Scarce Southern furniture coming to auction June 18

MT. CRAWFORD, Va. — Important historical portraits and Civil War items, rare Virginia and Shenandoah Valley furniture and folk art, early American coinage, and a fine assemblage of 18th and 19th century ceramics are just a few of the highlights for the 30th Semi-Annual Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Americana and Fine Antiques Auction to be held June 18, 2016.

Most anticipated among the portraits is a William J. Weaver (British/American, c.1759-1817) oil on poplar panel depiction of Alexander Hamilton, completed around the time of Hamilton’s death. Among the rarer of Revolutionary era subjects, Hamilton’s image is not frequently encountered. The sale also includes a fine selection of Virginia and Southern furniture, headlined by an important c. 1780 Virginia carved walnut sideboard table (36” H, 67 ¼” L, 25” D) deaccessioned by the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello to benefit the collections and acquisitions funds. Gifted over thirty years ago, this sideboard table is not directly related to Thomas Jefferson or Monticello itself, and, therefore, falls outside of the Foundation’s collection scope. A rare form, this iconic serving piece survives in remarkably fine condition.

Early Southern and American folk art, a regular feature at the auction house, is also well-represented in the sale, and the auction includes a number of fine examples in this category, most notably a rare Rockingham Co., Shenandoah Valley of Virginia watercolor and ink on paper folk art fraktur birth record for Daniel Weissler, signed by the artist, J. G. Crop(th), and dated 1809, illustrated in Paul – Bernhart & Company: Shenandoah Valley Folk Art Fraktur (1774-1850), p. 66.

With many fresh-to-the-market consignments from estates and private collections in Virginia, Maryland, Tennessee, and New York, as well as important additions of institutional property deaccessioned from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello and from MESDA, the Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates June 18, 2016 Americana and Fine Antiques Auction includes a diverse range of material, featuring the usual fine selection of rare Virginia & other Southern items; 18th & 19th century American formal and country furniture, fine & decorative arts; Shenandoah Valley folk art; a large selection of 18th & 19th century ceramics headlined by part three of the important collection of George and Mickey Deike including many examples published in their 2005 tome Feathers and Foliage – The Life and Times of the Pearlware Peafowl; country accessories; folk pottery; southern samplers; collection of hooked rugs; nautical paintings; a fine estate collection of early American coinage/currency; early iron and tin lighting; rare Civil War and historical items; antiquarian books and modern first editions; &c.

Company president Jeffrey S. Evans commented, “We are very excited to bring such an outstanding and strong group of fresh material to the market for this auction of which 99% will sell unreserved. The collections of early American coinage and hooked rugs are especially strong and offer a dazzling display of visually arresting imagery.”

The JSE&A Sixth Annual Virginia Decorative Arts Seminar will take place a week before the auction on Saturday, June 11, 2016, 9:30 am to 4:00 pm. The theme is Woven in Virginia: From Bedcovers to Chair Seats and features scholars and craftspeople presenting and demonstrating on all things woven. Speakers and demonstrators include Laurie Duxbury, Jeffrey S. Evans, Clyde Jenkins, Sandra Parks, Kathleen Staples, and Scott Suter.

The complete auction catalogue will be posted around June 8th. The sale is on public preview June 15th to 17th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and day of sale from 8 a.m. until the last lot is sold.

For further information, visit www.jeffreysevans.com on the web, email info@jeffreysevans.com, or call 504-434-3939.