Date: Fri 27-Mar-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Bidding

Full Text:

South Wins The Bidding War

w/3 cuts

By Rita Easton

EMMAUS, PENN. -- Americana, Shaker, and Civil War items were the subject of a

February 14 auction held by Aston Macek at the Emmaus Fire Hall. Tony Macek

described the crowd as "to the rafters," with 250 bidding numbers out for the

325 lots being sold. Significant Confederate pieces were consigned by an

anonymous Southern gentleman.

Garnering the highest price of the day, a Confederate "College Hill" sword,

carried in the Civil War by Captain John Dick, who was killed in Tennessee,

sold at $9,750.

All key Civil War pieces went to Hawaii, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina,

"literally all over," said Macek, "but nothing of significance stayed in

Pennsylvania. For the most part, the South lost the Civil War, but they're

winning the bidding war to get their artifacts back where they belong."

A Confederate sword, which has been presented to Confederate General Carter

Littlepage Stevenson in 1838, upon his graduation from West Point, who carried

it through the Mexican War and the Civil War, reached $8,000.

"[Stevenson] was liked on both sides, so of course when the Civil War erupted

he had to choose, and he went back to his roots," noted Macek. "But when he

died, the pallbearers were from both sides. He was a very popular man."

Two other Confederate swords sold well: a Thomas Griswold example from New

Orleans, bringing $5,000, and a rare Kenansville cavalry saber, reaching

$4,600. An entire collection from Charles Snover of Michigan, including his

saber, tintypes, sword belt, and personal papers and effects, sold as one lot

at $2,500, keeping the collection together. A small 1862 police Colt, in its

original presentation box, garnered $6,500.

A pre-Civil War powder horn dated "1799, Daufin County, Pennsylvania," with a

13-star flag on it, sold at $1,225; a Silas Hoadley tallcase clock, with

original wooden works and painted wooden face, dated 1810, reached $1,450; a

pair of carved dog heads was sold in three lots for a total of $1,000, all

going to the same buyer for a New York gallery. A French pair of beds in

cherry reached $750; and a bank with original paint, depicting a monkey and

lion, the monkey mechanically throwing the coin into the lion's mouth,

achieved $725.

The bargain of the day may have been a brown, ivory, and tan carpet wall

hanging. The lot, which was 15 feet wide, supposedly had Rockefeller family

provenance and an initial cost of approximately $100,000. The piece sold at

$100.

Prices quoted do not reflect a ten percent premium.