MT. CRAWFORD, Va. – In the company’s largest Variety sale to date, an Aug. 24 auction of 1,149 lots, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sold a Chinese carved jade buckle in the form of a dragon for $7,475. The buckle (lot 785), which dated to the late 19th or early 20th century, was estimated at $100-$200. LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.

Other Asian artifacts brought strong bidding and high prices. A lot of 18 assorted Asian beads in amber and glass court beads (lot 792) realized $4,312.50. The original estimate of $100-$200 was exceeded by Internet bidders, enthusiastic for several different objects in the lot. A lot of three snuff bottles sold for $2,990, against a $100-$200 estimate. The bottles were made of Peking glass and rare stonewares. A Chinese yellow silk altar cloth, which depicted a five-clawed dragon amid chrysanthemums and dated from the late 19th century, sold for $2,070, also against an estimate in the hundreds.

A wooden box made to hold a Magician mechanical bank (lot 167), embossed on one end “J. & E. Stevens,” and dating to the end of the 19th century, sold for $6,900. Such boxes are rare survivors, and the buyer, a New York-area collector, has the bank that fits within the box. Originally estimated at $200-$300, the box became a focus for collectors, with bids on the phone, via absentee bidders and in the room.

The bank box was part of the massive collection of the late Betty Jane Renn of Sunbury, Pa., which included over 375 banks of all types. Of these, a rare “Tabby Bank” by J. & E. Stevens & Co. (lot 178) sold for $5,750 over the $300-$500 estimate. This set a new auction record price for this bank. Bidding was between a phone bidder and a bidder in the house. Another bank, the Black Americana specimen of the “Bad Accident,” (lot 163), sold for $4,025, nearly four times the estimate.

The daylong sale included a selection of occupational shaving mugs. Of these, a rare example painted with a male gymnast on a horizontal bar (lot 1083), marked for Limoges, France, sold for $4,312.50

In a small but strong section of fine art, an 1846 Philadelphia Circus lithograph print of “Madame Macarte, In Some of Her Favorite Acts,” (lot 66), dated 1847, sold for $2,645 against a $200-$300 estimate. Another print, Georges Rouault’s “Circus of the Flying Stars: The Ballerinas,” (lot 701), dated 1934, sold for $1,725 against an $800-$1,200 estimate. Hisao Domoto’s abstract watercolor/gouache, (lot 656), dated 1966, realized $1,265, nearly three times the $300-$500 estimate.

These are highlights but the entire sale was very strong, and included such collectible areas as dolls, toys, knives, silver, and costume and fine jewelry. In each of these categories bidding was very aggressive and prices were strong. More than 7,000 live and absentee bids came in from Internet bidders in addition to those entered by more 150 phone and in-house bidders at the Evans gallery. The sale realized $281,307 including the 15 percent buyer’s premium, with participating bidders from 18 countries.

After the auction, Jeffrey S. Evans noted, “This was our highest grossing variety auction to date with all categories performing well, especially the banks, knives and silver. Bidders responded very positively to the fresh, quality merchandise that we were able to offer with no reserves and with attractive estimates. In addition, our detailed catalog descriptions including accurate condition reports, instills confidence and draws repeat buyers to our auctions.”

For further information phone 540-434-3939.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

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ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE