Antiques & Auction News - January 6, 2023

Two new textile exhibitions are open at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. “Stitched in Time: American Needlework,” an exhibition of nearly 60 examples of bed rugs, whitework, embroidered hand towels, quilted petticoats, samplers, mourning and commemorative needlework, crewelwork, needlework with religious and geographical influences as well as sewing accessories, will remain on view through Jan. 2, 2025, at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum. Additionally, an entirely new rotation of objects in the popular exhibition, “The Art of the Quilter,” that opened in 2021 will feature 15 pieces, 12 of which are recent acquisitions that have never before been displayed. This configuration of the exhibition, which will remain on view through August 2023 at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, will include 11 large quilts, one woven coverlet and three doll-size quilts that tell stories about people from America’s past and the societies in which they lived.

“For decades, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has collected textiles from a broad and highly diverse array of ethnic, cultural, and regional communities,” said Ronald L. Hurst, senior vice

president for education and historic resources. “These new exhibitions allow us to share these beautiful and story-laden documents of early American society with the visiting public.”

Needlework and sewing were common threads in the lives of most 18th- and 19th-century females across social, economic and geographical boundaries. Early American women, whether poor, enslaved, indigenous, middle class or wealthy, contributed to their family’s household furnishings and enriched their homes and clothing by embellishing textiles with decorative stitches. Sewing and mending everyday household textiles, such as bed and table linens and clothing, was another way for women to contribute economically to their family. Stitching needlework projects was not only a creative outlet for many housewives, but was also an educational tool for young schoolgirls. These themes are the basis for “Stitched in Time: American Needlework,” which will be on view in the Len and Cyndy Alaimo Gallery. The exhibition will also highlight the diversity and regional variations of American needlework that can be traced through the ethnic origins of the

Poster Auctions International’s (PAI) third sale of the year, on Nov. 13, finished at just over $2.2 million. Rare Posters Auction LXXXVIII saw sustained bidder interest for unusual, never-before-seen lithographs from the Art Nouveau and Art Deco eras, continuing PAI’s streak of sales grossing $2 million this year.

“We are always humbled by the enthusiasm of our consignors and bidders at auction. Collectors demonstrated continued passion for rare and important lithographs, leading to several new sales records,” said Jack Rennert, president of PAI.

Alphonse Mucha continued to hold sway over admiring buyers.

A historic documented Spanish-American War Rough Rider engraved Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 single action revolver with factory letter belonging to former president, Col. Theodore Roosevelt, sold for $910,625. It sold on Dec. 9 by Rock Island Auction Company.

The revolver was presented to Roosevelt on May 12, 1898, the same day he departed for San Antonio, Texas, to train the famed Rough Riders. The Smith & Wesson New Model No. 3 was intended to be carried into the war against Spain; however, according to documentation from Roosevelt’s

The Log Cabin Show quilt is by Geneva Luela Richards Graves (18621915), Hampshire County, Mass., ca. 1890, and made of silks, metal bangles, wool, silk and metallic fringe and cotton foundation, a gift of Karen W. Cox, 2020.609.5.

This sampler by Mary Rees of Montgomery County, Pa., 1827, is made of silk and wool embroidery threads on a linen ground of 27-by-36 threads per inch and in an original veneered maple frame, a museum purchase, 1957.602.1.

The embroidered bed rug “RD” by an unidentified maker possibly from Norwich, Conn., 1785, is wool embroidery on a wool ground, the stitch: darning, and was a museum purchase, Dr. and Mrs. T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Fund, 2014.609.6.

makers, trade and migration patterns, influential teachers and artists, current fashions, religious affiliations, geography and even climate.

“We are excited to share The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s regionally and ethnically diverse needlework collection with our museum visitors,” said Kimberly Smith Ivey, senior curator of textiles. “Over 50 textiles for comparison have been selected from regions of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the South and the Western Frontier. Highlights of the exhibition include a schoolgirl sampler created by a young Jewish girl who inscribed her work with her hometown of Chicago.

Another extraordinary embroidery was created by an Irish immigrant in Frenchtown, Mich., at the Oblate Sisters of Providence School, which was co-founded by Mother Theresa Maxi Duchermin, a Catholic of color.”

Among the many other highlights of “Stitched in Time” is a rare bed rug made probably in Norwich, Conn., in 1785 by an unknown maker who signed the rug “RD.” The rug relates to a group of embroidered rugs created in the Connecticut River Valley. It was made by darning, or stitching, closely spaced rows of heavy wool yarn through a woolen ground, leaving most of the stitches visible on the surface. The side and bottom borders consist of abstract

scalloped and peaked lines similar in appearance to Irish stitch needlework, but worked with darning stitches. This bed rug is especially attractive because of its remarkable condition.

Among the many examples of extraordinary samplers in the exhibition is one made in 1827 by Mary Rees, a student of Elizabeth Robinson (17781865), in Montgomery County, Pa. Robinson, an unmarried woman who lived with her five unmarried sisters in their family homestead left to them by their father, worked as a schoolmistress to help support the family. At least eight samplers or pictures have been identified from Elizabeth Robinson’s school. Mary Rees’ cross-stitched verse and her pictorial composition made of silk and wool embroidery

threads on a linen ground are perfectly suited to each other. The verse implores all living things to praise their Maker, while the imagery shows some of the plants and animals requested to pay such tribute. Rees’ careful selection of thread color and the direction and type of stitching makes the scene both decorative and naturalistic. The embroidered scene bordered in black stitches to imitate a reverse painted glass mat and the title, date, and signature worked in bright threads to mimic a more expensive gold leaf inscription are characteristics found on other embroideries worked under the instruction of Elizabeth Robinson.

In its second year of a three-year exhibition, “The Art of the Quilter’s” latest

rotation in the Foster and Muriel McCarl Gallery promises to continue delighting quilt aficionados with its new selection of quilts from The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation’s heralded collection from the early 19th century to present day. These diverse quilts allowed women to express artistic instincts while also creating a warm and practical bedcover for their loved ones. Making quilts was often a community activity, in which neighbors and relatives enjoyed the pleasures of joint work and socializing.

Ivey said of the exhibition, “We are literally covering America with this exhibition. The bed coverings display a variety of techniques, colors and materials and demonstrate America’s multicultural society with examples from the Anglo-American, German, Amish and Mennonite communities.”

of rich-colored silk solids, plaids, stripes, textured weaves and velvets, has the additional embellishments of metal bangles and wool, silk and metallic fringe. She worked from the center out to the edges of each smaller unit, building up the design with carefully chosen rectangles of fabric that represent logs of the cabin and purposely selected and assembled her fabrics to create bands of color in a concentric diamond shape. This is the first time this quilt will be on display at the Art Museums since it was acquired in 2020.

“Stitched in Time” is funded by the Leonard J. and Cynthia L. Alaimo Endowment for Colonial Williamsburg’s Art Museums, the Jeanne L. Asplundh Textile Exhibitions Endowment and the George Cromwell Trust.

