GARTH’S ANNUAL LABOR DAY WEEKEND AMERICANA AUCTION – IN GREAT FORM! “Good distinction over time about form and surface: that is the key to materials from collections in this sale”, commented Garth’s Auctions CEO, Jeff Jeffers as he offered details regarding which will
the private collection of a lady, there are a few objects which should garner quite a bit of attention. Wouldn’t most collectors like to say that the famous dealer Israel Sack once commented on a piece in their collection? Sack did just that about a settle bench to sell Saturday. The English oak bench with raised panel construction, a seat compartment, old finish and a wonderful size once evoked commentary from Sack that it was “the best” he had ever seen of that form and scale (estimate $800-1,200). Another piece from the same collection is one of three Federal tall case clocks in the sale. A Federal cherry and poplar tall case clock by Aaron Willard of Boston, Massachusetts is particularly nice. With a fretwork hood, shaped case door, and molded base, the clock bears an eight-day movement signed by Willard and has a sun/moon dial. The 80" high clock purportedly descended in the Willard family through a New Hampshire relative (estimate $ 2,500-5,000). One other clock has an origin which is still up for debate. The early 19th century Pennsylvania or Southern Federal inlaid cherry and walnut clock has an original dry finish and folksy inlaid decoration. The case is adorned with leaf and rosette carvings, wide cove molding between sections, a door with a shaped crest, all enclosing a 30-hour brass movement with floral-decorated dial. At 96" high it is a stately acquisition at an estimate of $3,000-6,000.
If your collection is seeking a little direction, then perhaps one of fifteen weathervanes to be sold would be a good choice. A quill form weathervane is one of the finest. The American copper example has a ridged vane and original gilt. Measuring 16" high and 36" long, it rests on a modern stand and is estimated at $3,500-5,500. Another weathervane to sell is similar to one by L.W. Cushing, Waltham Massachusetts. The full-bodied leaping stag is a nice size at 27” high and 30” long. From a private Philadelphia collection, it has good form, detail, and a verdigris patina with worn gilt (estimate $2,500-3,500). Of the eight examples with horses, the jockey on running horse (estimate $1,500-3,000) and the trotter pulling a high wheeled sulky and driver (estimate $2,000-3,000) are quite dynamic.
Many interesting lanterns are to be sold, but the best is a presentation lantern is inscribed for Philip Sheridan (1831-1888), who was born in Albany, New York, but grew up in Somerset, Ohio. Sheridan graduated from West Point - The U.S. Military Academy in 1853 and proved one of the Union's most noted generals during the Civil War. A related lantern in the collection of the West Point Museum that bears the presentation inscription to General U.S. Grant. This Sheridan example is estimated at $5000-7000. Other wonderful decorative smalls will include almost 70 lots of whimsical sewertile from the Batdorff collection, which features some signed by Ohio Sewertile factory workers. A large grouping of Leeds includes a nice pitcher and a double handled, footed cup with banners
