Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates’ November 16 auction includes a wide and fine array of fine antiques, with an especially strong group of Americana offerings focusing on the decorative arts of the South. Works of interest being offered include 18th & 19th century furniture; rare folk pottery and folk art; long rifles; textiles; silver; fine jewelry; clocks; antique oriental carpets; Asian material; 18th & 19th century ceramics and glass; etc.

The vernacular offerings include a number of rare and unusual pie safes, led by an important walnut example signed for E. F. Bell, Strasburg, Virginia and made for Carrie and Theophilus Grim, likely for their wedding in 1870. Edward Fry Bell was the son of potter John Bell and nephew of Samuel Bell and Solomon Bell. He was listed as a cabinetmaker in the Federal census from 1870 to 1900. Theophilus Grim was an itinerate potter who worked at numerous shops in Strasburg as well as for David Henkel at the Stonyman Pottery in Page Co.

Additional furniture in the sale includes an important Petersburg, Virginia Chippendale black walnut armchair, circa 1760-1780, from the personal collection of Milly McGehee. The chair is from the same shop as the set made for the Epps family of Appomattox Manor, Hopewell, Virginia now in the collection of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, Virginia. Also in this section are a fine Winchester, VA Federal walnut child's chest of drawers that has descended in the Bell and Henkel families of Winchester and a full-size cherry chest of drawers from the same shop, circa 1815.

Historically important material includes a group of items that have descended in the family of Thomas Boyle Campbell (1796 – 1858), silversmith of Winchester, VA comprising a circa 1820 miniature portrait on ivory and a circa 1840 oil on canvas portrait, both depicting Campbell, five coin silver teaspoons that he made for his personal use, and several documents relating to Campbell family history. These items will all be sold as a single lot.

The sale features one of the larger groups of fine art and jewelry the gallery has garnered of late.  Works include painters as diverse as Fabbio Fabri; Francesco Coleman; Oscar Glatz; William Shayer I; William Frederick Giessel; and many other European artists, as well as Hudson River School painters and works done in America in the folk art vein. Russian works of art include pieces by and after Faberge from a Canadian private collection. Fine jewelry is led by a 3.65ct heart-shape diamond platinum ring.

Featured consignments to the auction include the collections of Gail and the late Charlie Lohr, and Jessie and the late Eugene Long, both of Broadway, VA; the eclectic 40-year collection of the late Margaret “Maggie” and Norwyn Rowe of Washington DC; fine art and jewelry from the collection of Max and Gloria Mayo of Albemarle Co., VA; items from the collection of Hugh and the late Pauline Weaver of Williamsburg, VA, as well as important material descended in the Dooley family of Richmond.

The complete auction catalogue will be posted at jeffreysevans.com by November 7. Additionally, the auction may be viewed and bid on via LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com

The auction is on view at the firm’s Mt. Crawford gallery November 13, 14 and 15, 10 am to 6 pm; and auction day beginning at 8 am. The auction begins at 9:30 am.

Jeffrey S. Evans will present a free lecture on “New Discoveries in Shenandoah Valley Furniture and Decorative Arts” Friday evening, November 15 at 6 pm. For further information, please go to www.jeffreysevans.com; email info@jeffreysevans.com; or call 540-434-3939.