Antiques & Auction News and its advertisers are not liable for composition errors or misprints; nor is it responsible for errors in ads taken by phone. Advertisers submitting artwork and images for use in advertisements assume all liability in regards to trademark and copyright infringements.

Rock Island

bodyguard, the revolver was placed on the side of his bed every night while in the White House, making it known as a “nightstand gun.”

Rock Island concluded its final premier auction event of 2022 with a volume of more than $18.3 million. Over the span of three days on Dec. 9, 10, and 11, history was brought to life, with immense firearms artistry on display and one of the most historic lineups to date.

Other stars of the sale were a Gustave Young engraved Gold Winchester Model 1866 rifle, an extremely rare firearm, which realized $211,500. An Ames sword presented to

Among the highlights of “The Art of the Quilter” is a log cabin show quilt made by Geneva Luela Richards Graves (1862-1915) in Hampshire County, Mass., ca. 1890. During the last quarter of the 19th century, when home decoration and beautification were a primary duty of Victorian housewives, the interest in show quilts reached its pinnacle. Most of these ornamental quilts were smaller than bed-size quilts and were usually made of silks and other fine fabrics with decorative stitches. Geneva’s small throw, made

future Confederate Gen. P.J. Semmes sold for $176,250. The well-documented inscribed officer’s presentation sword was owned by Semmes, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. Another

“The Art of the Quilter” is generously funded by the June G. Horsman Family Trust.

“Stitched in Time” and “The Art of the Quilter” promise to engage and delight the passionate needleworker of today, anyone who has received a special hand-stitched gift from a family member or friend, and all museum visitors of diverse ethnicities from different regions.

Additional information about the Art Museums and Colonial Williamsburg as well as tickets are available online at www.colonialwilliamsburg.org.

rare item was a Smith & Wesson Schofield & Holster revolver attributed to outlaw Jesse James, which sold for $152,750.

To learn more, visit www.rockislandauction.com.

The appliquéd Tulip quilt is by Ann Margaret Rauch (ca. 1811-82), Franklin County, Pa., 1849, and made of plain and printed cottons with cotton embroidery threads, a gift of Harry and Sandra Fisher, 2008.609.2.

The “View of the Rt Honble the Earl of Burlington’s House at Chiswick” by Orra Sears (1798-1872), Litchfield, Conn., 1816, is made of silk, chenille, metallic, and crinkled silk threads with paint and ink on a silk ground backed with linen, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Allen W. Rider, 2000-51.

The pieced and appliquéd Sunburst quilt is by Mary Ann McPherson (1809-1901), Charles County, Md., 1840-50, and made of plain and printed cottons, linen fringe, with paper and ink label, a museum purchase by The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund, 2021.609.3.

Collector Chats With Peter S. Seibert

This Week: Brown Furniture: What’s Up? Part One

More specifically, brown furniture is formal furniture with inlay or carving. Think either Chippendale period or Victorian era.

By Peter Seibert

A few days ago, I was talking with a colleague who is an auctioneer in Lancaster County, and we were both discussing the decline of popular interest in brown furniture.

The high-tech definition of brown furniture is any piece of hard or softwood furniture that is not painted/laminated.

The market in brown furniture was the mainstay of the antiques trade for decades. I met a 94-year-old lady the other day whose parents had taken her and her husband to Harold Sack, the great Boston antiques dealer of the 20th century, to buy a Chippendale chest of drawers when they were first married. As she noted to me, the chest was $750. It was seen at that time as an investment in both good taste and also financial security. Brown furniture was an established newlywed gift.

Similarly, when I worked in Lancaster County in the 1990s, every lawyer in town had to have a tall case clock and a portrait by Jacob Eichholtz

(1776-1842) in the lobby of his or her firm. And if the esteemed counselor had a painted dial clock, maybe when he or she did well in a case, they might upgrade to a brass dial clock. It was a mark of sophistication and affluence.

By the 1990s, that $750 chest purchased in the 1940s had now added quite a few zeros behind the price. It was prized, and the market was ready to pay the price. Big collections of high-end, highstyle, high-priced brown furniture were built like one would create a stock portfolio of blue chip securities.

What happened?

The market made a heck of a pivot, and in the last decade and a half, the desire for brown furniture has plummeted dramatically. The $75,000 chest might now be worth $7,500. Auctioneers go begging

for bidders to purchase what had been high-ticket, sophisticated furniture. I remember going to a sale in Lancaster County in the hopes of getting a tall case clock 12 months ago. The price was so cheap that I ended up buying two clocks.

The cause of this shift, I would argue, rests on two related but distinctive issues. First is that people who like antiques and collectibles usually buy what their grandparents had in order to decorate their homes. I state this as a universal norm. My eldest daughter loves furniture that reminds her of her grandparents’ 1970s home, just as I loved the Victorian era furniture that decorated my grandparents’ and their friends’ homes. It is the generational appeal of loving your grandparent’s home and wanting to emulate it.

Ty Cobb Bat Surpasses $1.6 Million Sports Auction Filled with History-Makers, Record-Breakers

Ty Cobb’s bat. Willie Mays’ jersey. Tiger Woods’ first hole-in-one ball. Mike Tyson’s glove. A Hank Aaron card. A championship ring from the first Super Bowl. And, of course, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle (or two). These were just a few of collectors’ favorite things in Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 17,

18, and 19 Fall Sports Catalog Signature Auction, which saw more than 3,700 bidders help set numerous records en route to a $22,149,071 finish. It was a fitting end to a history-making, hobby-altering year that saw the auction house set the record for the world’s most valuable sports collectible.

“I’ve been part of countless momentous auctions since founding Heritage’s Sports category in 2004, and it’s always a thrill to find new homes for incredible material from landmark moments and legendary players,” said Chris Ivy, director of Sports. “This has obviously been an extraordinary year for us, one that

Second is that over the last two decades, many collectors are selling their collections. The result has been the marketplace is glutted with items. Do you want a Pennsylvania blanket chest? Between the flea markets in Adamstown and the country sales and regular auction houses in Lancaster County, you can find a dozen on any given weekend. So the abundance of items coming out of collections who are downsizing has resulted in too much material coming onto the market and too few collectors interested in it.

This is not to say that brown furniture is truly dead. Strong prices have been and always will be paid for the topof-the-market items. It’s the antiques rule that great quality will always sustain great prices. But how many of us can

afford a Goddard-Townsend School gaming table?

“Born to collect” should be the motto of Peter Seibert’s family. Raised in Central Pennsylvania, Seibert has been collecting and writing about antiques for more than three decades. By day, he is a museum director and has worked in Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Virginia and New Mexico. In addition, he advises and consults with auction houses throughout the MidAtlantic region, particularly about American furniture and decorative arts. Seibert’s writings include books on photography, American fraternal societies and paintings. He and his family are restoring a 1905 arts and crafts house filled with years’ worth of antique treasures found in shops, co-ops and at auctions.

Ty Cobb’s game-used and signed (and photo-matched) bat dating to the 1910-14 seasons sold for $1.62 million.

saw us redefine the hobby and set hundreds of records, and we’re just delighted to end the year doing what we’ve always done: making history

with history.”

