The November 15 auction of Americana and Southern Decorative Arts proved that the demand for exceptional pieces continues to surge. Even more importantly, however, the strength of bidding at the sale on items across multiple categories, from pottery to furniture to folk art, surprised more than a few and seemed to signal some degree of revitalization in the overall marketplace for art and antiques. One of the more important pieces in the sale, an extremely rare folk art fraktur birth and baptismal certificate, created by the so-called “Wild Turkey Artist” and made in 1819 for Anna Magdalena Scherertz, of Wythe County, Virginia, achieved the auction’s highest price. Very few fraktur birth and baptismal certificates by this artist have come on the market, and this one, with its vibrant, mirror-image tulips, facing turkeys, hearts, and other designs, was in remarkably well-preserved condition. Bidders battled aggressively for the piece, which sold for $27,600 against a conservative estimate of $8,000 - $12,000. (Lot 495)

Another important piece, an exceptionally rare half-plate daguerreotype (circa 1856) of “Main Street, Richmond, Virginia” sold for $21,850, ten times its high estimate. One of only a handful known from the period, the view of Main Street revealed many identifiable shops, including the “J. W. Randolph Book Bindery” and the “W. Allen Tailor, Gentlemen’s Furniture Store”. This stunning roof-top perspective of the city, taken on the eve of the American Civil War, generated interest from institutions and private collectors alike. (Lot 346)

JSE & Associates continues to shape the market for top-quality Southern material, and this sale was no exception. Not surprisingly, two pieces of Virginia furniture stole the hearts of collectors and dealers. One, a rare and important Petersburg, Virginia corner/smoking chair (circa 1765-1785), carved in scarce cherry or applewood, and in fine overall condition, sold for $20,700 to one of several phone bidders competing for the lot. The other, a fine Norfolk, Virginia or Northeastern North Carolina Chippendale mahogany barrel-back corner cupboard (circa 1790-1810), with complex glazing pattern and in excellent estate condition, sold for $18,400, twice the high estimate. (Lots 409 and 439)

The sale also included a large selection of stoneware and earthenware, and was highlighted by the important collection of the late Eddie Wilder of Alexandria, Virginia. Wilder had steadfastly studied and pursued Alexandria stoneware for decades, and his efforts culminated in the 2007 publication,  Alexandria, Virginia Pottery, 1792-1876, the definitive reference on that region’s 19th-century stoneware production. Selections from the Wilder collection performed very well in the sale and were highlighted by an iconic four-gallon jug (circa 1825-1831) marked “H. Smith & Co.” for Hugh Smith’s Wilkes Street pottery in Alexandria. With rare cobalt floral decoration, the piece sold for $12,650 to a major Virginia collector, against an estimate of $3,000-5,000. Pottery in other categories, ranging from slip-decorated earthenware to regional stoneware, was strong as well and included several surprises. The most conspicuous example, a three-gallon jar (circa 1817-1850) from the Richmond, Virginia area with simple cobalt decoration, attributed to Samuel Wilson and/or his associates, sailed past its $100 - $200 estimate and ultimately sold for $8,025, setting a new record far above previous results for similar jars. (Lots 1 and 113)

After the auction, Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “Needless to say we are extremely pleased with the results of this auction. Southern material continues to perform strongly, especially when thoroughly researched and well documented. The biggest surprise for us was the amount of interest in the brown furniture we offered, which resulted in very respectable prices, some reminiscent of the pre-recession market. I think people are beginning to recognize the great values that are available in this and other categories, and have decided to begin taking advantage of the great bargains.” Evans added, “We keep our estimates on the very conservative side in order to engage bidders which usually results in spirited bidding. Only three of the 897 lots in the auction were passed and the auction total came in at double the pre-auction low estimate.”  Evans also noted that his firm has already secured several very important Southern objects for their next Americana and Southern auction in June  2015.

The next auction at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates is December 6, and focuses on Fine Studio and Victorian Glass and Ladies’ Accoutrements, including thimbles; darners; hat pins; dresser boxes, and etc. That auction is on view December 3 – 5, from 10 am to 6 pm; and day of sale from 8 am until the last lot is sold. For further information, please go to www.jeffreysevans.com, email info@jeffreysevans.com or call 540.434.3939