Sixth Annual Ohio Valley - Americana Auction at Garth's On May 18, Garth’s Auctions in Delaware, Ohio will host the Sixth Annual Ohio Valley Auction which features an extraordinary combination of all the best Ohio has to offer, alongside Americana and acce
brass frame, and walnut stock. Retaining a period, probably original, leather holster, the firearm, which is one of 21 lots of weapons in the sale, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. A rare Illinois silk on linen sampler from Greene County, 1840, is adorned with realistic flowering vines surround the narrow sawtooth inner border, an oval cartouche with the maker's name, Jessy Ann Spenser, and date, as well as rows of alphabets and numbers over pious verses. In the pictorial, leafy shrubs on a green hillock, a pair of butterflies above and on the lawn a large diamond weave basket is filled with flowers ($1,500-$2,500). Research and historical information about Jessy lists her as the 5th child of Stephen Winchell Spencer, a Major in the War of 1812 and Mary Smith, both originally from Addison County, Vermont. The rarity continues with a set of four Currier and Ives large folio hand-colored lithographs of hunting scenes from the American Field Sports series including A Chance for Both Barrels (C# 148), Flush'd (C# 149), On a Point (C# 150), and Retrieving (C# 151). In matching burl veneer frames, the lot is thought to be worth $8,000-12,000.
In a nod to the season, a small selection of baseball themed items are to be sold. One of fifteen canes/walking sticks to be sold, an American stick with a wooden shaft topped with an ivory cueball for the handle and a silver disk engraved with players on a baseball field and the bench is inscribed "Boston Red Sox" ($600-900). A wonderful oil painting of African Americans playing America's game will also be sold. The folksy depiction shows an afternoon game, with ladies looking on. At 19" square, it should bring $250-500. A group of five Babe Ruth soda bottles would be a fun addition to a collection. The circa 1920-1940, molded glass bottles are just 4.5” high with tin lids and printed labels with image of Babe Ruth, his name, the number “9”, and the phrase "All American Athlete" (estimate $150-300).
The Preview for the sale will begin Monday, May 14 and continue through May 18. Online bidding will be available through artfact.com. For further information, call Garth’s gallery at 740.362.4771 or visit www.garths.com for the fully illustrated catalog and complete preview hours. Garth’s upcoming auctions include the June 1st Eclectic sale and the July 27-28th auction of Fine Art and Asian & Continental Furniture and Decorative Arts.
