WIEDERSEIM ASSOCIATES, INC. CONDUCTS IMPRESSIVE SALE IN CHESTER SPRINGS AUCTION BRINGS OVER $400,000.00

#223 Large oil painting caption to read: Large 
oil on canvas painting signed 
"J.A. Knip" sold for $9,900

On Saturday September 11, 2004 Theodore E. Wiederseim held a one-day catalogued sale at the Montgomery School in Chester Springs. In all, over 600 lots were sold. The sale offered a large assortment of period furniture, accessories, oriental carpets, 18^th and 19^th c. long rifles, pistols, and early Staffordshire. The majority of weapons came from the Atwater Kent Museum of Philadelphia, selected to be deaccessioned and sold because they had nothing to do with the mission of the museum. The proceeds are going to the collections fund for future acquisitions. Many of the other items offered came from local estates throughout the tri-state area. A large crowd turned out, as the items being sold were fresh to the market and attracted a lot of interest. Of the 600 plus lots sold, only 28 failed to find a new home. Illustrated on the front cover of the catalogue was a rare Chester County walnut "Octorara" highcase with removable Spanish feet and original brasses made around 1740 and very similar to one illustrated in Shiffer’s book "Furniture and it’s Makers of Chester County, Pennsylvania". It sold to the phone for $19,800. Found directly across the street from the highcase consignor was the top selling lot of the sale- a life size bronze fountain of a nude boy with turtle (the fountain spouted from the turtle’s mouth) signed "Gonier" and dated 1916.

#253 Marble top dresser w/mirror caption to read: Fine Baltimore rosewood marble top dresser sold to the phone for $7,700

#260 Bronze statue caption to read: Life size bronze fountain of boy with turtle signed "Gonier, 1916" $33,000

With interest in the room and five phone bidders it quickly surpassed its presale estimate of $10,000-$15,000 and again went to a phone bidder for $33,000.00. An Eastern Shore turkey breasted corner cupboard retaining some original paint sold for $8,250, while a large girandole mirror removed from an estate in nearby Delaware brought $2,200. It had some condition problems with its wings but still sold within estimate. Illustrated on the back cover of the catalogue was a cherry spice box, thought to be of Lancaster origin, which also sold within estimate for $8,250 (est.-$7,000-$9,000) Phone bidders were very strong that day as yet another phone bidder took lot 253 described as a rosewood dresser with marble insert top and carved mirror, a drawer bottom was signed, " From Robert Renwick Cabinet & Chair Makers, No 92 N. Howard St., Baltimore MD" which went for $7,700. The same bidder also took lot 396, a very fine mahogany wardrobe signed "LAJAMBRE", made in Philadelphia with a finely carved frieze and two mirrored doors selling for a very reasonable $4,625. Silver was well represented in the sale with the best being a massive signed Tiffany sterling silver tray selling well above estimate for $9,900 (est.-$4,000-$6,000), a large wine ewer made $1,100. A stag handled woman’s golfing trophy did $550. An early George II coffee pot bearing the makers mark of Chs. Wright, London, circa 1781, with engraved armorial crest sold for $1,540 and a small pigeon shoot trophy from the Philadelphia Gun Club shot up to $715. Of all the weapons offered, the best was a large marine signal cannon with a breach load smooth bore and mahogany truck. Speculation was that it came from a yacht around the turn of the century and having no apparent markings made little difference, selling well above the presale estimate for $16,500. A Kentucky maple flintlock long rifle, 18^th c., with brass patch box and engraved lock went for $3,575 and a flintlock fowling piece signed "Ketland" brought $1,430. A Civil War officer’s saber signed " Mansfield & Lamb, Rhode Island" model 1858, which came in late and was on the addendum, sold for $990. Also from the Atwater Kent Museum were three sets of cased dueling pistols, which attracted a lot of attention from dealers and collectors alike. A pair of walnut cased pistols signed "Weber Schultheis, Frankfurt did $3,575. An unmarked pair of continental pistols made $3,190 and the best example was a pair of pistols signed "Nouvelle jne a Angouleme", the case fitted with all the tools and the pistols finely carved with engraved trigger guards. After much competitive bidding, they went to a collector in the room for a very strong $4,125. The sale offered a small, but select group of paintings, which did very well. A wonderful large oil on canvas barnyard interior scene with cows, chickens, and sheep signed "J.A. Knip" and dated 1829 was well thought of. It had a small hole but still managed to bring $9,900, the high estimate. An oil on canvas of a mother cat defending her young, late 19^th c., sold well at $1,430. and a pair of American oval oil on copper portraits on a husband and wife did $1,540. An early Pennsylvania German bible with an illuminated bookplate dated 1786 belonging to "Magdalina Christman, Vincent" (Vincent Township) Chester County and printed by Leibert & Billmeyer sold well for $5,500. The bible was consigned locally and came in late and was on the addendum. The sale concluded with a large assortment of exceptional Staffordshire figures that also brought strong prices. A pair of spill vases with red deer and fawns $1,540.00, a nice pair of Staffordshire seated white poodles and puppies mounted on cobalt bases went out at $2,750 and a pair of Staffordshire figural groups of a man and woman with goats did $1,760. Wiederseim Associates next sale is scheduled for November. For further information on this sale or upcoming sales, please see the web page at www.wiederseim.com or call 610-827-1910.