During this three-day event, Ty Cobb came a spike’s length from touching the world record for a game-used

bat: The Georgia Peach’s J.F. Hillerich & Son game-used and signed (and photomatched) lumber dating to the

Heritage

1910-14 seasons sold for $1.62 million, just shy of the $1.68million mark set in August for a game-used and signed Babe Ruth bat. The bat is the most valuable Ty Cobb memorabilia ever sold at auction.

Until last weekend, no Willie Mays game-worn jersey had ever sold at auction for more than $220,000. The Say Hey Kid, the subject of a new documentary on HBO, had something to say about it in this auction, when a 1966 game-worn, photo-matched

San Francisco Giants jersey sold for $456,000 to set a new record befitting one of the sport’s all-time greats.

It wasn’t long ago, in 2021, that a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded PSA NM-MT 8 card sold for well under $1 million. But Mantle’s near-mint offerings are now among the most coveted cards in the hobby. Here one (PSA NM-MT 8) sold for $1.47 million. And a ’52 Mantle in a PSA NM 7 realized $468,000, a record for that grade.

The Mick wasn’t alone in standing atop the cardboard record pile over the weekend.

The Left Arm of God himself, Sandy Koufax, saw his 1955 Topps rookie card graded PSA Mint 9 sell for $396,000, the highest price ever realized for the Dodger legend’s cardboard debut. A 1963 Topps Hank Aaron graded PSA Gem Mint 10 sold for $222,000, a new record for that particular Hammerin’ Hank classic in any grade. His 1954 Topps debut in a PSA Mint 9 sold for $615,000, just shy of its record. And Dennis Eckersley’s 1976 Topps rookie card graded PSA Gem Mint 10 (one of only nine) tossed a record-setter scoring $60,000.

But not all the popped records came from bubblegum cards. A 1947 Bond Bread Jackie Robinson rookie card graded PSA NM 7 sold for $62,403, the highest price ever

realized for this card produced by the bread-maker during trading-card companies’ post-war hiatus.

Before the auction even began, there was significant media attention paid to Tiger Woods’ signed hole-in-one ball sunk during his first pro tournament, the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. The signed Titleist in the specially made display did not disappoint; it realized $186,000 to become the most valuable golf ball in the world.

Only three months ago Heritage set the record for a Super Bowl I championship ring when Hall of Famer Dave Robinson’s jewelry realized a breathtaking $174,000. His teammate, offensive guard Frederick “Fuzzy” Thurston, ran over that highwater mark

when Thurston’s Super Bowl I ring sold for $216,000.

And Mike Tyson punched his way into the record books, when a signed lefthanded glove worn during the heavyweight’s first pro fight sold for $58,800. This red Everlast, worn during a first-round TKO at the Empire State Convention Center in Albany, N.Y., on March 6, 1985, is now the most expensive Tyson item ever sold at auction.

Bidders, of course, fought over this one. But as Iron Mike famously said, everyone has a plan til they get punched in the mouth.

For complete results, visit www.HA.com.

The Willie Mays game-worn jersey, a 1966 photo-matched San Francisco Giants jersey, sold for $456,000 to set a new record befitting one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Michael Gunselman, Centreville, DE

H. & L. Antiques, Princeton, NJ

Jane Langol, Medina, OH

Antiques From Home, Bethesda, MD

Steven & Sally Still, Manheim, PA

Hilary & Paulette Nolan, Falmouth, MA

Jon Mehl, York, PA

Marc Calciano, Clifton Heights, PA

Christopher & Bernandette Evans, Waynesboro, VA

Jewett • Berdan, New Castle, ME

Neverbird Antiques, Williamsburg, VA

Lisa S. McAllister, Clear Spring, MD

Ziebarth’s Antiques, Verona, WI

Daniel and Karen Olson, Newburgh, NY

Marc Witus, Gladstone, NJ

Thomas Restoration, Laurel, MD

Greg K. Kramer & Co., Robesonia, PA

Joseph J. Lodge, Lederach, PA

Larry Thompson, Atlanta, GA

James Island Antiques, Charleston, SC

John Kolar, Lancaster, PA

Don & Pat Clegg, East Berlin, PA

James L. Price, Carlisle, PA

Gene & Carol Rappaport, Lancaster, PA

Stephen Score, Boston, MA

Joan Staufer, Catskill, NY

Randi Ona, Wayne, NJ

The Norwood’s Spirit Of America, Timonium, MD

James Grievo, Stockton, NJ

Hanes & Ruskin, Niantic, CT

Clifton Anderson, Lexington, KY

John H. Rogers, New London, NH

Robert Conrad, Yeagertown, PA

Beaver Creek Antiques & Arms, Dillsburg, PA

Marvin Wies, Baltimore, MD

Soheil Oriental Rugs, Roslyn, NY

The Haneberg’s Antiques, East Lyme, CT

Dennis & Valerie Bakoledis, Rhinebeck, NY

Perkins and Menson, Ashby, MA

Wm. R. & Teresa Kurau, Lampeter, PA

Albert Nelson, Toledo, OH

Philip Bradley Antiques, Summeytown, PA

Newsom • Berdan, Thomasville, PA

Steve Smoot Antiques & Navajo Textiles, Lancaster, PA

Sorisio’s Antiques, Leechburg, PA

Nancy & Gene Pratt, Victor, NY

A Bird In Hand, Florham Park, NJ

Richard M. Worth, Centreville, DE

Scott Bassoff - Sandy Jacobs, Swampscott, MA

Frank Gaglio, Rhinebeck, NY

A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle #311 PSA NM-MT 8 realized 1.47 million.

This 1952 Mantle in a PSA NM 7 card realized $468,000, a record for that grade.

Sandy Koufax saw his 1955 Topps rookie card graded PSA Mint 9 sell for $396,000, the highest price ever realized for the Dodger legend’s cardboard debut.

Hammerin’ Hank’s classic 1954 Topps debut in a PSA Mint 9 sold for $615,000, just shy of its record.

19711 Newark 302-454-8007

AUNT MARGARET’S ANTIQUE MALL, 294 E. Main St. Mon- Sat. 10-5, Sun 12-5. 2 floors. Antiques, collectibles, vintage, primitives, much more! www.auntmargaretsantiquemall.com

19711 Newark 302-733-7677

MAIN STREET ANTIQUES, 23 Possum Park Mall. Hrs.: Mon.-Sat. 10-8, Sun. 11:30-5:30. Over 45 Showcase/Room Dealers selling quality antiques & collectibles. mainstreetantiques.com

08005 Barnegat609-698-3020

BAY AVENUE ANTIQUES, 349 S. Main.

Open Wed.- Sun., Noon - 6 PM. Book Seller, Pottery, Glass, Furniture, Holiday, Decoys, Antiques & UniquesPLUS Chalkpaint & Iron Orchid Design.

