May 12, 2007 Auction Highlights

Lot#101 – East Tennessee redware pitcher, attributed to the Cain pottery of Sullivan County, TN. Manganese and gold/yellow slip decoration with multiple sine wave incising around midsection, extruded handle. Manganese drips run down the interior of the pitcher as well. The glaze, elaborate use of manganese and yellow slips, and sine wave incising is exceptional on this example. Condition – very minor glaze wear on the rim of pitcher, old shallow chip at the rim near handle, otherwise excellent. 6 1/2″ height. Mid 19th century. Estimate $10,000-$12,000. Realized $22,550, a record auction price for a Great Road pottery form.

Lot#29 – Early period portrait of President Andrew Jackson. Provenance – Freeman estate, Bristol, Tennessee. Very good condition. Old varnish, no visible inpainting or repairs. 21″ x 25 3/4″ canvas, 22 3/8″ x 27 3/8″ frame. Circa 1835. Estimate $5,000-$6,000. Realized $15,400.

Lot#44 – Important and rare North Carolina stoneware jar, stamped “N.H. Dixon” (Nathaniel H. Dixon, 1827-1863, Chatham County, NC). Alkaline glaze drips on side with the stamp. Provenance – John Gordon Collection, NYC. Condition – very good condition, small shallow rim chip to back side of jar. Remnants of grease residue on jar. 15 1/2″ height. Estimate $8500-9500. Realized $13,200, a record auction price for this potter.

Lot#100 – Southern redware jar, copper oxide slip over lead glaze, attributed to Christopher Alexander Haun. Provenance – descended in the family of James H. Bright, Greene County, Tennessee. Condition – minor chips to base, minor flakes to glaze. 6 3/8″ height. Second quarter of the 19th century. This jar has a similar form to a marked “C A Haun” jar with copper oxide glaze (pictured below). Estimate $3500-4500. Realized $7,425.

Lot#185 – Important and historic Western landscape of Zion Canyon National Park in Utah, oil on canvas, signed in the lower left and lower right corner “F.S. Dellenbaugh”, Frederick Samuel Dellenbaugh (1853-1935). The back of the canvas is marked with the number “19” as well as the side of the canvas, possibly signifying an exhibit number for the painting. Dellenbaugh spent the summer of 1903 painting Zion Canyon and the paintings were exhibited in the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair. Dellenbaugh wrote an article about Zion Canyon titled “A New Valley of Wonders” in the January 1904 issue of Scribner’s Magazine. Dellenbaugh’s paintings and article, along with other previously created photographs, paintings, and reports, contributed to U.S. President William Howard Taft’s proclamation creating Mukuntuweap National Monument on July 31 1909. Condition – untouched, under glass, small pin hole in sky area, original gilt frame with paint loss. 15″ x 28″ painted canvas, frame 37 3/4″ x 24 7/8″. Circa 1903. Estimate $6,000-$8,000. Realized $11,000, a record auction price for a Dellenbaugh landscape.

Lot#186 – Classical bronze console table and matching bronze mirror with classical scenes, bronze label on back of mirror, “Oscar B Bach” (Oscar Bruno Bach, American, 1884-1957). Bronze table contains an inlaid pink marble top supported by an apron consisting of classical Greek scenes around the entire perimeter of the table, resting on reeded legs with cross stretchers and medallions. Medallions with a paterae design on front and back cross stretchers with flower medallions on the side cross stretchers. The legs terminate in hoof feet. The mirror repeats the classical Greek scenes in the frieze surrounded by a reeded molding. Condition – overall excellent condition, slight bend to a bottom side stretcher, a couple of minor chips to lower corners of marble. Table dimensions 30″ height x 38 3/8″ width x 19 3/4″ depth, mirror dimensions 21″ x 39″. Early 20th century. Estimate $10,000-$12,000. Realized $29,700, an auction record for an Oscar Bach table and mirror.

Lot#113 – Earliest known Tennessee Theorem dated 1840 from Jonesborough, Tennessee. This theorem was previously on loan and exhibited at the Tennessee State Museum in Nashville. Theorem design has been cut out and affixed to a paper background. The bottom is inscribed, “Miss Mary L. Isbell 1840”. Condition – browning of background, abrasions to fruit, expected wear for age.7 3/8″ x 9 1/2″ theorem, 14″ x 16″ frame. Estimate $1200-$1400. Realized $2,090.

