FIREARMS & AMERICANA, January 6-7: GARTH’S ANNOUNCES FIRST SALE OF 2012

With 465 lots of firearms, bladed weapons and related material to be sold in the same weekend with 600+ lots of fine Americana including formal and painted furniture, folk art, ceramics, fine art and more, Garth’s Auctioneers and Appraisers’  opening sale of 2012, to be held January 6-7, will trigger a gathering of collectors and dealers anxious to embrace the possibilities of the New Year and antique objects.

FIREARMS: The Collection of the late Stephen H. Romanoff of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania plus additions

The first part of the Romanoff collection was featured in a highly successful October 2011 session at Garth’s with 435 lots sold and highlights including a fine Moore’s Patent belt revolver with gilt brass frame and ivory grips selling for $32,900, a Winchester Model 1876 lever-action rifle reaching $8,225, and an ID’D New Haven volcanic lever-action repeating pistol garnering a top bid of $11,750. This session will be just as exciting for bidders as it includes a wonderful continuation of this collection including more rifles, revolvers, swords, and accoutrements from makers such as Winchester, Smith and Wesson, Remington, Whitney-Kennedy, and a variety of European makers, as well as a handful of additions from other consignors. 

One of thirty-three Winchester rifles in the sale kicks off the Friday morning January 6th session beginning early at 10:00 am to accommodate participants of the weekend show held by the Ohio Gun Collectors Association in Wilmington, Ohio.  Lot 1 is a Winchester .44 caliber “Yellow Boy” Model 1866 lever-action rifle estimated at $2,500-3,500. Another 1886 lever action example was a special order in .33 caliber with a 24” nickel steel barrel. Displaying clear Winchester logos on the grip and butt plates and accompanied by a factory letter, the rifle is also estimated at $2,500-3,500.  Other 1873 and 1892 models will be offered in the $1,200-1,500 and $1,500-2,500 ranges.  A Winchester Model 1897 cartridge board will also be sold. This "Double-W" version has two hundred twenty-six items affixed to the board including nine containers of caps, twenty shotgun shells, and one hundred ninety-seven rifle and revolver cartridges over chromolithographed images of a moose, the duck (his bill partially concealed), and pair of bear hunters. Retaining the factory label, as well as "No. 635" stenciled on verso, the piece is mounted in its original oak frame and carries and estimate of $10,000-15,000.

An assortment of European rifles will draw rapid fire from bid paddles. A German, mid 19th century, .58 caliber double barrel percussion sporting rifle has gold inlay, finely engraved hammers, lock plates with maker's name "I. Adam Kuchenreuter in Regensburg" and a patchbox, all with Alpine hunting scenes. The carved wooden trigger guard and a carved walnut half-stock adorned with hunters and dogs will all contribute to a sale price in the $2,000-4,000 range.  An officer’s style percussion .577 rifled musket by Reilly (Reilly, 315 & 302 Oxford Street London) is expected to reach $1,500-2,000.  

A rare, cased pair of pinfire revolvers marked with a crowned "AF" is probably from Belgium, mid 19th century. Estimated at $5,000-10,000, they are each approximately .47 caliber with a six-shot cylinder, 6" octagonal barrel, elaborate engraving, gilt finish, and carved ebony grip. Kept together in the rosewood case with brass plaques reading "General Brice" and "M.s. S.F. Durgold" (or "Purgold") with the ebony and ivory tools and pinfire cartridges, they are significant as Benjamin Brice (1809-1892) was born in what is now Harrison County, West Virginia, attended West Point, and served in the Black Hawk War before returning to civilian life as a lawyer in Licking County, Ohio. In 1846, he was appointed an adjutant general of the Ohio militia, but resigned to re-enlist in the US Army during the Mexican War. It was then he began his career as a military paymaster, ultimately overseeing all military payroll during and after the Civil War. Brice is credited with modernizing military pay in the later years of the Civil War.