08016 Burlington609-747-8333

HISTORIC BURLINGTON ANTIQUES & ART EMPORIUM, 424 High Street. Open 6 Days: T, W, F, Sat., Sun: 11A-5P & Th.11A- 7P. www.antiquesnj.com

08062 Mullica Hill 856-478-9810

OLD MILL ANTIQUE MALL, 1 S. Main Street. Open Daily, 11-5; Sat. 10-5. Antiques, glassware, records, coins, stamps, military items, collectible toys, trains, linens, books & ephemera.

08081 Sicklerville856-545-3187

21901 North East410-287-8318

5 & 10 ANTIQUE MARKET, 115 S. Main St. Daily 10am-6pm. Cecil County’s largest! Approx. 65 dealers, variety & nostalgia. Buying/ selling antiques & collectibles. Local honey available.

07052 West Orange973-323-1711

VALLEY VINTAGE, 168 South Valley Rd.

Open Mon-Sat. 11-6, Sun. 12-5. 2100 sq.ft., 25+ dealers. Antiques, vintage, collectibles, furniture, decor, kitchenware, jewelry, books, LPs, ephemera.

07901 Summit 908-273-9373

SUMMIT ANTIQUES CENTER, 511 Morris Ave. 2 floors, 50+ dealers. Antiques, collectibles. Smalls to furniture. Open 7 days 11-5. Free Parking. www.thesummitantiquescenter.com

CARNIVAL OF COLLECTABLES, 368 Cross Keys Rd. Open Wed.- Sat. 10am6pm, Sun. 10am-5pm. 12,000 sq.ft Antique & Arts Mall, over 100 dlrs. www.carnivalofcollectables.com

08525 Hopewell609-466-9833

TOMATO FACTORY ANTIQUE & DESIGN CENTER, 2 Somerset St. We Have It All! Open Mon. thru Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-5. We have 38 Dealers. www.tomatofactoryantiques.com

08753 Toms River732-349-5764

MAIN STREET ANTIQUE CENTER 251 Main St. Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-3:30pm, Sat. 10am-4:30pm, Sun. 12-4:30pm.

16801 State College814-238-2980 APPLE HILL ANTIQUES, Rt. 26N to 169

THIELEMANN’S ANTIQUES, 1 N. Main St. Wholesale & Retail. 4,500 sq. ft. furn. & smalls. See our Thielemann’s Antqs. Facebook page for photos & info. Open Sat. 10-4 & Sun. 12-4.

17350 NewOxford717-624-3800

ZELMA’S EMPORIUM (Formerly Golden Lane) 11 N. Water Street. Antiques, Americana, Art, Asian, Primitives, etc. Closed Mon., Tues.-Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-5 or by appt. ZelmasAntiques.com

17361 Shrewsbury717-235-6637

SHREWSBURY ANTIQUE CENTER 65 N. Highland Dr. “A True Antique Mall” over 10,000 sq.ft. with over 55 dealers. Open 7 days, 10-5. Ample parking. Close to other shops in historic village.

18229 Jim Thorpe610-850-5660

ANTIQUES ON BROADWAY, 52 Broadway. Primitives, militaria, art, glass, autographs, pottery, guns, artifacts, coins and vintage collectibles. Open Wednesday through Sunday 10-5.

18944 Perkasie215-257-3564

TREASURE TROVE, 6 S. 7th Street. Estate jewelry, furniture, linens, vintage clothing, glass, china, books, toys, kitchenware, advertising, postcards. Primitives to Deco. Dealers Welcome. Mon.-Sat. 10-5. In business 42 years.

Debut Historical Memorabilia And Americana Sale Realizes $340,000

Materials Related To United States Presidents, Women’s Suffrage, The Civil Rights Movement, And The Civil

Potter & Potter Auctions is pleased to announce the results of its nearly 700-lot sale held on Nov. 17. After the hammer fell silent after a long day of competitive bidding, 94 lots made $500-$2,000 and 17 lots sold for $2,001-$9,999. All prices noted include the company’s 20-percent buyer’s premium.

The top lot in this auction was a remarkable, first-person account of the California gold rush. The handwritten manuscript diary of miner John Johnston was estimated at $8,000-$12,000 and realized $45,600. This 114-page record covered the period from Jan. 1 to Sept. 22 in 1850 and included descriptions of daily life in the Auburn region of California, including accounts of conflicts with Indigenous peoples, legal disputes, the first Auburn election, daily weather, fights between miners, Johnson’s ranch, and other events.

Historical medals commemorating contributions to causes or conflicts were well

represented in this sale. A British hunger strike medal was estimated at $10,000$15,000 and sold for $18,000. It was made in London by Toye & Co. in 1914 and dedicated to suffragette Emma Power. These medals were presented to women who had engaged in hunger strikes during imprisonment by the Women’s Social and Political Union at ceremonies held in their honor following their release.

Three British WWI medals, estimated at $150-$250,

traded hands at $1,320. They were issued to serviceman N. Hozier and included a British War Medal bearing the likeness of King George V with an orange, white, black, and blue ribbon; an Allied Victory Medal with a winged female figure in flowing robes representing Liberty with a multi-colored ribbon; and a Star Medal with a crown with a red, white, and blue ribbon. All were housed in a period black case.

This sale also included museum-quality materials

War

related to the Civil War and President Abraham Lincoln. Frederick H. Meserve’s (1865–1962) “Lincolniana: Historical Portraits and Views” were estimated at $4,000$6,000 and sold for $21,600. This first edition was privately printed in New York in 1915 and included 368 photo prints related to all things Lincoln. Meserve was considered the preeminent historian of the photographs of Lincoln and one of America’s premier Lincoln collectors. He began collecting before 1900, and his collection is housed in the Library of Congress. Meserve’s “The Photographs of Abraham Lincoln,” estimated at $600$800, brought $4,800. This four-volume, limited-edition collection was privately printed in New York and included 32 mounted photographic prints. Supplement four was signed by the author. Only 100 copies of these supplements were printed for subscribers

A group of 60 stereoscope cards depicting scenes related to the Civil War along with a Keystone View Co. viewer sold for $1,440. The photos dated from ca. 1860s-1900 and were mounted onto stiff card stock.

of the 1911 edition. Collections and archives of photographic images featured prominently in this sale. A collection of 300 real photo postcards, estimated at $200-$300, sold for $1,560. These turn of last century cards were unsorted and stored in a carton. Their subjects included towns, buildings, main streets, occupational and miscellaneous views and others, many of Washington state. An album of 43 black and white photographs of central and northern California, estimated at $300-$400 realized $4,320. The images were published in San Francisco by Faber Photo in the 1887-92 time frame and included views of San Francisco, Napa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Yosemite. A group of 60 stereoscope cards depicting scenes related to the Civil War along with a Keystone View Co. viewer was estimated at $200-$300 and made $1,440. The photos dated from ca. 1860s-1900 and were mounted onto stiff card stock. Most had either printed text or handwritten captions on verso.