Lot#114 – Tennessee coin silver cup, marked “W.H. Calhoun Nashville” on the bottom (William H. Calhoun, Nashville, TN, 1815-1865). Floral repousse engraving with shield engraved area on front, scrolled handle. A very similar scrolled handle cup by Calhoun is pictured in “Made In Tennessee: An Exhibition of Early Arts and Crafts”, Tennessee Fine Arts Center at Cheekwood, Nashville, 1971, p. 35, figure 74. 4 1/2″ height with handle. 3 1/8″ diameter. Excellent condition – no visible damage or repairs. Mid 19th century. Estimate $2,200-$2,800. Realized $2,970.

Lot #4 – East Tennessee long rifle, marked “E Bull” for Elisha Bull on the barrel. Provenance – descended from the Smith family near Persia, Tennessee, 20 miles north of Bulls Gap, TN. Full stock, iron mounts, brass cigar patch box, brass ram rod mounts, fitted for percussion, formally flintlock. Length 61″. Estimate $6,500-$7,500. Realized $9,900.

Lot#18 – Middle Tennessee two handled jar, signed in script, “G W Dunn” (George Washington Dunn) with incised line and sine wave around upper midsection. Incised “3” on opposite side denotes gallon capacity. Red brown dip glaze, grey on lower section. Condition – overall excellent condition, faint hairlines on underside of base. 17″ height. George Washington Dunn (1870-1944) was closely related to the earliest Lefever, Dunn, Hitchcock/Hedgecough and Spears potters in Middle Tennessee. Estimate $900-$1200. Realized $3,190.

Lot#30 – Miniature Charles Decker jug, found in Washington County, Tennessee. The tulip decoration and form of the jug are attributes of the Decker pottery and can be seen on larger decorated jugs attributed to Decker (“The Pottery of Charles F. Decker: A Life Well Made”, Jonesborough/Washington County Historical Society, p. 40.) Descended from Pascall Fields of Field Department Store – Johnson City, Tennessee. Excellent condition. 4 1/4″ height. 19th century. Estimate $1200-1400. Realized $2,750.

Lot#164 – Rare Southern cobalt decorated stoneware jar attributed to John Wood Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia. Consisting of cobalt decorated flowering tulips on both sides, two cobalt lines around rim area, and traces of cobalt on the base of the jar. Stamped three times, two stamps depict a Georgian house with a large tree to the right and the third stamp contains a “1” with a lozenge border. Four incised lines around the circumference near rim, unglazed bottom. Condition – overall very good condition, one shallow chip to the underside of rim. 9 1/4″ height. Second quarter of the 19th century. Estimate $2500-3000. Realized $3,300.

Lot#129 – Exceptional Southern side chair, Chattanooga, TN or Northern GA area. Slender oval finials, concave ring turnings on front and back stiles, shaped slats, large baluster bulbous turning on front stretcher, and turned feet. Retains the original seat, brown paint with an earlier brown coat underneath. Condition – damage to seat, otherwise very good condition. 36 1/2″ ht x 18 1/2″ width x 14 1/2″ depth. Mid 19th century. Estimate $400-$500. Realized $2,200.

Lot#61 -Important and scarce Virginia stoneware pitcher, signed and dated in script, “Jessee Vestal 1865”. This pitcher was exhibited in the “Legacy in Clay: Pottery of Washington County, Virginia” 2005 exhibit, William King Regional Arts Center, Abingdon, VA. The pitcher is also illustrated in the “Legacy in Clay” museum exhibit catalog. Condition – piece of rim broken and glued, otherwise very good condition. 5″ height. Note – this example is the only known signed Jessee Vestal pitcher. Circa 1865. Jesse/Jessee Vestal (born 1828 North Carolina – died 1904 Virginia). Estimate $2800-$3200. Realized $4,840.

Lot#62 – Important and scarce stoneware jar, signed in script, “Jesse Vestal 1880”. This storage jar is illustrated in “Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee”, Betsy K. White, University of Virginia Press, p. 140, figure 124. It was also in the “Legacy in Clay: Pottery of Washington County, Virginia” 2005 exhibit, William King Regional Arts Center, Abingdon, VA and illustrated in the “Legacy in Clay” exhibit catalog. Condition – faint, tight hairline near rim. 8 3/4″ height. Circa 1880. Jesse/Jessee Vestal (born 1828 North Carolina – died 1904 Virginia). Estimate $2400-$2800. Realized $5,170.