A great selection of approximately 54 Colt revolvers will be offered including an ID’D Confederate Colt Model 1860 Army revolver estimated at $2,000-4,000. The .44 caliber, bears an engraved Naval scene on the 7 1/2" round barrel. It is accompanied by the original leather flap holster with old typed label identifying the original owner as Colonel Tim Reeves [sic]. A Baptist preacher in peacetime, Timothy Reves served as a captain in the 15th Missouri Cavalry, then later as its colonel, and was thus assigned to McCray's Brigade, Fagan's Division, Army of Missouri under Major General Sterling Price.  An ID’D Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver is engraved on the grip strap "Lt. Col. Jas. L. Graham." Estimated at $1,500-2,500, the revolver likely followed Graham from enlistment in 12th New York Infantry in May 1861 where he received the rank of lieutenant-colonel through when he mustered out of the 12th NYVI in June and was later commissioned a captain in the 12th New York Cavalry where he served until 1864 when he resigned for personal reasons. A rare engraved and cased Colt Model 1855 sidehammer “root” revolver will also cross the block with an estimate of $2,500-5,000.

The Smith and Wesson revolvers sold will include a Model  No. 1 estimated at $2,500-5,000 in part to the rare original gutta percha case with high-relief revolver illustrated on the top.  There are two rare Remington Model 1890 single-action Army revolvers in the sale bearing serial numbers #670 and #1041 each estimated to bring $3,000-5,000. An engraved New Haven volcanic lever-action repeating pistol is an attractive No. 1 Pocket Model adorned with an engraved and silver-plated brass frame and walnut grips.

Over 75 early cased photographs, including civilians and soldiers, some identified will sell – some individually and some in groups. A group of three tintypes of men in uniform with flags is estimated $200-400. An assortment of bladed weapons will be offered – one including the sixth plate ambrotype of the officer with his sword and a Colt Model 1849 pocket revolver in his belt. This aforementioned staff and field officer's sword with brass American eagle guard and pommel and bone grips (estimate $1,500-2,500) belonged to Sergeant William W. Thompson, Co. G, 12th Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry. Captured at Plymouth, North Carolina, who died at Andersonville Prison Camp. Included with the sword are copies of Thompson's muster roll and letters including one noting Thompson's death.

AMERICANA: The Collection of Carl & Joyce Mueller of Tallmadge, Ohio plus additions

Some might say (taking some poetic license) that “necessity is the mother of collection”! In the case of Carl & Joyce Mueller, this became true when they purchased the brick Federal style Abraham and Abigail Hine home (circa 1830) in Tallmadge, Ohio shortly after their marriage in 1962. Collecting habits quickly changed from (somewhat less practical) Edwardian era antique automobiles and music boxes, automatons, etc. to the practical necessities needed to properly furnish their (new) old house – furniture and decorative arts. Now, after forty years of collecting and championing historic preservation, the Muellers felt it was time to sell and see their things bring others the same enjoyment that they felt fortunate to experience.

A fine grouping of Ohio stoneware & redware including pieces by Purdy, Mead & Rhoads is certain to be a highlight. A 19th century Ohio redware grease lamp by Samuel Routson of Wayne County is decorated with an Albany slip glaze and measures just 5 1/2"h. Owing to its maker, form and superb provenance listing Ex Rhea Mansfield Knittle (Ohio), ex Collection of John Ramsey (Ohio), (see The Magazine Antiques, August, 1934) and ex Ross Trump (Ohio), it is estimated at $1,500-$2,500. Also well represented in Bob Treichler’s new book A History of Northeast Ohio Stoneware, are two crocks. The first is a six-gallon example with lug handles from Middlebury, Portage/Summit County. Cobalt script on the front reads "6" and "Chapman Upson and Wright Middlebury, O." At 13 1/2"h., it is expected to sell for $800-1,200 while another smaller four-gallon crock inscribed "Calvin Hall & Cowan, Tallmadge, Ohio, "4" should still make $200-400 despite some damage. One of two in the sale, a Magadore, Ohio yellow clay pottery lion will sell for $1,000-$2,000.

