Date: Fri 20-Feb-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDYC

Quick Words:

Yorktown

Full Text:

York Town Auction, Inc, Jan 23-24 Sale

With 6 cuts/LB

YORK, PENN. -- York Town Auction, Inc, started its tenth year with a

record-breaking sale.

On January 23 and 24, the firm sold more than 1,200 catalogued lots at the

Valencia Ballroom in York for more than $750,000, plus premium.

A paint-decorated blanket chest was the highlight of the sale. It was

decorated in yellow, green and red. The central theme was a tea cup from which

came six branches of geometric flowers. The chest sold for $75,500.

Despite threatening weather, the crowd was large and enthusiastic, with more

than 500 registered bidders from all areas of the East Coast and Midwest. The

Friday evening session included advertising, tobacco and gasoline related

items, guns and sporting items, postcards, weapons, and a variety of other

items. A Pennsylvania long rifle signed G. Kopp brought $2,600, while the

Springfield Government issue hunting knife sold for $325.

Advertising wall clocks for U.S.G. Harness Oil and Diamond Black Leather Oil

brought $1,600 and $1,200, respectively. A star in the automotive items was a

1903 Philadelphia license plate in fair condition that sold for $475. A Mobil

red flying horse brought $775 in spite of damage, and an Amoco "Speed The

Victory" poster by Leyendecker brought $550. A Ford metal keyboard sold for

$500. Tobacco items were strong, a Cremo shipping humidor case realized

$1,350.

There was a flurry of activity when the Oriental rugs were presented on

Saturday morning. The first lot was a Farahan Sarouk, circa 1850-80, measuring

approximately 11 by 14 feet. It surpassed the high estimate to bring a hammer

price of $29,500. The next of the 41 lots was a large Bijar, which more than

doubled its high estimate to sell for $20,000. A 13 by 21 foot Serape made

$28,500 despite its missing guard borders, and a 17 by 11 foot Bachshiesh sold

for $23,000, coming in well over estimate.

At York Town Auction, Inc, the clerk announces each lot number and gives a

brief description before the auctioneer begins selling. All absentee bids are

executed from a podium to the left of the auctioneer's stand. The catalogue

descriptions and pictures have encouraged interest. The audience seems to

appreciate the straightforward approach.

Saturday afternoon held more excitement with the Miller collection of

Americana being sold. A walnut flat-top highboy with cabriole legs and trifid

feet brought $17,500; a knuckle arm Windsor chair sold for $4,800; and a

walnut Queen Anne tallcase clock signed John Richardson realized $22,500. The

three other tall clocks for sale on Saturday included an eight-day John

Fessler, Frederick, Md., which sold for $15,500; an eight-day Robert Shearman,

Philadelphia, mahogany clock, which sold for $13,000; and a 30-hour walnut

George Long, Hanover, Penn., which also exceeded its estimate, selling for

$9,500.

Chinese Export porcelains included a pictorial Cantonese basin, which realized

$2,300.

The crowd thinned somewhat toward evening, but bidding on the toleware,

pewter, redware and wallpaper boxes remained strong. In the redware category a

slip decorated charger dated 1793 sold for $5,600, a miniature three-color

slip decorated bowl sold for $1,200, and a colander sold for $1,900. The

collection of wallpaper boxes ranged from $350 to $1,250, while a substantial

collection of toleware included a mug for $1,250, and a carved wooden

milliner's head from Middletown, Penn., brought $13,500. Though there were few

textiles, a striking red and blue coverlet signed C. Seymiller 1839 sold for

$2,000 toward the end of the sale.

The custom and reproduction furniture sold earlier in the day also drew active

bidding. A French style gilded chair with ram's head arms brought $2,600, and

a less ornate gilded French style chair brought $1,700. The Hepplewhite style

dining room set sold for $2,600, and a French style parlor set brought $2,000.

"The marathon sale was typical for York Town, both in size and variety," said

owner Deborah McClain.

The next auction is March 21 and will again include Americana. For sale will

be a Harrisburg school sampler from Leah Meguiers School, dated 1819, and an

Eberman, Lancaster County, Penn., eight-day tallcase clock in flame-grained

mahogany.

Following the March sale, on April 4, will be the fourth auction in the series

of the Schwartz Stein collection. It will include the Roosevelt tankard, a 23

inch ivory and silver piece by Tiffany & Company depicting an expedition party

of Theodore Roosevelt.

For information, contact John Newcomer at 717/751-0211. For consignment

information, contact John and Deborah McClain at 717/751-0211 York Town

Auction, Inc, 1625 Haviland Road, York, Penn. 17404.