MALVERN, Pa. – Around 425 lots of quality estate merchandise in a broad mix of categories will come under the gavel on Friday, May 23rd, when Gordon S. Converse & Company holds a Spring Roundup Gallery Sale, in its new location at 57 Lancaster Avenue in Malvern (in eastern Pennsylvania, not far from Philadelphia). The auction will begin promptly at 3:30 p.m. (EDT).

Offered will be many interesting African and ethnic items (to include about a dozen Buddha figures that will be scattered throughout the sale), more than 50 fine artworks and prints, antique clocks (plus assorted lots of parts and partials from a clockmaker’s estate), an estimated 15 lots of stamps and currency, 19th century toys, children’s doll house items, Asian art items and more.

“Eclectic is the word that comes to mind when I think of the merchandise in this auction,” said Gordon Converse of Gordon S. Converse & Company. “It’s the kind of sale we have a lot of fun with, because there really is something for just about everybody. Unusual items have been selected, with a great variety of ceramics, furniture, fine arts, collectibles and decorative arts.”

Two pieces in particular complement the Western “Roundup” theme of the sale. They are a watercolor of a Buckin’ Bronco by Edward Borein (Am., 1872-1945), signed in pencil lower right and housed in a 60+-year-old frame (8 ¾ inches by 9 ½ inches); and a cast and patinated bronze statue after Frederick Remington titled The Cowboy, 27 inches tall, on a marble base.

One eye-catching item that’s certain to attract local attention is an outlandish Mummers costume, named for the New Year’s Day “Mummers” parade, a classic annual event in Philadelphia. It’s a parade of locals who play stringed instruments and wear elaborately made feathered and sequined costumes. The costume being sold is complete with anklets, trousers, skirt, shirt, waistcoat, jacket and headdress.

The African and ethnic lots will feature an exceptional 19th century carved and painted wood African Yoruba figure of a female bowl bearer (12 ½ inches tall); a 19th century carved hardwood funeral pole (or grave marker) showing slender, towering images of the Giraiama people of eastern Africa (62 inches tall); and a carved wooden figure of a standing African male.

Also from this category: a 19th century wood carving of an African Yaka fetish figure, 12 inches tall and of exceptional quality, reportedly from the Duke University Museum; a pair of cast bronze African figures of a man and a woman (8 inches and 8 ½ inches) on a museum stand; and a 24 inch by 40 inch painted leather shield believed to have come from the Masai tribe of Kenya.

The dozen or so Buddhas will include a large Chinese cast bronze Buddha, 13 ¾ inches tall; a Chinese carved horn Buddha, 6 ¼ inches tall; a bronze Buddha, about 16 ½ inches tall; and a fine bronze Buddha head, with the head measuring a foot above the 4 ½ inch wood block stand.

Other artworks featured are a 15 inch by 20 inch framed oil on board landscape rendering by Mildred Perry, framed, signed lower right and titled en verso; a watercolor depiction of flowers in bloom by Justin McCarthy (Am., 1891-1977), signed in pencil lower left; and a pair of framed sporting prints of birds in flight by Percival C. Wharton (Am., b. 1880), framed and dated 1919.

Also offered will be three scenes of Old Philadelphia taverns, all by E. T. Scowcroft (the Blue Anchor Inn, the Indian Queen and the Spread Eagle Inn, all roughly 9 ¾ inches by 13 inches and framed); an original late 19th century engraving by Camille Fonce, titled Litchfield, 18 inches by 22 ½ inches, in a gold leaf frame; and a pair of 19th century satirical prints in modern frames.

Antique clocks will feature a Royal Bonn porcelain clock (“La Vendee”), with a clockworks by Ansonia, late 19th century, 15 inches tall; a desk-size French (or Swiss) 11 inch balloon clock in the Regency style, with a mahogany case shell inlay; and a 13-inch-tall mahogany Regency style 19th century mantel clock, signed “Leroy Paris” with a French-made movement by Vincent.

The stamps and currency category will boast a Benjamin Franklin one-cent U.S stamp, marked as “U.S. Stamp, 1857-61”; an 1894 U.S. stamp, uncanceled, showing George Washington; and one lot of eight sheets of U.S. stamps, with serial numbers of various newly-issued U.S. stamps.

Doll enthusiasts will be treated to a doll-size Windsor wraparound armchair, 6 ¾ inches tall, painted black; and a doll-size ladder-back style hand-made chair, 15 inches tall, with a wood seat and lemon finials. Also sold will be a full set of terra cotta figures depicting Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with some original paint and some restoration of paint (and one repaired Dwarf).

A few other noteworthy lots are a 19th century painted and gold accented metal candle holder (now converted to electricity); a fine silk embroidery within a Hogarth-like frame, possibly original, 11 ¼ inches by 15 inches; and an 18th or 19th century mahogany or walnut spoon rack, rare and unusual, able to accommodate up to 12 silver spoons, with a hinged lid container below.

Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Telephone and absentee bids will also be accepted. Previews will be held Wednesday and Thursday, May 21-22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (EST) and on Friday, May 23, the date of sale, from 10 a.m. until the first gavel falls at 3:30 p.m. A buyer’s premium will be applied to all purchases, in person and online.

Malvern is a city situated in eastern Pennsylvania, not far off Interstate 76, north and west of Philadelphia. Gordon S. Converse & Company is headquartered in Wayne, also located in eastern Pennsylvania. Gordon Converse has been an antique gallery owner for over 30 years, beginning in 1979. He has also served as an appraiser on the hit PBS series Antiques Roadshow.

Gordon S. Converse & Company is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them directly, at (610) 722-9004; or, you can send an e-mail to Todd Converse, at Todd@ConverseClocks.com, or Gordon Converse, at Gordon@ConverseClocks.com. All e-mailed inquiries receive serious and prompt attention.

Gordon S. Converse & Company now features “Free Appraisal Tuesdays.” Bring your item or items into the gallery in Malvern between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday, and Gordon Converse (an appraiser on the hit PBS series Antiques Roadshow) will be there to give his expert opinion. Bring in the item or items, or a good set of photos, but please, no jewelry items, stamps or coins.

To learn more about Gordon S. Converse & Co., and the May 23rd Spring Roundup Gallery Sale, log on to www.AuctionsatConverse.com.

30 -