Early blown glass also adorned the rooms of the Mueller home.  A Zanesville, Ohio amber salt with pedestal base and twenty-four delicately swirled ribs in bowl leads is particularly nice (estimate $1,000-1,500) and a pale puce miniature glass pan with sixteen faintly swirled ribs and folded rim measuring 4"d. should reach $600-900. The metalware was also exquisite.  A nice selection of brass 18th century candlesticks features a pair of English brass petal base candlesticks (estimate $900-$1,600). However, the brass and wrought iron pieces by Berks County, Pennsylvania maker Peter Derr are even more sought after. Each stamped P.D 1836", the dough scraper is predicted to reach $700-$900, while the betty lamp should make $2,000-3,000. A punched tin coffee pot by  Willoughby Shade of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania bears the maker’s trademark peacocks in a delicate design with tulips (estimate $,2500-4,500)

Ohio furniture – both decorated and more formal – will tempt lovers of Americana. A New Bremen, Auglaize County, Ohio walnut stepback cupboard was purchased by David Good from the Ida Heinfield Estate in 1978. The two-piece cupboard retinas the original aqua glass in the upper doors, its original finish and hardware (estimate $4,000-8,000).
A related hanging cupboard (estimate $800-1,200) with classic Ohio-German and Ohio-Swiss features such as pintle hinges and a recessed upper shelf, also displays similarly stepped panels on the doors and similarly constructed interior drawers at the stepback example.

Two decorated blanket chests from Wooster, Ohio are also related. Both attributed to the shop of John Beistel and William Spear, the first poplar example retains its original faux mahogany graining and stenciled decoration including "JM" and "1850." Both estimated at $1,000-2,000, the first chest is closely related to a second example also retaining its original faux mahogany graining and stenciled decoration including "YY" and "1858." Purchased at the Firelands Antiques Show in 1977, and although it dates after their partnership (1844-1853), this chest is closely related to their work and may be by one of the two makers after they terminated their business relationship.

A Federal curly maple two-piece cupboard from Pennsylvania with a single twelve-pane door over a lower paneled door resting on turned feet is ex Gailey Wilson and accompanied by a letter from him discussing the cupboard (estimate $4,000-8,000). A highly unusual Classical sewing table, probably from northeastern Ohio, is dated 1830 and estimated reasonably at $800-$1,200. A Rhode Island curly maple, pine, and chestnut chest of drawers has a nine drawers and a dramatically shaped skirt supported by cabriole legs ending in pad feet (estimate $4,000-8,000). Aside from the appearance of pad feet (rather than slipper feet), the present chest is nearly identical to, and possibly from the same shop as, a high chest that sold at Sotheby's (New York), September 2008, lot 42.  

Other items of interest from the Mueller collection include a chalkware bust of Oliver Hazard Perry in military uniform with original paint. The 10" high bust is ex Stewart Gregory (Connecticut) and sold at Sotheby Parke Bernet, January 1979 is now estimated at $1,500-2,500. Another bust – this one a plaster example of Thomas Jefferson – is after Jean-Antoin Houdon(French, 1741-1828). Estimated at $2,000-$4,000, it is one of only a small number of plaster versions of Houdon's bust extant. Among those is the bust that was exhibited at the Salon of 1789 that sold at Christie's (May 1987, lot 8, now in the collection of Monticello), which was made prior to the marble bust (now in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston), as well as a handful of casts made from that bust, including examples at the New York Historical Society, the American Philosophical Society, and the University of Virginia.

Additions from other consignors include a very important Mexican War-era  from Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson.  Comprised of four handwritten pages, dated March 31, 1847, it is addressed to his Uncle Isaac Brake, of the Clarksburg, (West) Virginia area, who was husband of his paternal Aunt Polly (Mary Hadden Jackson). Written while Jackson was stationed at a U.S. military encampment near Veracruz, Mexico, during the Mexican War, he recounts the siege of Veracruz and recalls the "happy days" spent under his uncle's roof.  Jackson had graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point the year before and was serving as a twenty-three- year-old second lieutenant in the 1st U.S. Artillery regiment when he wrote this letter. The cordial tone of the letter suggests renewed ties with the relatives Jackson had run away from as an orphaned boy.  A highly desirable early description of his life, the lot is estimated at $9,000-12,000 and is accompanied by tintypes of the Brakes in their later years.

Garth's January 2012 auction catalog is completely illustrated online at www.garths.com.  Garth's, located at 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware, Ohio 43015, will have preview hours in its gallery from January 2 - 7. For further information, please contact info@garths.com or call 740-362-4771.

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