As Garth’s presents the 53rd Annual Thanksgiving Americana Auction on Friday, November 29, it’s very appropriate to give thanks for all the treasured clients that Garth’s has gathered throughout those years. Beginning at 10am on what is traditionally known as Black Friday, Garth’s staff will proudly welcome a standing room only crowd of bidders to celebrate The Collection of Edward & the Late Jane Martin of Moreland Hills, longtime friends and colleagues of many of those active in the world of antiques. Their 395 lot collection, which headlines this one day event, is based on true Americana collecting and is a tribute to Jane and her passion the antiques. With a total of 662 lots selling throughout the day from the Martin collection as well as many others, the camaraderie left over from Thanksgiving (and stirred by a little friendly bidding competition) is sure to overflow in Garth’s historic barn.
“It all began with inks,” explained Ed Martin. One day in the mid-1970s, Jane Martin bought her first ink bottle– a rather common aqua umbrella, costing less than ten dollars and announced that she might start collecting ink bottles. Her interest soon led her to collect over a hundred ink bottles and inkwells. In 1979, Jane sold most of her inks collection and began buying period American furniture and decorative arts. Jane went on study decorative arts under the likes of the late Adelaide Briggs, a long time and well respected Cleveland dealer, and the late Gary Ludlow. In addition to the guidance provided by Jane’s mentors, the Martins began to fulfill their passion for collecting by joining the Western Reserve Historical Society and The American Furniture Collectors Club where they had the opportunity to associate with others with similar collecting interests and to learn from the curators and scholars in the field.
The Martin’s collection represents the formal to the folksy. An American full-length cutout silhouette portraits by W.H. Brown dated 1847 (estimate $1,500-$2,500) is one of the highlights of the many silhouettes by Edouart, King, Brown and Honeywell to be offered. Among the multiple samplers to be sold, an example from Zanesville, Ohio is sure to draw the bidders attention. The sampler is marked with rows of alphabets worked in decorative stitches and boldly signed “Sarah Converse Blue / Zanesville / Ohio” (estimate $800-$1,600). Another sampler and silhouette of its maker from Connecticut is expected to reach $600-$1,200. The Suffield, Hartford County, 1810, silk on linen marking sampler with lines of decorative stitches separating the rows of letters and numbers was made by “Mary Sheldon / Aged 10 May / 26th 1810”. A poem and silhouette inscribed “Mary Sheldon 1820” is mounted on the back. Of all the lots in the Martin’s collection, the most personal might just be a very sweet lot of two soft paste children’s mugs bearing the inscriptions, “A present for Jane,” and “A Trifle for Edward” (estimate $200-$400).
The fine art from the Martins should be hotly competed for as well. A portrait of Henry Burroughs by Henry Williams (American, 1787-1830) is a great look (estimate $1,000-$2,000) and was illustrated in Early American Life, February 20, 2006, p. 36. A wonderful marine portrait of the Schooner Maria Jane is attributed to William Hare (American, 1815-1865). The oil on canvas, estimated at $2,000-$3,000, shows the schooner flying the American flag and is ex Caroll and David Swope (Ohio). A large oil on board landscape by Jack Van Ryder (American, 1898-1968) is titled “Arizona Desert” on the frame, signed lower left, and measures 22″h. by 22″w. Ex Helen Porter (Ohio), the work should reach $2,000-$3,000.
A fine assortment of American furniture will be offered including an 18th century New York Chippendale tall case clock of walnut and poplar with an eight-day brass movement with a brass and silvered dial marked for Thomas Learsall, New York (estimate $2,000-$3,000). An inlaid Federal Pembroke Table attributed to the Goddard family, Newport, Rhode Island, ca. 1810, of typical form, with urn and bellflower inlay with period brass pulls is estimated $7,000-$9,000. Two Chippendale side chairs, both from Massachusetts will also cross the block. The later, a mahogany side chair with an owl’s eye splat and shell crest is expected to sell for $1,500-$2,500. A Chester County, Pennsylvania Chippendale chest on chest dates to the late 18th century. The two-piece chest has six drawers flanked by fluted quarter columns and rests on bold, ogee bracket feet. At 66.5″high is a a very usable height. Estimated at $3,000-$6,000, it also carries a provenance ex Maud (d. 1942) and Herbert (d. 1927) Patteson, who lived in the Schuyler/Van Ness House and The Olde Mill in Riverdale, New Jersey.
