MT. CRAWFORD, VA.- An extremely important Shenandoah (now Page) Co., Virginia, Johannes Spitler-decorated yellow pine blanket chest is the highlight of the June 20, 2015 Americana auction to be held at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates. A fully developed expression of the decorator's art, this chest remains in outstanding original condition and has descended directly in the Long family of Shenandoah (now Page) Co., Virginia. The Longs were pioneer settlers of the Shenandoah Valley. Original immigrant Philip Long (1678-1755) moved with his family to the Massanutten region, where he established one of the earliest frontier homesteads in the area. His descendants have remained in the county for ten generations. The appearance of the Long Family chest on the market adds a new chapter to the Johannes Spitler story and stands out among other examples of similar type for its quality of design, outstanding condition, and fresh-to-the-market provenance. The sale of this chest represents the last known Spitler-decorated piece remaining in the family of the original owner.

The sale also features material from the home of Gordon and Hildreth Wheeler of Keswick, VA including items descended in the Scott and McCray families of Richmond, VA; the stoneware collection of Ronnie and Neal Kite of Esmont, VA; property deaccessioned from a Virginia institution to benefit the collections and conservation funds; plus others.

The auction covers a wide spectrum of Americana including rare Shenandoah Valley fraktur and other folk art; Virginia and other Southern furniture including food/pie safes and sugar chests; 18th & 19th century American formal and country furniture; a fine collection of Virginia, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, and other folk pottery; country accessories including outstanding baskets; samplers and other textiles; a collection of primitive lighting; American fine art; a selection of 18th-20th century silver including American coin silver hollowware; antique firearms; Civil War and Native American material; Bennington/Rockingham ware; &c.

Company president Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “We are very excited to bring such an outstanding and strong group of fresh material to the market for this auction. And of course the Long family Spitler chest is the icing on the cake. The consignor will use the money raised from the sale of the chest to maintain the family farm.”