Date: Thu 15-Apr-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: MELISS

Quick Words:

Garth's

Full Text:

Garth's Auction March 19/20

with 11 cuts

DELAWARE, OHIO -- Everything from Nineteenth Century math problems to Santa on

pigback was offered at Garth's Auctions March sale of early American furniture

and accessories, folk art, toys, and lighting. Several collectors contributed

to the two-day auction, yielding a colorful variety of pieces that drew a

large crowd.

The math problems were presented in an exercise book in pen and ink and

watercolor, with the pencil inscription, "This penmanship was done by Offord."

With a rawhide cover, 15 pages of color decoration and 13 in black and white,

the book included Butcher family information, with the dates 1809 to 1833.

Found in an attic in Homer, Ohio, the book sold for $3,025.

That price, and all noted here, reflects a Garth's ten percent premium.

Among the toys offered was a wind-up tin "Marx Merry Makers" mouse band, which

worked in spite of one missing figure and a missing piano player's chair. The

musical mice sold for $330.

The whimsical pig-riding Santa was a pull-toy marked "L. Schifferl" that sold

for $577.50. A Santa on a reindeer pull toy, also marked "Schifferl," sold for

$3,080.

The Santas were two of several folk art carvings by the Schifferl family of

Wisconsin. A 25«" high "Uncle Sam rabbit" -- "And boy, is he handsome,"

commented auctioneer and partner Jeff Jeffers -- was the first of the carvings

to be offered. The rabbit, which sold for $770, was followed by a fat hen

($330) and a large cat ($412.50).

A folky table top writing desk that may have been used at sea was constructed

of walnut and pine and jigsaw work applied decoration. The top compartment had

Gothic arch doors and a shrine-like interior with a mirror and scenes of

people and animals. It was marked "J.W. Cleveland, Union Grove, Wis. Jan.

1886." The writing desk, which one imagines could only have been used for

writing wild sailing tales of adventure and fantasy, sold for $935.

Among several oil paintings offered was a charming portrait of a small girls,

blue-eyed and blond, dangling one foot in a stream. In good original

condition, the unframed 35" by 28" painting sold for $3,960.

Two watercolors on paper sparked interest: a painting of a Pennsylvania farm

auction signed "Hattie K. Brunner '76" included a letter-invoice from Brunner,

a Pennsylvania German antiques dealer and folk artist. Matted and framed, the

painting sold for $6,050.

Another Brunner, this one a winter scene of a horse, a sleigh, and a covered

bridge, also was signed, $3,630.

Buyers interested in early lighting struck a rich vein at this auction.

Included was a hogscraper candlestick with a brass ring and a pushup marked

"Shaw" that sold for $550; a three-legged adjustable Betty lamp in wrought

iron with punched and tooled detail ($715); a stoneware grease lamp attributed

to Tennessee ($550); a primitive wrought iron cruise lamp on a stand

($467.50); and a 46" wrought iron candlestand on a tripod base, ex. Jerome

Blum, that sold for $852.50.

Larger items included a European kas, in pine with original rose mulled

decoration and polychrome floral panels. The kas had a German inscription with

the date "1800" and sold for $4,400 to an absentee bidder.

A country hanging cupboard in pine and poplar with old worn gray paint had one

nailed drawer and sold for $3,630, while a refinished cherry Sheraton stand

with curly and bird's-eye maple veneer facade sold for $1,760.

Early in the auction, a Chippendale two-piece secretary sold for $6,875. In

mahogany with old finish and with original brasses, the secretary had double

doors with a geometric arrangement of glass in its top and pigeon holes and

dovetailed drawers in the base.

The secretary was immediately followed by an Irish Chippendale knee hole desk,

also in mahogany, with seven dovetailed drawers, for $3,025.

A country one piece corner cupboard in cherry sold for $6,875; a country

Hepplewhite harvest table, in pine with red repaint, had a two board

breadboard top, $1,760; a Rupp painted chest from York, PA., in poplar with

original red flame graining, $770; a country Hepplewhite work table in pine

with old worn gray repaint over red on its case, $1,430; and a fanback

Windsor-style armchair by Wallace Nutting that auctioneer Steve Bemiller

called "as fine an example of Nutting as you're going to find," $1,100.

And not all buyers had to pay big bucks -- a Hepplewhite drop leaf table, in

cherry with dark refinishing, had some repairs and sold for $165. "A good buy

here," auctioneer Jeffers remarked.

An automatic change making machine, in hardwood, was labeled "Hopkins &

Robinson Mfg. Co. Louisville, Ky. Pat. Nov. 20 `83" and sold for $715, while

an early German strong box, wrought iron and sheet steel with engravings of

figures and flowers, $1,540. A tin squirrel cage with a wheel was claimed for

$412.50.

Among other notable smaller items were an early Staffordshire cow creamer, ex.

Dr & Mrs Whieldon, for $852.50; a redware lion, yellow slip with spaghetti

mane, initialed "L.B. 1982 PA.," $495; a Liverpool pitcher, in creamware with

a black transfer of "Peace, Plenty & Independence," and "Washington in Glory,"

$1,210; an early Italian faience vase, ex Dr & Mrs Whieldon, $687.50; and a

Rockingham lion, $880.

A Bennington flint enamel candlestick went for $385; a Staffordshire dome top

coffee pot with dark blue floral transfer, $550; an eagle campaign torch,

$770; and a wrought iron skewer holder with 22 skewers, found in an Extern,

N.H. attic in the 1950's, sold for $1,045.

Among quilts and coverlets offered were a Jacquard two-piece single weave

coverlet with a bottom border labeled "John Smith, L. Gackly, 1838." In red,

navy blue, green, and natural white, the coverlet sold for $935. An applique

quilt with 16 stylized floral medallions, dated 1848 sold for $302.50; a

pieced quilt with nine star medallions with trapunto work between, had one

initialed corner, $605; and a pieced quilt with stylized floral medallions in

an Irish chain grid, $852.50.

Firearms included a Baronet contact musket found in a barn in Northern

Georgia. A three band musket with brass hardware and the carved initials

"J.T.M.," the gun sold for $605.

A cased double barrel percussion shotgun with "Van Wart Son & Co.," had scroll

and leaf engraving on locks, trigger guard, tang, buttplate, and fore end.

With a silver thumbpiece, the gun was sold with tools, spring vises, a

cleaning rod, and two tins of caps for $2,200.

Garth's follows all federal firearms regulation, and buyers were so notified.

Several Lincoln items included a three item lot: a C.D.V. with the Anthony and

Brady backmark. Reputed to have been taken Feb. 23, 1861, the C.D.V. and two

engravings, a bust and eagle and a funeral at the Presidential mansion, for

$1,430.

When a doll-size armchair was sold, along with two baskets of faux eggs, the

daughter of Garth's owner Tom Porter spoke up. "Looks like more than four to

me," she drawled. While the audience groaned, Jeffers rolled his eyes.