Posters, ephemera, and category-spanning antiques brought this intriguing sale full circle. An Edison-type

Universal Ticker Machine was estimated at $1,000-$2,000 and delivered $10,200. Its design elements included a lacquered brass mechanism, a black painted cast-iron base over a wooden base, a later glass dome, and double alphabetic and numeric rollers. A “Votes for Women” sash, estimated at $1,200$2,000, sold for $6,600. This ca. 1913 tri-colored sash with blue text is similar and of the period of sashes worn by marchers at the Woman Suffrage Parade held March 3, 1913, the day before Woodrow

Wilson was inaugurated as president.

“Our inaugural historical sale was a smashing success with many items soaring past their high estimates. We continue to obtain strong prices for Americana, including that rare gold miner’s diary that will be a cornerstone to that collector’s library for years to come,” according to

Christopher D. Brink, of Potter & Potter Auctions.

Potter & Potter, founded in 2007, is a Chicago area auction house specializing in paper Americana, vintage advertising, rare books, playing cards, gambling memorabilia, posters, fine prints, vintage toys, and magicana - antiques and collectibles related to magic and magicians.

For more information, visit www.potterauctions.com.

Potter & Potter

Louis-Philippe-Albert d’Orléans’, comte de Paris, “The Battle of Gettysburg: From the History of the Civil War in America” realized $7,200. This three-volume set was published in Philadelphia by Porter & Coates in 1886.

Electrical Industries New York

A “Votes for Women” sash sold for $6,600. The ca. 1913 tri-colored sash with blue text is similar to sashes worn by marchers at the Woman Suffrage Parade held March 3, 1913, the day before Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as president.

This album of 43 black-and-white photographs of central and northern California realized $4,320. The images were published in San Francisco by Faber Photo in the 1887-92 time frame and included views of San Francisco, Napa, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and Yosemite.

This collection of 300 real photo postcards sold for $1,560. These turn-oflast-century cards were unsorted and stored in a carton.

Metropolitan Museum Of Art To Present First Major Exhibition Of Maya Art In The United States In A Decade

In Maya art, one of the greatest artistic traditions of the ancient Americas, the Gods are depicted in all stages of life: as infants, as adults at the peak of their maturity and influence, and finally, as they age. The Gods could perish, and some were born anew, providing a model of regeneration and resilience. At The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the exhibition “Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art” brings together nearly 100 rarely seen masterpieces and recent discoveries in diverse media, from the monumental to the miniature, that depict episodes in the life cycle of the Gods, from the moment of their birth to

resplendent transformations as blossoming flowers or fearsome creatures of the night. Created by masters of the Classic period (A.D. 250–900) in the spectacular royal cities in the tropical forests of what is now Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, these landmark works evoke a world in which the divine, human, and natural realms are interrelated and intertwined. Lenders include major museum collections in Europe, Latin America, and the United States, and many of these works have never been exhibited in the U.S., including new discoveries from Palenque (Mexico) and El Zotz (Guatemala).

“‘Lives of the’ Gods invites us to experience the exhilarating and profound power of Maya visual artistry,” said Max Hollein, Marina Kellen French director of The Met. “This stunning exhibition presents spectacular works of art, many rarely seen, especially in New York, and compelling reflections on depictions of the divine; the importance of ancestral knowledge; and new understandings of Maya creative practices and the artist’s role in court society. This is sure to be a memorable show for our visitors.”

The exhibition was organized by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Kimbell Art Museum. Recent advances in the study of Maya hieroglyphs have made it possible to identify the names of dozens of artists from the Classic period, and for the first time in a major exhibition their names will be identified on labels. While artist signatures are scarce on ancient art across the world before the 19th century, Maya sculptors and painters did sign their works, occasionally prominently, on beautifully carved stone monuments and delicately ornamented vessels. “Lives of the Gods” will include four works by named individuals, including Panel with Royal Woman (ca. 795) by K’in Lakam Chahk and Jun Nat Omootz and Stela 51 of King Yuknoom Took’ K’awiil (731) by Sak[...] Yuk[...] Took’ and Sak [...] Yib’ah Tzak B’ahlam, as well as several examples that can be attributed to known Maya painters.

“These Maya artists gave form to the gods in inspired ways, through remarkable works of visual complexity and aesthetic refinement,” said Joanne Pillsbury, Andrall E. Pearson curator of Ancient American Art, The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met. “As archaeologists continue to make major discoveries, our knowledge of Classic Maya visual culture becomes enriched, and exhibitions, like this one, reveal new understandings of the relationships between ancient communities and the sacred.”

Exquisitely carved sculptures were believed to embody divine power and presence; ornaments of jadeite, shell, and obsidian once adorned kings and queens, symbolically connecting them to supernatural forces; and finely painted ceramics reveal the eventful lives of the Gods in rich detail.

The exhibition is organized thematically, following th arc of the lives of the Gods and their place within a cosmological framework.

The first section of the exhibition, “Creations,” presents mythical episodes related to the origin of the world. On Aug. 11, 3114 B.C., before the advent of cities and writing in this part of the world, inscriptions tell us that the deities “were set in order,” and the Gods placed stones in mythical locations. Maya kings replicated these divine actions at celebrations marking the ends of calendrical periods, each calculated at regular intervals from 3114 B.C.

The section on “Maize” chronicles this God’s life, death, and rebirth through an assemblage of stunning and inventive masterpieces. “The Maize God” represented the beauty of the Maya staple crop and is often

These are installation views of “Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art,” on view until April 2, 2023, photo by Richard Lee, courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

01/14/23, UNION, SAT., The Beatles & Audio Equipment Auction, from collec. of Don Schlosser., Online Only: DonleyAuctions.com, Donley Auctions

01/28/23, UNION, SAT., Old West & Native American Auction., Online Only: DonleyAuctions.com, Donley Auctions

01/14/23, FREDERICK, SAT. AT 9AM, 2,500+ lots! Hund. hand & pwr. tools + rolling tool cabinets. Lladro collec., antq. & hh furn., oil ptgs., mirrors, clocks, fine china/ glassware, Lalique art glass, sewing items incl. fabrics, lace, buttons, ribbons, threads, trims, etc., jewelry mkg. beads, record albums, baseball card albums, hh/sev. window AC units, & much more!, Frederick Fairgrounds, 797 E. Patrick St., Bldg. 12, Howard B. Parzow Auctioneer

01/16/23, WESTMORELAND, MON. AT5:15PM, Antq./ Amer./ Euro. furniture, fine art, folk art incl. weathervanes, signs & access., oriental rugs, Persian Fereghan Sarouk, stone/ redware pottery, country & prim. incl. ptd. baskets/ buckets/ boxes, Great Shaker access. collec., marble & bronze sculp., child-related: furn., dolls, teddybears, marbles, blocks; lighting, N.Amer. & much more!, Online Only: https://flying-pigauctions.liveauctioneers.com, Flying Pig Auctions

01/07/23, WILLOUGHBY, SAT. AT10AM, New Year's Toy Spectac. Auction! Antq. toys, collec. auto. & transport. toys incl. Euro., American & Japanese racers,windup cars, tin friction cars, gas stations, garages, boats, airplanes, selec. Amer. & Japanese windup & battery-op toys, pressed steel truck, pre-war & mod. trains & much more., Live Webcast: 38198 Willoughby Pkwy.; milestoneauctions.com; liveauctioneers & invaluable.com, Milestone Auctions