A set of Six Federal mahogany chairs, attributed to Annapolis or Baltimore, Maryland, includes five side chairs and one armchair, each with round backs and bellflower-inlaid backs and legs. Estimated at $1,500-$2,500, the set relates to a chair in Baltimore Furniture: The Work of Baltimore and Annapolis Cabinetmakers from 1760 to 1810, catalog entry 54. A classic form, a Federal inlaid tilt-top candlestand will also be sold. Boston, ca.1790, this example has an octagonal top with crossbanding and central panel of flame birch surrounded by inlaid lunettes, on an urn shaft and tripod base. Although many cabinetmakers used lunette inlay, it was most famously used in the shop of John and Thomas Seymour (estimate $1,000-$2,000). Another important sampler from Annapolis will be featured in the sale. The sampler by Anne Arundel County, 1823, is silk on linen and depicts a substantial structure, possibly the Maryland State House or an impressive private home with dependences. The building is set on a carefully shaded lawn and flanked by willow trees. The maker prominently signed her work “Margaret Adams / Annapolis February 16 1823”. A lengthy pious verse fills the upper portion and the whole is surrounded by a narrow inner border and strawberry vine outer border. This item has been professionally conserved and remounted in which appears to be the original gilt frame (estimate $2,500-$5,000).
It is the art of cartography that assisted the Pilgrims in their navigations to Plymouth Massachusetts, for the first documented modern Thanksgiving then it is apropos that this auction offers several quality maps. The variety is great from an early map of the New World by Tomaso Porcacci, “Descrittione Dell’isola et Terra, di Santa Croce, oueroMondo Nuouo”, Venice, 1572 (estimate $600-1,200) to a folk art handpainted student’s wall map of Vermont, probably from a Windham County Academy, dated 1841. Estimated at $800-$1,600, the linen backed paper, hand drawn watercolor inscribed “Map of Vermont / projected / by / Melvin Wright / Londonderry Vt / [illegible] 20 AD1841” details counties, towns and waterways bordered by six views of Vermont local locations including “Views of the hills at Marshfield”, “A Curiosity at Norwick” and the comparative heights of the Green Mountains. An assortment of other maps include an early Map of Ohio including the Indian Reservations drawn by A. Bourne and J. Kilbourne, engraved by A. Reed, 1820; an early map of America “Eine Neue Charte von America….” by Herman Moll, Germany, 1744; and another early map of the Americas which depicts California as an island (estimate $800-$1,200). A Schoolgirl Watercolor Map of The United States from the Martin’s collection, showing the eastern states to the Mississippi River with floral arches encloses the maker’s name and title of map, “A Map of the United States Delineated by Charolott Doughty AD. 1824” (estimate $1,000-$2,000).
Rounding out the sale is a selection of American Indian art including a fine Zuni Frog Jar dating to the early 20th century (estimate $2,500-$3,500). Of the many lots of Historical Blue, a Staffordshire covered chamberpot with a view of the Erie Canal is a standout and carries an estimate of ($1,500-$2,500). Several lots of mochaware will also cross the block with a double earthworm mocha bowl estimated at $800-$1,200 as one lot sure to attract attention.
Garth’s Thanksgiving Auction catalogs are available for purchase or to browse online in a digital flip-book format at www.garths.com. Garth’s, located at 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, will have preview hours in its gallery from November 22th-29th. For additional sale information, contact Garth’s at 740.362.4771 or [email protected].