Acoma Olla Sells for $17,000 at Cordier Antiques' Two Day Fall Auction Cordier Antiques' Two Day Fall Antique & Fine Art Auction was held November 8 and 9 in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania with good results, led by the sales' top lot, a large Acoma olla that sold for $17,000.
within or below estimate including an 18K 3.3 CTW diamond sunburst brooch finishing at its low estimate of $2,000. A pair of Victorian Etruscan yellow gold dangle earrings estimated at $200 to $400 saw lively bidding by the floor, finally hammering down at $900. Several jewelry-related items fared equally as good including an 835 silver and guilloche enameled cigarette case. Featuring a finely executed center cartouche of a reclining nude, the piece fetched $650 from the floor. A 19th century gilt tussie mussie, or posy holder, realized $750 while a silver version sold at $375, both on $300 to $600 estimates. One of the most popular lots was a Hamilton Vega model electric wristwatch. In near mint condition and housed in its original box, the watch had been consigned by the original owner. The majority of the bidding took place on the Internet which prevailed at $1,000.
The sale continued into military, weapons and then ethnographic arts featuring a large Acoma polychrome olla that would prove to be top lot of the two day sale. Having a globular body with tapered neck and concave base and decorated with three sets of rainbow bands framing images of parrots and various flower forms, the olla had generated a good deal of interest during the weeks leading up to the auction. Estimated at $1,000 to $2,000 due to a hairline crack, the lot opened with strong Internet bidding well above estimate at $7,500. At that point the bidding was taken over by the floor and phone with everyone in attendance playing close attention as the bidding continued to escalate. The floor finally prevailed as the lot was knocked down at $17,000 amid applause. David Cordier, owner of Cordier Antiques & Fine Art, noted “Given the level of interest we had received on the piece we were cautiously optimistic that the olla would generate a strong price. This is more proof that even with the current economic conditions and some lower prices, collectors are continuing to pay top dollar for rare and special pieces.”
Fine art offered a wide range of mediums from sculpture to paintings and prints. A featured lot was a portrait of James Ketchum of Cornwall, Orange County, New York (Mt. Hope area) by well-known portrait artist Ammi Phillips (New England, 1788-1865). Consigned by a direct descendent of the sitter, the portrait sold within estimate to the room at $8,500. A Walter Emerson Baum (Pennsylvania, 1884-1956) winter landscape entitled “Along the Allentown Road” went to a pleased collector on the Internet for $4,250. The Internet was also successful on a rare oil on artist board painting by Eyvind Earle (American, 1916-2000) at $3,250. Earle worked for the Walt Disney Studios and was responsible for the styling, background and colors for “Sleeping Beauty”.
Saturday’s sale continued with clocks, lighting, furniture and rugs. A large and unique tramp art fretwork Gothic cathedral clock hammered down to the Internet within estimate at $850 while a Victorian hanging light with a molded cranberry glass shade
