A private collector in the United Kingdom paid $42,000 for this Native American carved and painted trade figure, which had noted provenance and market history and was attributed to Thomas V. Brooks ($30/50,000).
Review by Madelia Hickman Ring; Photos Courtesy Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
MOUNT CRAWFORD, VA. — Of the nearly 1,275 lots offered by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates November 30-December 2, only 12 lots failed to sell from the podium for a sell-through rate of more than 99 percent.
After the sale, auctioneer Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “This sale generated robust interest across the board, from bidders near and far. The caliber of the material offered across multiple categories was very appealing to a broad swath of collectors. Levels of online participation in our auctions continue to grow for us — a real indication that there is sustained market demand for a diverse range of Americana and folk art. The overall excitement and strong sales results reflect the freshness and high quality of the merchandise offered.” Evans added, “We have several collections lined up for 2024, including a single-owner auction in February, so we are looking forward to more exciting sales ahead.”
A folk art carved and painted Native American carved tobacco or cigar store trade figure thought to be from the New York City shop of Thomas V. Brooks and dated to circa 1870 had the top price of $42,000, well within its $30/50,000 estimate. The catalog entry for the lot noted it had been professionally conserved by Peter Deen and noted history of ownership with David Lee Fannon of Amissville, Va., as well as trade figure collector, Mark Goldman. The figure had been offered for auction in November 2022, when it brought slightly more. According to Will Kimbrough, it sold to a private collector in the United Kingdom who was bidding by phone; the underbidder was a Virginia collector who was in the saleroom.
This painted box dulcimer or scheitholt is one of a few examples with a strong provenance in Shenandoah Valley, in the Strickler, Coffman and Modisett families. It sold to a Shenandoah private collector for $39,000 ($4/6,000).
The second highest price — and something of a surprise given its $4/6,000 estimate — was the $39,000 achieved by a Shenandoah Valley of Virginia painted box dulcimer or scheitholt that descended in the Modisett Family of Page County, Va. It was described in the catalog as “one of only a few examples recorded retaining a strong Shenandoah Valley provenance. Its striking contrast of black and yellow paint combined with a sculptural fineness demonstrating artful restraint places it among the finest examples known.” It will be staying in the Shenandoah Valley with a private collector.
A late Federal inlaid walnut child’s chest of drawers, also from Shenandoah Valley of Virginia more than tripled its low estimate to bring $31,200. An original dry surface, outstanding proportions and elements comparable to other known regional furniture were among its desirable characteristics, as was its history of ownership in the Harrison, Moore and Yancey families of Rockingham, Co., Va.
A walnut punched-tin-paneled step-back cupboard safe, made in 1844 in Pocahontas County, Va., (in what is now West Virginia) and with a history of ownership in the Mann and Critzer (Criser) families of Pocahontas County, sold for $9,000 to a collector/dealer of pie safes. According to Kimbrough, it was a rare form and had desirable small proportions.
The same $9,000 result was achieved by a Shenandoah Valley of Virginia late Federal cherrywood tall case clock, which was made by William Young (1783-1792) circa 1830. It will be staying in the Shenandoah Valley.
Made in Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, staying in Shenandoah Valley of Virginia! This late Federal cherrywood tall case clock with a painted iron dial signed “W. Young/ Staunton” chimed out at $9,000 ($5/8,000).
Furniture made outside of Virginia and other Southern states also did well. Earning $17,220 from a private collector in West Virginia was a Philadelphia Chippendale carved walnut dressing table that related to an example published in William Horner’s Blue Book of Philadelphia Furniture. It had previously been owned by two other Virginia private collectors. Virtually identical provenance accompanied a Boston or Salem, Mass., Chippendale carved maple and mahogany dressing table that found a new home in Virginia with a private collector who paid $10,625.
Richmond, Va.-based Preservation Virginia was deaccessioning several items, including a folk art patriotic carved eagle console table ($12,000) and a Colonial Bermuda cedar bannister back nursing or low chair ($9,600).
The top lot for the second day was a decorated stoneware jar stamped “Commeraws / Corlears / Hook” from the Manhattan, N.Y., manufactory of Thomas Commeraw (circa 1772-1823), which sparked strong pre-sale interest. Ultimately, it was a private New Jersey collector bidding online who prevailed, pushing the final price to $14,400.
The highest price of the second day of the sale was $14,400, for this cobalt-decorated stoneware jar made by Thomas Commeraw in New York City, 1800-19. A New Jersey online bidder prevailed over significant competition ($800-$1,200).
More pottery highlights continued with an important slip-glazed redware or earthenware large bowl or pan. Despite retaining characteristics of “tian” bowls made in France in the Nineteenth Century, a history of ownership in Shenandoah County and scientific analysis suggest it was made in New Market, Va., and attributed to the shop of John G. Coffman (1803-1889), circa 1840. Kimbrough noted it sold on the phone to the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) for $5,400.
Flying to $10,800 was a rare Civil War Confederate hand-sewn bible flag that had associations to Texas. It was in the Carmel, Ind., private collection of George Huffman and had been exhibited at the Indiana State Fair in 1976.
The fine art category topped off at $9,600 for an American School folk art portrait of a girl in a landscape that had been discovered in a Georgia estate. It was followed closely behind at $9,000 by a Bucks County, Penn., landscape of hunters and a dog by Francis Daniel Devlan (American, 1835-1870). Despite considerable attention from dealers and private collectors in Pennsylvania, a private collector in Virginia had the prevailing bid.
A trade buyer paid $9,600 for this circa 1830 American School folk art portrait of a girl in a landscape, oil on canvas, measuring 54 by 41½ inches framed ($8/12,000).
An unusual lot that achieved $7,013 was a United States marshal’s shield-form badge with spread-wing eagle decoration and engraved on the front “Thos. F. McGourin / U.S. / Marshall / Nor. Dist. of Fla. / April 1, 1903.” According to the auction catalog, McGourin served as a US Marshall in Pensacola, Fla., from 1898 to 1911; he was given the badge for winning a court case. A private collector in Florida had the top bid on the 10K gold 2-by-1¾-inch badge.
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates’ next sale is scheduled for February 9-10.
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.jeffreysevans.com or 540-434-3939.