Lot#81- Edgefield double handled jug, two incised slashes at base of rim. Found in Hawkins, County, TN. Unusual streaking of glaze near handles, resembles leaves or branch design. Condition – shallow chip to side of one handle, otherwise excellent. 15 1/2″ height. Second quarter of the 19th century. Estimate $1400-$1600. Realized $4,180.

Lot#168 – Large Cobalt decorated jar, vine and tulip decoration with cobalt marking on base, attributed to Northern Virginia or Maryland. Impressed “3” in a circle for gallon capacity. Condition – chip under each handle, otherwise very good condition. Mid 19th century. Estimate $400-$500. Realized $770.

Lot#75 – Virginia cobalt decorated stoneware in a cream pot form stamped “J.B. Magee” (J.B. Magee, Washington Co., VA). Decorated with a cobalt tulip on three sides and salt deposits visible. For a similar decorated example, refer to “Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia & Northeast Tennessee”, Betsy K. White, University of Virginia, p. 144, figure 129. Excellent condition. 8″ height. 19th century. Estimate $425-$525. Realized $660.

Lot#131 – East Tennessee tin safe with candle and arch tins, Washington or Greene County, Tennessee. Consisting of a dovetailed shaped gallery over two dovetailed drawers over two punched tin doors with candle and arch tins, side tins with star and tulip type flower design. Walnut primary with poplar and yellow pine secondary. The top and gallery have remnants of green paint. One interior shelf, square nails used for securing drawer bottoms. The safe retains the original surface. Condition – expected wear for age. The top has old areas of wear from use. Some old dents and abrasions to drawer front and lower door, old breakout to hinge of one lower door. 46 1/2″ height with gallery x 54 1/4″ width x 17 1/2″ depth (ref130). Circa 1840-50. Note – While the arch tin and candle tin designs are common for East Tennessee, the star and flower motif design in the side tins appear to be unique. Estimate $4500-$5500. Realized $5,770.

Lot#68 – Virginia medicine or innskeeper table, Russell or Wythe County, Virginia. Top swivels to reveal a well with compartments. For a similar table by the same cabinet shop, refer to figure 29, page 41 of “Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee” by Betsy K. White. Provenance – table descended from the Gammon family of Bristol, Tennessee. Condition – partitions missing on left side of upper section, old splice to top, drawer knobs old but not original. 19 1/4″ x 19 1/4″ x 28 1/2″. Circa 1830-50. Estimate $900-$1,200. Realized $2,200.

Lot#121 – Early and rare Sullivan County, Tennessee one drawer table with lower shelf. Unusual feature of a skirt below the drawer, pegged throughout, lower shelf with beveled edge and dovetailed drawer. Scratch bead at the top of the front skirt is repeated on the lower front shelf support. Walnut primary, yellow pine secondary. This one drawer table was previously exhibited at the East Tennessee Historical Society. Condition – old refinish, current 19th century lock on drawer slightly larger than cutout for lock. 24 3/4″ height x 17″ width x 15 5/8″ depth. Early 19th century. Estimate $1000-$1500. Realized $1,980.

Lot#10 – East Tennesseee one drawer table, Sullivan County, TN. Cherry primary, poplar secondary, retangular two board top over one dovetailed drawer, stiles chamfered at corners, ring turned legs. Appears to retain the original finish. This table is illustrated in “A Sense of Place: Kentucky Shaker Furniture and Regional Influence”, Shaker Museum at South Union, 1996, p. 10. Condition – old stains to the top, lock on drawer missing. 26″ height x 21 3/4″ width x 19 1/8″ depth. Circa 1830. Estimate $700-$900. Realized $1,430.

Lot#126 – Macon County, Tennessee one drawer stand, original surface. Cherry primary, poplar secondary. Dovetailed drawer retains the original brass pull. 29 3/4″ height x 20 1/4″ width x 19″ depth. Circa 1820. Estimate $800-$900. Realized $1,210.

Lot#125 – Pair of East Tennessee Windsor chairs, pronounced arch back and bowed crest rail with arching, graduated arrow slats, ring turned front legs, bulbous, scribed turning on front stretcher of chairs. Sullivan or Washington County, Tennessee. Descended from the Caldwell estate of Bristol, TN. Condition – old split repair to one seat, otherwise very good condition. 33 7/8″ height x 16″ width x 16″ depth. Circa 1830. Estimate $800-$1200. Realized $1,045.

