Country Americana

A presentation pitcher in an Albany slip with scratched text and decoration sold for $6120 (including buyer’s premium) to lead the country Americana sale held by Garth’s in Columbus, Ohio, on September 12. The 10½" tall pitcher was incised “Mrs. R. Pannabaker from Charles 1891” and had a floral design. The piece had a conservative estimate of $500/800. It had previously sold at Garth’s for $2415 in July 2004.

The pitcher exemplified the kind of folk art perennially in demand, as did the second-best lot of the auction, a metal jack-o’-lantern parade lantern that sold for $5700 (est. $1000/1500). Dating to the early 20th century and possibly made by the Ohio Art Company, the candle lantern had a ribbed design with circular holes for the eyes, a triangular nose, and a stitchwork mouth. Having painted highlights, including eyebrows, the two-piece lantern was 14" high x 6" diameter. Essentially a forerunner to lithographed tin jack-o’-lanterns, this example is highly prized by Halloween collectors for its age and design, although the price was strong even for good examples sold in recent years.

The best of the furniture was a transitional Queen Anne to Chippendale bonnet-top high chest of drawers in cherry that sold for $5400 (est. $6000/9000). From the second half of the 18th century, the highboy stood 85" high x 34½" wide and had fan carvings, cabriole legs, and ball-and-claw feet. The piece had older refinishing, some splits, repairs, and other imperfections.