Signed ‘Emanuel Suter,’ Rockingham Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia salt-glazed stoneware honey or sugar pot, circa 1851. The 5-inch pot sold for $86,250, a new record price for Virginia pottery. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image.
MT. CRAWFORD, Va. – A rare stoneware honey or sugar pot by Emanuel Suter sold for a record-breaking price of $ 86,250 at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates’ auction of Americana & Fine Antiques on June 22.
Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com.
The pot, from the collection of Rudolph Evers, is important because it bears a stenciled mark, “Emanuel Suter,” which is known on this and only two other examples. Emanuel Suter (1833-1902) is widely recognized as the preeminent Mennonite potter of the American South during the second half of the 19th century.
For more information on Suter see A Great Deal of Stone & Earthen Ware – The Rockingham County, Virginia School of Folk Pottery by Jeffrey S. Evans and Scott Hamilton Suter. The pot broke the previous record of $82,250 for Virginia pottery, held by an Anthony Bacher earthenware figure of a goat sold in 1995 as part of the Dr. Henry Deyerle collection. The Suter pot was purchased by private collectors from Maryland who have ties to the Shenandoah Valley.
There were many other strong prices achieved during the auction. An important Wythe County, Valley of Virginia paint-decorated blanket chest, sold for $34,500 to private collectors in the area. The blanket chest, lot 603, had a presale estimate of $20,000-$30,000.
A rare coin silver covered fruit bowl with elaborate Rococo Revival repousse decoration, marked for retailers Mitchell & Tyler of Richmond, Va., and maker Peter L. Krider of Philadelphia, that descended in the Dooley family of Richmond, sold to a Virginia institution for $31,050 against an estimate of $5,000-$8,000. [Lot 880].
Purchases by the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley included an extremely rare Frederick County, Va., fraktur, one of only six known by the same hand. This example featured a spread-wing eagle and two heart-form leaves above “MARY E. / JONES / Died July 29th 1849 Aged 49.y 4m. 20d.” executed in gold leaf, watercolor and ink. Estimated at $10,000-15,000, the fraktur sold for $29,900, against strong bidding. [Lot 527]. The catalog entry for the lot included a possible identification of the artist of this group based on research conducted by Jeffrey S. Evans and William McGuffin.
A rare pair of circa 1775 Southside Virginia Chippendale black walnut side chairs [Lot 607] was also hotly contested, realizing $26,450 against an estimate of $8,000-12,000. They are identical to an example in the Colonial Williamsburg collection that is illustrated on p. 108, fig. 24.1 of Southern Furniture 1680-1830 by Ron Hurst and Jonathan Prown and carried a Milly McGehee provenance.
Among the fine art sold at the auction, a Southern genre painting by William Aiken Walker, also from the Evers estate, sold for $17,250 against an estimate of $10,000-15,000. The estate collection of Betty and Richard Robertson of Waynesboro, Va., yielded two miniature portraits signed by members of the famous Peale family of artists. A Raphaelle Peale portrait of a gentleman, realized $9,200, while a James Peale portrait of a woman, realized $8,625.00. [Lots 815 and 816]. Both had estimates of $2,000-4,000.
The mammoth 1,010-lot auction realized slightly more than $870,000. All prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium. Bidders from over 23 countries participated in the sale and the auction house received thousands of online and left bids.
“The demand for well documented, fresh Southern material continues to be strong,” said Jeffrey S. Evans. “Institutional interest in this auction was tremendous with several museums successfully adding important objects to their collections of Southern decorative arts.
“As for the antiques market as a whole, we are seeing a significant increase in the number of bidders and bids, which is resulting in an uptick in prices. Buyers are recognizing the great values available in the current market and are taking advantage of some great deals,” added Evans
For further details email jfenichell@mac.com, or call 917-302-1757, or call Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, 540-434-3939.
ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE
Signed ‘Emanuel Suter,’ Rockingham Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia salt-glazed stoneware honey or sugar pot, circa 1851. The 5-inch pot sold for $86,250, a new record price for Virginia pottery. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image. 
Extremely rare Frederick Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia fraktur, watercolor, ink and gold leaf on paper, a death record for Mary E. Jones, circa 1849. 9 3/4 inches x 7 3/4 inches sight. Price: $29,990. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image. 
Important Wythe Co., Va., paint-decorated poplar blanket chest dated 1802. Price: $34,500. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image. 
An important pair of Southside Virginia Chippendale black walnut side chairs, probably Southampton or Greensville Co., circa 1765-1785. Price: $26,450. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image. 
Rare Richmond, Va., retailed coin silver fruit bowl with cover, stamped for the firm of Samuel P. Mitchell and John H. Tyler Sr. (1845-1866) of Richmond and Peter L. Krider (1845-1860) of Philadelphia, circa 1845. Price: $31,050. Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates image.