PENNSYLVANIA

01/02-09/23, EAST GREENVILLE, CLOSES MON. AT10PM, Late Neil Moore 450+ collec. of Saratoga & Saratoga-type bottles., Absentee Auction: www.glassworksauctions.com, Glass Works Auctions

01/02/23, DILLSBURG, MON. AT6:15PM, Furniture, antiques, collec., tools, box lots, pictures, lamps, end tables, book shelves, gas stove, area rugs, lg. & sm. cabinets, sports collec., Hess trucks, Hallmark ornaments, dec. items, Hummels, Peacock at Fountain Carnival dish & more!, 185 Logan Rd., Rte. 15, Hardy's Auction Service

01/05/23, KINZERS, THURS. AT 10AM, Furniture, antiques, rare/ notable artwork,19th-20th cen. Asian wares, fine cameras, navigational compasses, leatherbound books, antq./vtg. dolls, stereoscopes & views, mech. music machines & much more!, Live & Online: 5336 Mine Rd.; embassyauctionsinternational.com; liveauctioneers & invaluable.com, Embassy Auctions International

01/07/23, EPHRATA, SAT. AT 9AM, Antiques, collec., toys, model trains, dolls, hh goods, tools, clocks, cast iron, copper & brass, Longaberger baskets/ access., Christmas/ seas. decor, china/ glassware, pottery, vtg./cost. jewelry, linens/ textiles, artwork/ prints, books/ paper, Hess & Winross trucks, sports card/ mem. box lots & more!, Horst Auction Ctr., 50 Durlach Rd., Horst Auctioneers

01/07/23, HARRISBURG, SAT. AT10AM, Motorcycles & parts, antq. & mod. furn., Persian rm. sz. rug, LR/DR/BR furn., Paula Deen Home, Emerald Craft, Ethan Allen, wine cab./cooler, sleigh bed, 3-pc. sectional, antq./ mod. art, prints/ ptgs., collec., coverlets, cigarette cards, political items/ lic. plate toppers, Edison rec.plyr., tin windup toys, slot cars, hh, lawn/gdn., mower, much more!, Online: www.CordierAuction.com, Cordier Auctions & Appraisals

01/07/23, HONESDALE, SAT. AT 10AM, Lg. train collec. incl. Lionel, Rail King, Weaver - Bloomsburg Edition, Williams, Atlas, MTH, RGS, RMTLegend Series, RR yard set, cvd. bridge, water towers, psgr. shelter, bridges. 100+ Die Cast trucks & cars, Hess trucks. Furn., tools, lawn/gdn., antqs./ collec., guns, snowmobile & ATVgear, helmets. Sev. guns & sev. vehicles., 39 Happy Hollow Lane, John H. Wetmore, Auctioneer

01/11/23, HARRISBURG, WED. AT5:30PM, Auctioneer Competition / Public Auction. Come see the best auctioneers in the state compete for the 2023 championship title! Half of auction proceeds will be donated to the Farm Show Scholarship Fund., PAFarm Show Complex, PAPreferred Banquet Hall, Pennsylvania Auctioneers Assoc.

01/13-14/23, EPHRATA, FRI. AT 2PM & SAT. AT9AM, Cataloged Antique Auction., Horst Auction Ctr., 50 Durlach Rd., Horst Auctioneers

01/13/23, DILLSBURG, FRI. AT 6PM, Nice home decor, sets of dishes,candles/ holders, storage dishes, flatware, linens, barware, stemware, dec. items, nice collec. & hh, cut glass, unusual items, cost. jewelry, etc., 185 Logan Rd., Rte. 15, Hardy's Auction Service

01/14/23, DILLSBURG, SAT. AT 9AM, Cook & bakeware, cast pots/pans, utensils, elec. appliances, Kitchen Aid, Keurig, Cuisinart, pizza maker items, mixers/ blenders, breadmaker, canister sets, copper cookware, stem & barware. Costume jewelry. Vehicle at noon: 2017 Subaru Forester, current inspec., 31K mi., 185 Logan Rd., Rte. 15, Hardy's Auction Service

01/14/23, MANHEIM, SAT. AT 9AM, Stoneware/ redware, Roseville art pottery, Gaudy: Ironstone, Dutch, & Welsh china, Spatterware china, antq. lighting, kerosene lamps, lanterns, iridescent art glass, hand-ptd. Nippon glass, collec. still banks, antq./ vtg. toys, graniteware collec., antq. brass sl.bells, antq. wr.iron utensils, antq. button collec., cast iron urns/ gdn. sculp., & more!, Live & Online: 768 Graystone Rd.; hessauctiongroup.com, Hess Auction Group

01/16/23, DILLSBURG, MON. AT6:15PM, Antqs., collec., nice furn. from local estate, kitchen items, dishes, collec., primitives, decor, costume jewelry, hh, tools, box lots, etc., 185 Logan Rd., Rte. 15, Hardy's Auction Service

01/18/23, NAZARETH, WED. AT 5PM, 100's of Clocks incl. 12 Gfthr.- antq. & vtg. Christian Bixler, Easton, PA+ others, banjo, schoolhse., kitchen mantel, cuckoos, novelty, Ionic calendar, steeple, Keebler, German wall clocks, German Vienna, Tambour, Ansonia Crystal Palace, Ogee, pendulettes, 8-day gravity & more!, Online Only: Dottaauction.hibid.com, Dotta Auction Co.

01/26/23, NAZARETH, THURS. AT5PM, Oak file cabinets, Hotel Easton collec., Louis Vuitton suitcase, Christo "The Gates" posters, adv. signs, Vic. lighting, circa 1974 VWBeetle yard art- car cut in half, Beech Nut tobacco signs, Good Gulf, & more, antq. telephones, Grundig table radio, Vict. floor lamps/ lighting, stained glass windows, cast window grills, Waterford crystal & more!, Online Only: Dottaauction.hibid.com, Dotta Auction Co.

Cut-Sponge Ironstone China From The Mayer Pottery: A Brief History

By Karl Pass

The vast majority of cutsponge ironstone china, sometimes called spongeware, was made in England, Scotland, Holland, and also Germany, mostly in the second half of the 19th century. However, the Mayer Pottery produced cut-sponge china at two operations in the U.S. So, what is cut-sponge? Multi-colored decorations were applied to wares such as bowls and plates by using the

OHIO

root of a natural sponge, which had a design carved into it. Pottery suppliers sold un-cut and also cut root sponges in various sizes and designs to producers. The root cut-sponge was typically afixed to a wooden handle and then dipped in paint for application.

Mayer produced cutsponge ironstone china in Beaver Falls, Pa., which is believed to have been established in 1881. Five years earlier, a Mayer pottery was started in Trenton, N.J. From 1876 to 1905, owners James and Joseph Mayer ran the Mayer Pottery Manufacturing Company at the Arsenal Pottery in Trenton. The original owners of the Beaver Falls pottery were Joseph, Arthur, and Ernest Mayer.

