The top lot was a Henry Clay pressed open salt in a unique slate blue color. Likely made at the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, but possibly Midwestern, the rare vessel shattered its estimate range when two determined private collectors on the phones chased it all the way to $22,230. Prices reported include a 17 percent buyers premium. Other noteworthy results from the first two days included a rare wagon form pressed open salt in unique medium blue color selling for $17,550; the pedigreed Parker White cup plate, an icon of early American pressed glass, at $14,040; and a highly-coveted Washington colorless cup plate, $14,040.
Session III on Nov. 10 consisted of the firms usual diverse selection of Americana and fine antiques, highlighted by an important Virginia private collection that included a number of examples of Southern folk pottery and paint-decorated furniture. Several institutional deaccessions were also featured, including a collection of long rifles and accoutrements from the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV), a group of quilts and fraktur from the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA), and a large assortment of 18th-and 19th-century English Staffordshire ceramic figures from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Top lot for the day at $24,570 was an important Wythe County, Va., paint-decorated poplar blanket chest, signed and dated by its maker, Johannes Hudel (John Huddle). A key example in this well-documented group of backcountry chests, the highly-coveted object drew much attention during preview and will return home to Wythe County, where it will reside in the permanent collection of that countys historical society. Other noteworthy results include a recently discovered pair of North Carolina folk portraits by the Guilford Limner at $11,700; a fine Great Road decorated earthenware jar at $11,700; and a William Aiken Walker Southern genre scene depicting two cotton pickers at $10,530. Furniture offerings also produced strong results overall, demonstrating some signs of vigor in what is an unpredictable segment of the market. Top performers in this category of the sale were a Philadelphia carved and figured walnut high chest at $8,190; a rare Mecklenburg County, Va., walnut semi-high chest of drawers at $8,190; an unusual Baltimore, Md., classical mahogany games or work table at $7,020; and a diminutive 18th-century Virginia walnut desk at $6,435.
We were very pleased with the strong interest across the board in this auction. It was an honor to handle the Breckel glass collection and produce color catalogues for both sessions. The collection sold without reserve, so the results are a true indication of the current 19th-century American glass market. Several pieces sold for more than five times their original pre-recession purchase price, and it was encouraging to see all lots receive many bids. The lighting section of the collection performed extremely well, demonstrating the continued strength and interest in that category, stated company president and auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans.
The overall excitement and strong sales in the Americana session reflect the freshness and quality of the merchandise offered. Our June 2019 Americana auction will contain more items from the important Virginia private collection we featured in this sale, including another Wythe County, Virginia, paint-decorated blanket chest, so we are looking forward to another solid sale, continued Evans.
For complete auction results or more information, visit www.jeffreysevans.com.