Ceramics Produced Fireworks during Garth’s March Americana Auction During Garth’s March 11-12, 2011 Americana auction, the ceramics provided continual fireworks as bidders took home a variety of vessels at very strong prices.
for $1,928, a red schoolhouse with a blue border selling for $1,293, and a red schoolhouse within a red border realizing $1,175. Several lots of stoneware demonstrated the desirability of the forms. A 14 ¾” high jug was adorned with strong, cobalt stenciling of "Hamilton & Jones, Greensboro, 2" all around a large 5-pointed star which propelled it to a sale price of $1,763 versus an estimate of $300-600. Another stoneware lot comprised of two stenciled crocks bore the names "Barringer & McDade...Letart Falls, Ohio", 10"h., and "Greensboro", 6 1/2"h., the latter with a sharp depiction of two Palantine pears. While both had some chips, the lot sold for $1,763.
Another large collection featured during the sale was that of thirty-five lots of Bennington & twenty-six lots of Rockingham, most from an astute collector in Delaware. Of the figures, washboard, hanging flower pots, pitchers, spittoons and more sold, a Bennington poodle with flint enamel and coleslaw fur holding a basket of fruit in its mouth climbed well beyond its $900-1,600 estimate to a price of $3,290. The selection of Bennington candlesticks lit the fires of many bidders who competed for lots selling for as much as $1,116 and $1,880 for single sticks, $1,763 for a similar pair, and $1,528 for a trio which included a pair which used to be part of the New York Historical Society. An impressive 20” long foot bath in colors of blue, amber and green sold within estimate for $1,175 as did a wash bowl and pitcher set in an alternating rib pattern with good colors for $1,116.
While ceramics led the two-day event, the display of American painted furniture and folk art accessories warmed the audience against the last days of winter. A simply carved burl butter paddle launched a bidding frenzy due to its bird-form handle and fine figuring before landing at a price of $8,225. Three other paddles without the bird made $999, $783, and $764. As with the paddles, one small element – a different handle, a different color – can make all the difference. When two similar footed cups with decoration by Joseph Lehn crossed the block, this fact was illustrated yet again. The first was embellished with red and yellow daisies against a blue ground. It also retained an old label and old writing on the underside, but the date “1876” was all that was legible. One or more factors contributed to a price of $5,288 while the second cup with daisies on a yellow background sold for $2,585. Another slightly smaller Lehn cup with strawberries and vines against a blue ground sold for $4,994.
Additionally, a late 19th century Massachusetts painted pine painter’s box with its original surface consisting of a harbor scene on the lid with an eagle holding a banner reading "William L. Talbot Painter & Glazier" and a landscape vignette on the front may have been estimated a bit conservatively at $500-1,000. The small 16 1/2" wide box triggered a bidding war and sold for
