Conestoga Auction Company, a division of the Hess Auction Group in Manheim, Pa., held an unreserved two-day estate sale for the late Ron Hammer on March 28 and 29. Well-presented, the auction house did a great job handling the material. It was among the highest quality sales in several years conducted by Hess. Most market observers will tell you an object needs to stand on its own merits, meaning if something is objectively a high condition, quality item, it matters very little where it sells, just when. The latter can be tricky to understand. There were more active buyers 20 to 40 years ago vs. today. This isnt commentary on the age demographics of buyers. Not many 30- or 40-year-olds are prepared to write a check for $20,000 on something to decorate their home with. That was the case generations ago, as it is now. This is an industry fueled by disposable income, unlike the car market, something nearly everyone in society needs. But spending $2,000 and under is accessible for people who have enough interest to check out and attend an auction. Hats off to John Hess and crew for fostering an auction environment where Im not the youngest person in the salesroom. A good crowd was there both days, and Internet bidding was active. Business partners John Hess and Phil Nissley called the bulk of the 952 lots, 461 of which were day one. Hesss 25-year-old son, Alec Hess, is a licensed auctioneer and working for the firm. A bright future is ahead. He called some of the sale both days and did a fine job. In-house bidders were charged a 20-percent buyers premium, online were charged 25 percent. Ron Hammer of New Oxford, Pa., was by-and-large an auction buyer. Passionate about the hunt, he never missed a Saturday sale, whether it was when small on-site farm sales were still occurring or high profile sales at any of the Pennsylvania auction houses. He had the resources, and some that knew him would say he enjoyed being the last one with his hand raised. A volume buyer and regional buyer, this was a Pennsylvania sale through-and-through. There was some very fine signed redware and stoneware, a lot of early baskets, a large assortment of Lehnware, Currier & Ives framed prints, good country furniture, fraktur, and other folk art. Many things were from Adams County. It didnt take long for things to get exciting, as a three-gallon Cowden & Wilcox crock with foxglove, floral and leaf design realized a high $37,200, going to a phone bidder. I saw him buy that here (Conestoga) in 2013 for $3,750 hammer price, said someone in the salesroom. The price was shocking for stoneware followers who understand what price structures typically are for certain forms and designs. Convention can be thrown out the window if two people disregard those typical market price structures. A softwood paint-decorated box, often referred to as an apple tray, went for $4,680. Hammer paid $6,050 in 2004 at the first Dorothy and Eugene Elgin sale held at Conestoga. An early country wooden bucket bench in red brought $6,900. Hammer paid $5,225 at the Elgin sale. Hammer spent around $25,000 at the 2004 Elgin sale. It was a high powered auction. As outlined, a few things did a bit less here, some brought more. In the rare pottery category, a stamped John Bell miniature stoneware jug in script reading, C. F. Bell 1857, brought $16,800. It sold for $10,350 in 2012 at a Crocker Farm auction. John Bells son was Charles Frederick Bell. This jug bears possibly his earliest date, made when Charles was 17. From a group of early openwork rye straw baskets believed to be from Hanover, an example with footed base sold for $2,520. A fraktur bookplate signed Catharina Guth sold for $4,500. A decorated show (hand) towel signed Catharina Guth dated 1852 sold later in the sale for $900. Ideally, they should have been sold following each other. A conversation piece of day two was the Youtz Dutch cupboard. A well-known item, it was among the highlights of the landmark April 1, 2000, Clyde Youtz estate sale held at Conestoga. Under different market conditions, the first of four catalog sales for the late dealer from Newmanstown, this April 1, 2000, auction was considered the high water market for country Americana sales. The salesroom was standing room only and it was difficult to move around. Prices achieved were staggering. As a whole, prices realized at auction pre-9/11, notably in 1999 and 2000, were staggering. The Youtz sales helped cement the career of Jeff DeHart, former owner of Conestoga Auction Co. Ron Hammer paid $66,000 for the cupboard in 2000 at that sale. Dealer Greg Kramer bought the cupboard at the Hammer sale for $24,000. Wilhelm Schimmel was a German speaking immigrant who lived in the Cumberland Valley of Cumberland Co., Pa., ca. 1869 to his death in 1890. It is widely believed he came over during the large waves of immigration that occurred post Civil War. Among the legendary figures of American folk art, he carved and painted (never signed) and is most known for spread-wing eagles and roosters. At a sale just west of Carlisle in 2013 a 7.5-inch-high rooster having descended in the Raudabaugh and King families, sold for $27,000 to Ron Hammer. It sold at the Hammer sale for $18,000 to one of the back bidders at that previously mentioned sale. Another Schimmel rooster, 6.75 inches tall, sold to an advanced private collector from Berks County for $16,800. Staying in the folk carving category, a Simmons (five) bird 12.5-inch-high bird tree sold to Greg Kramer for $42,000. Schtockschnitzler Simmons was an itinerant carver, active ca. 1885-1910, known to have spent time in the Moselem Springs area of Berks County. The forename of Schtockschnitzler loosely translates to old man cane carver. He carved canes, birds on stands, and bird trees, and the work is highly valued today. Due in large part to Dick and Rosemarie Machmers 1991 book Just For Nice and the exhibit which followed suit, wider recognition for the folk carvings heightened. At a sale on May 3, 2014, reported on in Antiques & Auction News, this bird tree sold for $30,000. John Hess will be selling Ron Hammers large 1830s brick house in New Oxford at auction on Thursday, April 17. For more information, call 717-898-7284 or visit www.hessauctiongroup.com.