MT. CRAWFORD, VA.- The Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates June 21 & 22 Americana & Fine Antiques Auction was a highly successful event and produced robust prices – along with a few surprises - in multiple categories. The two-day format consisted of 1,448 lots of high-quality material, much of which was fresh to the market, and, in a number of cases, had descended directly in the families of the original owners. Bidding was intense throughout each day with thousands of registered bidders from numerous countries participating online in competition with a standing-room-only gallery crowd eager to acquire something rare and desirable.

Session I on Friday was devoted exclusively to the collection of Jack and Tommie Marsh of Columbia, South Carolina. Consisting of over 500 lots of country Americana, ship’s models, folk art, toys, and textiles purchased from East Coast dealers, the Marsh Collection was well received, providing numerous buying opportunities at all price points for seasoned and new collectors. Top lot for the Marsh Collection was a Pennsylvania painted poplar bucket bench in old blue color. An usual form with single off-set drawer, the desirable object soared past its estimate range when two determined bidders chased it all the way to $4,095 (Lot 264 – all prices include 17% buyer’s premium). Other noteworthy results from Session I include a Pennsylvania painted pine Dutch cupboard at $3,042 (Lot 260); a carved and painted Odd Fellows “Heart-in-Hand” ceremonial staff at $2,691 (Lot 135); and a charming folk art hooked rug, featuring a rabbit and “1915” date, at $2,457 (Lot 466).

Session II on Saturday consisted of the firm’s usual diverse selection of Americana and fine antiques, highlighted by historic property descended in the Clopper-Hutton family at “The Woodlands” in Montgomery Co., Maryland. The Clopper family material included a diverse range of rare 18th- and 19th-century objects that generated tremendous presale excitement from collectors and institutions eager to acquire fresh material of the highest quality with historical provenance. Several institutional deaccessions were also featured in Session II, including a fine assortment of 18th- and 19th-century English Staffordshire ceramic figures from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, and select textiles from the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, Mount Vernon, Virginia. Top lot for Saturday at $87,750 (Lot 1486) was an important Carter family North Carolina inlaid walnut cellaret attributed to Micajah Wilkes, a cabinetmaker from Bertie County connected with the “WH” cabinet shop. A fine example in this well-documented group of bottle cases, the highly-coveted object drew much attention during preview and went to a determined private collector on the phone. Other noteworthy results from the Saturday session include a recently discovered Chickasaw beaded powder horn strap at $17,550 (Lot 1214); a Virginia portrait of Maria Koontz attributed to then-seventeen-year-old John Gadsby Chapman $15,210 (Lot 1286), acquired by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for inclusion in that institution’s fine collection of Southern portraiture; a rare Andrew Ellicott 1792 engraved Plan of Washington, D.C. at $12,870 (Lot 1197); and, one of many surprises throughout the day, an 18th-century English Staffordshire Whieldon-type 7 3/4-inch high figure of an owl at $7,020 (Lot 1782). Furniture offerings in Session II also produced strong results overall, demonstrating some signs of vigor in what can be an unpredictable segment of the market. Top performers in this category of the sale were a Stirewalt Family, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, paint-decorated yellow pine diminutive box at $12,870 (Lot 1298); a fine Chandlee family, Winchester, Virginia, carved and figured walnut tall-case clock at $12,870 (Lot 1602); a Wythe Co., Valley of Virginia, paint-decorated poplar blanket chest at $11,070 (Lot 1482); and a Virginia / North Carolina walnut sideboard table at $9,945 (Lot 1487).

After the sale, company president and auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “We were very pleased with the strong interest across the board in this auction. The gallery was packed for Session II on Saturday, resulting in a level of robust, sustained bidding that produced very strong results across all categories of the sale. A key part of that success was the estate-fresh nature of much of the material offered. It was an honor to work with the Clopper family estate and the Chrisman Collection, for instance, and we certainly hope to continue to attract more like consignments as they come to market.” Evans added, “Our multi-session November 2019 Americana Auction will feature several important collections of early American glass, highlighted by an important Pittsburgh cut-glass mantel ornament bearing a sulphide bust of George Washington, an exceptional Stirewalt family paint-decorated chest, and an important collection of American needlework, so we are looking forward to another exciting sale.”