The auction market is humming. In some cases, roaring. Whether household goods or antiques, online or in house, many auction houses are seeing strong bidder interest and prices realized. Horst Auctioneers of Ephrata, Pa., held a two-day catalog sale on Feb. 11 and 12. The 868-lot sale grossed $261,685. They had a packed house, and a number of things did very well. Active members of the trade are in tune with the marketplace, and several dealers lamented many prices achieved were over retail levels. I thought they did well with what was there, said one local dealer who is a barometer of the regional market. In an age where getting quality consignments is paramount due to increased competition, the era is long over when everything is sent to Pennypackers. Some auction houses formula is to aim to get roughly a quarter of the selling price from both seller side and buyer side; Horst remains among the few who charge no buyers premium for in-house bidders and yet are also competitive on sellers commission. Working on small margins, and what one auction goer described as frankly, a lack of greed, does not go unnoticed. And not just among the local public, they get many out-of-state consignments. The headliner was the Hattie Brunner watercolor. As far as the Hattie Brunner painting, it was a staggering price, commented one attendant when discussing the autumn auction scene watercolor (1974) by the late dealer-turned-folk-artist of Reinholds. A relatively small square composition, framed, it measured 18.5-by-16.75 inches and sold for $23,500. Its the highest price ever attained through auction for her work. An older local couple bought the painting. He was underbid by another local collector, a woman who has been actively buying Brunners work, specifically at Horst, and was shocked she didnt get it. Im sure the price was a lot more than what the consignor expected, mentioned Brent Horst after the sale. Regardless, if currently fueled by only two buyers willing to go five figures, expect more to come through future catalog sales at the auction house. The work is on the primitive side, and very popular. Another artist of the same time period who lived down the road from Brunner was John Long (1894-1984). Long did reverse painting on glass. He made his own frames, occasionally incorporating parquetry or embellishments such as gilded acorn caps or macaroni shells. A local farm scene by Long sold for $160. A winter scene of the Ephrata Cloister also brought $160. Quality contemporary folk art from the area has a sizable collecting audience. Two Jonathan Bastian eagles sold for $950. A Breininger Pottery charger of a Light Dragoon brought $230 and a large Keith Collis parrot on stand, $425. A paint-decorated wooden lidded sugar bowl by the late John Dierwechter (Schaefferstown, Pa.) sold for $260. Dierwechter was a skilled cabinetmaker and close friend of the late dealer Clyde Youtz. All local dealers and collectors remember the four catalog sales in 2000 and 2001 for the Youtz estate, which were all major sales for Conestoga Auction Co. Some of John Dierwechters work was in the vast estate collections. A miniature walnut lift-top chest with ogee bracket feet by Dierwechter (JRD) sold for $300, and a Walter and June Gottshall carved bird in a paint-decorated cage sold for $260. A Dan and Donna Strawser carved rooster realized $200, and an earlier Dan and Barbara Strawser spread-wing eagle, $775. A group of Sherman Hensal (Ohio artist) wooden power tool carved and painted realistic style vegetables and fruit (35) sold for $300. A ton of Early Adams Rose china was sold. The field of active buyers has dwindled. Most dealers would assess the current state of the market as soft and not what it was in the 1980s and 90s. One lot of 10 dinner plates brought $75. Another group of 10 dinner plates were $200; a large oval platter, $280; a group of 12 cups and saucers sold for $210. Rabbitware china has a more active market today. An ale mug brought $550, and a platter, $550. A mint condition early green shell edge Pearlware plate marked Davenport with an oriental building scene sold for $575. Gaudy Welsh, Copper Lustre, Gaudy Dutch also sold. Various country wares did fine. The photos and captions show just a few things in the two-day sale. We are looking at mid-May for our next catalog sale, tentantively Saturday, May 14, mentioned Brent Horst. Horst Auctioneers are located at 50 Durlach Road, Ephrata, Pa. To learn more, call 717-738-3080.