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Dave Drake signed and dated stoneware jug, which sold for $110,000 ($140,800 with buyer's premium) at Brunk Auctions.

Black Americana from Dave the Potter and Winfred Rembert triumphed at Brunk

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — September 16, the second day of Brunk Auctions‘ Premier Auction two-day event, saw strong performances in Black Americana, including an estimate-busting stoneware jug by Dave Drake (born circa 1800, died after 1873), also known as Dave the Potter.

Dave was “country born” (e.g. born in the United States versus Africa) some time around 1800. His owner, Harvey Drake, was a partner in a thriving pottery business in Edgefield, South Carolina. At some point, Dave was taught to read and write, allowing him to sign his jugs in his own hand.

Stoneware pottery was a common household item in the 19th century, making Edgefield a thriving business community eventually known as “Pottersville.” This example, made and signed by Dave, reads “Lm  / May 29 – 1857 / Dave.” “Lm” indicates the Lewis Miles Stony Bluff Manufactory, Horse Creek Valley, Edgefield District, South Carolina. The jug carried an estimate of $60,000-$80,000. When the hammer fell, it sold for $110,000 ($140,800 with buyer’s premium).

A second example of Dave’s work, incredibly signed and dated the same as the previous jug, features a olive green and honey brown runny alkaline glaze over most of the body. It was estimated at $100,000-$150,000 and sold for $110,000 ($140,800 with buyer’s premium).

Winfred Rembert (1945-2021) was a mostly self-taught artist working with leather and shoe polish as his primary media. Having learned leather-working while incarcerated, Rembert would go on to create a large body of work, which only saw its first gallery event in 2010 at Adelson in New York City.

Two Remberts were included in the sale. The Good Ole Boys from 2009 sold for $100,000 ($128,000 with buyer’s premium), making its lower estimate. The undated and autobiographical Winfred and Patsy’s First Dance sold for $75,000 ($96,000 with buyer’s premium), just edging out its lower estimate by $5,000.