When the new Route 29 in Trenton was under construction not far from the Delaware River, thousands of Mayer ironstone sherds were unearthed. Common marking for wares from the Trenton operation consisted of black transfer printed “IRONSTONE CHINA” arched above a British crowned oval with an “M” in

01/12-15/23, ATLANTA, THURS.-SUN., Antique Market, 3650 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta Expo Center, North Bldg.

02/09-12/23, ATLANTA, THURS.-SUN., Antique Market, 3650 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta Expo Center, North Bldg.

GEORGIA NEW JERSEY

02/11/23, TITUSVILLE, SAT. 9AM-3PM, Pinback Button Show: Buttons, Badges, Ephemera & Posters, 1396 River Rd. (Rte. 29), Union Fire Co.

MET

depicted by Maya artists as an eternally youthful, graceful being. “The Maize God” was also associated with two of the most valuable items in ancient Maya economies, jade and cacao. Episodes from the Maize God’s mythical saga appear on some of the ancient Americas’ finest ceramic vessels.

“Knowledge” delves into the work of the scribes, who spent long years learning the intricacies of Maya writing and employed hundreds of signs in varied combinations, which can be seen throughout the exhibition. Only four of the books created in the pre-Hispanic period have endured to the present

01/28-29/23, COLUMBUS, SAT.SUN., Antiques & Designer Items Market, 717 E. 17th Ave., Ohio Expo Center

PENNSYLVANIA

02/03-04/23, YORK, FRI. 10-6 & SAT. 10-5, York, PAAntiques Show & Sale, 334 Carlisle Ave., York Fairgrounds Conv. & Expo Ctr., Memorial Hall East

02/18-19/23, PITTSBURGH, SAT. 10-5 & SUN. 10-4, Pittsburgh Antiques Show, 164 Fort Couch Rd., Pittsburgh - Crown Plaza Hotel

day, but texts that survive on relief sculptures and delicately painted ceramics provide a resource for understanding Classic Maya alliances, conquests, and spiritual beliefs.

The final section on “Patron Gods” includes a striking series of works depicting kings and queens taking on various aspects and attributes of the Gods. Maya artists created monumental sculptures to celebrate events and depict the perceived connection between rulers and the Gods. Freestanding slabs known as stelae stood in the large plazas of Maya cities, and some of these sculptures bear the signatures of sculptors. Also on display will be a remarkable lintel, a horizontal support spanning a doorway, made of zapote wood. There are few Maya works carved in wood in antiquity that survive to the present day, and this lintel represents a celebration in the wake of the victory of Tikal (and its king Yihk’in Chan K’awiil) over rival Naranjo. Sculptures and vessels in the exhibition demonstrate the intimate relationship between Maya royalty and the Gods and underscore the role of religion in the establishment and maintenance of Maya political authority.

After its showing at The Met (currently on view) the exhibition will travel to the Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, Texas, May 7 to Sept. 3, 2023.

“Lives of the Gods: Divinity in Maya Art” is one of a series of special exhibitions and

12/10/22 TO 04/02/23, BERWYN, EVERYSAT. & SUN., 9AM-4PM THROUGH APR., Indoor/Outdoor Vtg. Flea, 270 W. Swedesford Rd., Berwyn Vintage Flea Market

VIRGINIA

01/07-08/23, CHANTILLY, SAT. 9-6 & SUN. 11-5, The DC BIG FLEAAntiques Market, 4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Dulles Expo Center

installations that will present art of the ancient Americas, sub-Saharan Africa, and Oceania while the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing is closed for a renovation project that will reenvision these collections for a new generation of visitors. This exhibition will be an opportunity to see several extraordinary works from the museum’s collection of ancient American art alongside exceptional loans that deepen our understanding and appreciation of Classic Maya art and spotlight the significant collaboration between The Met and colleagues across the world. An important thematic component of the new galleries will be to highlight the artistic virtuosity of this region of the world through foregrounding authorship, also a key subject in this exhibition.

Additionally, two massive stelae, both long-term loans from the Republic of Guatemala, will remain on view in The Met’s Great Hall. The stelae feature representations of influential Indigenous American rulers: a king, K’inich Yo’nal Ahk II (ca. A.D. 664–729), and queen, Ix Wak Jalam Chan (Lady Six Sky) (ca. A.D. 670s–741), one of the most powerful women known by name from the ancient Americas.

A lavishly illustrated catalogue, published by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and distributed by Yale University Press, accompanies the exhibition.

To learn more, visit www.metmuseum.org.

AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY

51, Calakmul, Mexico, 731, stone, is from the Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City, SECRETARÍA DE CULTURA.-INAH.-MEX., Reproducción Autorizada por el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

The incense burner is from Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico, 7th–8th century, ceramic, and from the Museo de Sitio de Palenque Alberto Ruz L’Huillier, SECRETARÍA DE CULTURA.-INAH.-MEX., Reproducción Autorizada por el Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia.

The work of K’in Lakam Chahkand Jun Nat Omootz (Maya sculptors, active late 8th century), is a panel with royal woman, Usumacinta River region, Guatemala or Mexico, ca. 795, limestone, from the Cleveland Museum of Art, purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1962.32.

This is a maker’s mark from the Mayer Pottery Manufacturing Company at the Arsenal Pottery in Trenton, N.J., circa 1880.

These are three large size Mayer oval ironstone baking or serving dishes with inner blue floral design with brown octagonal design along rim border.

PA 18042

Bidding Notice: This is an online only auction. Lots start closing at 5 P.M. with 2 items closing per minute, bidding continues as auction closes. Extended bidding, if a bid is placed before the lot is scheduled to close, the bidding will be extended by 1 minute from the last bid. Pick up of items are Friday, January 27th from 9-4, Saturday, January 28th from 9-3 & Sunday, January 29th from 10-1. Shipping is available on most items.

Highlights include: 2 Hotel Easton roof top signs, pair of Deco style movie theatre wall lights, circa 1974 VW Beetle automobile yard art (car is cut in half). The front section is displayed coming out of the ground and the rear section is displayed going into the ground, several advertising signs by Beech Nut tobacco, Good Gulf, Gulf No-Nox, Phillies cigars, Mail Pouch thermometer, Pointers cigars flange sign, large velvet tobacco framed poster – 62 in. x 29 in., antique telephones, Louis Vuitton suitcase, Grundig table radio, Graf Zeppelin print, table top Victrola, antique fire alarm boxes, oak time clock, nice selection of brass

The top sale from this Belle Époque master was his 1911 “Princezna Hyacinta,” which was won for a record-breaking $78,000 against an estimated $35,000-$45,000. Another new high sale went to the ca. 1899 “Bleuze-Hadancourt / Parfumeur,” which sold for $45,600 (est. $17,000-$20,000). All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.