Lot#206 – Miniature painted red chest, consisting of three graduated drawers with cut corner designs around the original painted pulls, gold decorated border around each drawer pull and gold decorated border around applied architectural drops to the top of each stile. Tapered feet with cut graduated step, gold decorated border around top and backsplash, cut nail construction of drawers and case. Primary wood appears to be poplar. Overall very good condition with old split to back edge of rear right foot. 13 1/2″ height x 8 1/4″ depth x 13 1/2″ width. Circa 1830-1840. American, Mid Atlantic States or New England. Estimate $600-$800. Realized $880.

Lot#120 – Early Sullivan County, Tennessee pie safe on Sheraton legs, intricately punched tins. The use of tiger maple for the upper case is a rare feature for East Tennessee safes. Old dry surface, original brass pulls, dovetailed drawers. Tiger maple and maple primary, poplar secondary. Condition – minor insect damage to back boards, wear to drawer sides, overall excellent condition for age. 40 1/2″ width x 51 1/2″ height x 18 1/2″ depth. Second quarter of the 19th century. Estimate $10,000-$14,000. Realized $10,400.

Lot#50 – Very large Cherokee river cane basket, wide river cane alternating with walnut dyed cane. Minor breakage to corners, otherwise very good condition for age. 19″ diameter, 11″ height. Fourth quarter of the 19th century. Estimate $700-900. Realized $1,100.

Lot#102 – Folk art eagle carving, wood oak or chestnut. Detailed carving of wing contours, resting talons on a carved branch. Found in Sullivan County, Tennessee. Excellent condition. 17 1/4″ width wingspan. 8 1/2″ height. Early 20th century. Estimate $500-$600. Realized $935.

Lot#106 – Cherokee carving of hawk by Going Back Chiltosky (1907-2000). Chiltosky is one of the most recognized Cherokee Indian carvers and taught woodcrafts at the Cherokee School. Examples of Chiltosky’s work are illustrated in “Arts and Crafts of the Cherokee”, Rodney Leftwich, p. 95. Signed on base, “Qualla School G.B.C. 1937”. Excellent condition. Height 10″ height. Estimate $500-$600. Realized $1430.

Lot#111 – East Tennessee panoramic landscape view of mountains, oil on board depicting a valley clearing with mountains in the background, Thomas Campbell (1834-1914, born in England, active Tennessee). Very good condition. 17 7/8″ x 5 5/8″, 21 3/4″ x 9 1/2″ frame. Late 19th or Early 20th century. Estimate $475-$575. Realized $880.

Lot#184 – American miniature portrait of a young lady on ivory, appears to be in the original frame. The old backing has remnants of a newspaper referencing the United States. Very good condition. 2 5/8″ x 3 1/4″ portrait, frame 6″ x 6 3/4″. Descended a Wilmington, DE family. Probably Wilmington or Philadelphia. Circa 1780-1800. Estimate $500-$700. Realized $880.

Lot#20 – Rare and early ledger for the Justice of the Peace for Greene County, Tennessee for the years 1842 – 1851. Included in the ledger is a recipe for making whitewash similar to the White House, the family tree of Sylvanus Olinger whose fourth son was James W. Olinger, a detailed drawing of a man in uniform holding a flag with the caption, “General Washington in his youth days”, and a caricatures of men with the caption below, “Hoorah horrah for democracy”. 7 1/2″ x 12 1/2″. Condition – majority of leather spine frayed and lost, remnant remains, expected wear to page corners. Circa 1840. Estimate $200-$250. Realized $577.

Lot#226 – Southern folk pottery face jug in the Edgefield style by Matt Jones, stamped with his mark and “#1” on the bottom. The “#1″ appears to signify this face jug as the first Matt Jones made. Excellent condition. 8 3/4” height. Estimate $250-$350. Realized $550.

Lot#220 – Georgia folk pottery rooster by Reggie Meaders, inscribed under tail, “Reggie Meaders”. Excellent condition. 13″ height. Estimate $225-$325. Realized $550.

Lot#237 – North Carolina folk pottery lion by Stacey Lambert, unmarked. This early Lambert form was bought directly from Stacey Lambert in the early 1990s. Condition – firing crack at midsection of torso. 5″ height, 7 1/4″ length. Estimate $225-$275. Realized $405.

Prices Realized for all lots sold in the May 12th auction are listed below. Price includes the 10% buyer’s premium.