RARE 18th CENTURY AMERICAN PEWTER TEAPOT BRINGS $18,700.00

On Saturday February 14^th Wiederseim Associates, Inc. conducted a one day illustrated catalogued sale at the Montgomery School in Chester Springs , Pennsylvania . Being offered were oriental rugs, silver, accessories, furniture, guns and pewter. A large crowd gathered to see the auction company sell 550 lots in less than six hours. The highlight of the sale was the gun and pewter collection of Joseph O. Reese of Havertown. Mr. Reese was a WWII naval officer, Civil War re-enactor, and an enthusiastic member of the Pewter Collectors Club. In all, over thirty percussion and flintlocks were sold from his collection. The most sought after was lot 60, a Brown Bess flintlock rifle with original bayonet, which, after heavy bidding brought $2,860.00. 

The next lot was a Colt Civil War percussion musket dated 1863 which shot up to $1,980.00, a rare percussion target rifle with brass scope and heavy octagonal barrel signed, “E.S. Sweet” did  $2,530.00 and a very nice flintlock full stock rifle signed “Sharpe” with set trigger and brass patch box sold for $4,070.00. An Army Colt pistol circa 1860 went to $880.00 and a better example almost doubled that going for $1,540.00. Also from the same collection was a US army ammo chest marked, “J.C. Stowell, Pittsburg, 1864” after heavy bidding it sold for $1,300.00 and a brass line throwing gun with carriage brought $2,310.00. Wiederseim seems to always get strong prices for good pieces Staffordshire and this sale was no exception. A large pair of Staffordshire figures of the Duke and Duchess of Connaught riding piebald horses

 brought over the high estimate (1,500-2,000) at $2,200 and a large pair of standing whippets sold for $1,595.00. A colorful Staffordshire figure titled, “Lion Slayer”, roared to $825.00. A large Japanese blue and white porcelain vase sold for $880.00 and a pair of signed KPM porcelain figures sold for the same number $880.00. Many dealers and collectors came for Mr. Reece’s pewter collection. Illustrated on the front cover of the auction catalogue was an extremely rare Philadelphia Queen Anne form pewter teapot, circa 1752, bearing the touch mark of Cornelius Bradford. Standing just 7 inches high and catalogued as having a replaced lid, it far exceeded its presale estimate (7,000-10,000) going for a whopping $18,700.00. Pewter was strong throughout the day with an eighteenth century quart tankard possibly by Thomas Byles selling for $8,250.00. 

A John Townsend teapot, circa 1780, for $4,125.00 and an early Chester County pewter porringer by Simon Pennock went out at $3,850.00. Other auction prices in pewter include a massive English charger for $1,210.00, a Rosewell & Gleason pitcher for $1,045.00, a spire flagon by Thomas Carpender for $935.00, a Boardman & Hall teapot, circa 1845, for $1,430.00, a monogrammed English quart tankard brought $770.00 and an English quart tulip tankard, circa 1780, went for $2,420.00. Silver also did well with a fine sterling silver Francis I pattern water pitcher knocked down to a left bid for $4,070.00. One of the most interesting lots of the sale was a gigantic lobster taxidermy mounted on an oval board and surrounded with nautical rope and seashells, which sold for $1,210.00. An early brass chandelier, possibly Dutch, with multiple arms and reflectors coming off a center shaft, delivered a respectable $2,860.00. A nice gilt girandole mirror with carved eagle crest did $3,300.00 while another carved mirror probably of Italian origin sold for $1,320.00. Many lots of furniture were offered including a piece from a Baltimore estate, a large oval English mahogany partners desk with tooled leather top, blind fretwork, and multiple drawers. Although described as “in need of some attention” it went to the phone for a winning bid of $11,000.00. A Baltimore Hepplewhite server brought $4,510.00. 

A Georgian mahogany brass bound wine cooler of octagonal form with stand seemed like a bargain selling for only $880.00. A Sheraton cherry chest with bird’s-eye maple drawer fronts was desirable going for $1,430.00. Also causing a lot of interest was a two-part English Welsh dresser that was illustrated on the back cover of the catalogue, which brought $4,950.00. Wiederseim’s sales always have an addendum and included on this one was a very nice two-part Victorian secretary desk it found a new home for $1,540.00 while a secretary abbatant did $1,980.00. A pair of early fruitwood fauteuils made $1,210.00. The sale offered some very high-end decorative pieces to include a fabulous pair of Queen Anne style walnut standing bookshelves with leather bound book decoration, which brought $5,170.00, a Kittenger sofa made $1,320.00 and a nice set of ten bench-made Queen Anne style chairs went to a left bid for a reasonable $4,730.00. For a complete accounting of the sale please visit the web page at www.wiederseim.com. Wiederseim Associates next sale is scheduled for April and consignments are now being accepted. 610-827-1910.