Overall, works by Art Nouveau masters were highly sought after. Adolfo Hohenstein’s dramatic 1899 “Tosca” realized $40,800 (est. $15,000-$20,000). Privat Livemont’s iconic 1896 “Absinthe Robette” performed consistently well, topping out at $21,600. From ThéophileAlexandre Steinlen, a Russian text variant of his infamous 1896 “Chat Noir” was claimed for $19,200. Joseph Maria Olbrich’s 1901 “Darmstadt” sold for $16,800; Ludwig Hohlwein’s 1913 “Kaffee Hag” went for $19,200; H. Gray’s 1899 “Cycles Sirius” surpassed its estimate of $4,000-$5,000 for a winning bid of $7,800; and Rosa Bonheur’s 1905 “Buffalo Bill” was secured for $20,400 (est. $14,000-$17,000).

For Henri de ToulouseLautrec, his rarest works received the most attention from collectors. This auction’s top sale was for his incredibly scarce 1895 “Yvette Guilbert : Ceramic Tile,” which is one of only four known copies outside of museums; it sold for $204,000. The only known copy of his 1895 “May Belfort : Trial Proof” sold for $28,800; the extremely rare variant of that design, hand-signed and numbered with the cat remarque, went for $66,000. His beloved 1894 “Confetti” sold for $40,800, and the iconic 1893 “Jane Avril” was captured for $60,000.

Another virtuoso of the poster, Leonetto Cappiello, also saw enthused sales. His 1907 “Triple-Sec Fournier” sold for well above its estimate of $5,000-$6,000 for a win of $11,400; his ca. 1915 “Chambéry Reynaud” was secured for $7,800 (est. $5,000-$6,000).

Bidders at this auction also showed high demand for Art Deco works. The selection of travel images by Roger Broders sparked a frenzy of bidding; his top sale was the 1928 “La Plage de Calvi Corse,” which sold for $15,600. The ca. 1930 “Monte-Carlo” was won

for $12,000; his 1927 “Grasse” went for $5,280; and his “Lac d’Annecy” surpassed its estimate of $1,400-$1,700 to bring $5,280.

A perhaps unexpected star of this month’s sale was the collection of beer posters available, especially those done for Guinness by John Gilroy. Every Gilroy poster was sold, led by his 1936 “My Goodness My Guinness,” which went for $4,800 (est. $2,000$2,500).

Poster Auctions International’s next Rare Posters Auction will be held in New York in March 2023. Poster Auctions International is located at 26 W. 17th Street, New York, N.Y.

To learn more, visit www.posterauctions.com.

ANIMALS; HOUSEHOLD GOODS; TOOLS; BOX LOTS & MANY OTHER ITEMS TO BE SOLD!

“Amilcar” by Geo Ham, 1924, sold for $28,800.

Rosa Bonheur’s “Buffalo Bill / The Last of the Great Scouts” from 1905 realized $20,400.

The work “La Plage de Calvi Corse” by Roger Broders, 1928, went for $15,600.

Alphonse Mucha’s famous “Princezna Hyacinta,” 1911, sold for $78,000.

Mayer Pottery

center over “MAYER POTTERY MFG CO.” The Latin inscription in the crowned oval translates to “shame be he who thinks evil of it.” This basic British coat of arms mark was common. Many pieces bear no mark. The mark used is similiar to one from the Beaver Falls pottery. One read, “SemiVitreous China” arched over the Pennsylvania state seal and “Warranted/J. & E.M.”

Another reads, “Mayer Pottery” and “Beaver Falls Pa.”

So, what was produced where? Well, the two Mayer potteries used the same technique and motifs, but colors are believed to have differed. Red and black are believed to have been used only in Beaver Falls.

Also, not a lot is known of timelines on what was produced where. The Trenton pottery might have shifted sponge-decorated china production to Beaver Falls for Majolica, which was heavily produced in Trenton in the 1880s. Other operations also used Mayer motifs. Potteries in Staffordshire, England, and Scotland did this. Also, the Columbian Art Pottery in Trenton from 1893 to 1902 used a brown tulip border with inner blue orchid border on brown leaves very similiar to Mayer. And the Willets Manufacturing Co. in Trenton was known for the blue diamond-shaped floret. Florets were common Mayer motifs, along with interlocking chains.

This

Potteries bought from the same cut-sponge suppliers.

What forms did the Mayer pottery produce? Various size shallow oval baking dishes, cups, saucers, round bowls of various sizes, round bowls with scalloped rims, spittoons, round plates, and oval platters were all made at the Mayer operation.

Writers and collectors Earl and Ada Robacker collected Mayer Pottery. Horst Auctions in Ephrata, Pa., sold the Robacker collection in a series of sales in 1989. During session one, a marked oval dish with green and red design brought $65; six plates, stamped and all with the common blue chaplet design, $180; and six cups and saucers, all blue chaplet design, marked, sold for $155.

The photos show an array

of forms and design patterns.

Images are by the author, and items are from his collection.

Ref: “Joseph Mayer’s Arsenal Pottery Dump Part 3: Cut Sponge Decorated Ironstone China” by William Liebeknecht (Newsletter of the Potteries of Trenton Society), Dec. 2001, Vol. 2 Issue 3/4.

“Lehner’s Encyclopedia of U.S. Marks on Pottery, Porcelain & Clay” by Lois Lehner, 1988.

Also see: Earl and Ada Robacker’s 1978 book, “Spatterware and Sponge: Hardy Perennials of Ceramics,” and Arlene and Paul Greaser’s 1964 book, “Homespun Ceramics: A Study of Spatterware,” for more on this niche category of china.

COINS/CURRENCY

MAGAZINES

This Mayer bowl has a large size blue three bloosom tulip with two brown leaf design and large cable/chain design along the rim. It was found at the markets in Adamstown for $10.

The blue daisy-like flowers surrounded by a curvature of blue leaves is a common design as seen on the outside (also inside rim) of this large scalloped rim bowl. Variations of this motif include a pink flower with green leaves. Typically both are blue.

is a large oval Mayer baking or serving dish with light purple inner floral design with green three-petaled design and a green diamond and oval rim border.

Sale

Ephrata, PA FRIDAY, JANUARY 13 AT 2:00 P.M.

JANUARY 14 AT 9:00 A.M.

PREVIEW - FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 8:00 A.M. THRU 8:00 P.M. SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 7:00 A.M. THROUGHOUT THE AUCTION

held at the Horst Auction Center, 50 Durlach Rd., EPHRATA, PA 17522

(The corner of Rt. 322 & Durlach Rd., approx. 2½ miles west of Ephrata, Lancaster County, PA)

*Color catalogs are available by sending $30 to Horst Auction Center, 50 Durlach Road, Ephrata, PA 17522; or by pickup at the Auction Center for $20. Catalog is also available on our website www.horstauction.com.

*Live Online Bidding Available (See our website for details)

Accepted Payments: Cash or PA Check; Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and Debit Card with 3% fee. No out of state checks without prior approval.

NO BUYER’S PREMIUM FOR IN-PERSON BIDDING (FEES FOR ONLINE & ABSENTEE BIDDING WILL APPLY)