War of 1812 Powder Horn Ignites Bidders in Connecticut

Depicting the Siege at Fort Meigs, Ohio, the horn sold for $9,487.

NEWTOWN, CONN. - A varied selection of estate goods was sold April 12 at Fairfield Auction. Included were items from the Jim Hoe estate of Weston, Conn.

Hoe was a world-renowned restorer of Duesenberg automobiles and the grandson of Robert Hoe III, a founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Grolier Club. The gallery reported strong attendance with 256 registered bid cards and 71 absentee and phone bidders.

Attracting tremendous interest from collectors and institutions was an engraved powder horn from the War of 1812 depicting the Siege at Fort Meigs, Ohio. With five phone bidders and several serious suitors in house, the horn sailed from an opening bid of $2,000 to a final bid of $9,487 quickly.

According to gallery owner, Jack DeStories "We could have put a dozen people on the phone. Everyone with an interest in military or folk art just loved it."

Several artworks achieved results above estimates. An engraving by Winslow Homer, "Lifeline," circa 1889 came to the block with five phone bidders at the ready, but sold to a bidder on the floor for $7,187. Other paintings performing well included a restored portrait by Henry Walton at $2,500, a charming Gabriel Schachinger oil on canvas at $8,337, a large Frank Faulkner at $4,025 and an interesting unsigned oil of a Victorian lady reading a love letter which climbed to $3,450. The top price among several Ferry Slebe paintings was $1,092 for a naïve school portrait of two clowns with musical instruments.

Among tea caddies, the tortoiseshell example (right) reached $1,380.

American and European furniture was led by an Empire specimen marble table at $3,737. A diminutive Regency sideboard with cross banding brought $2,587, an English burl walnut credenza, $1,955 and a large Louis XV style vitrine circa 1890, $1,840. Bargains were had on a good period empire sleigh bed at $632 and a clean Federal bow front chest with deck top, $1,035.

Other items of interest included a British military journal circa 1812 which brought $776; an unsigned ten-inch German bisque doll in original costume, $2,300; a Regency tortoiseshell tea caddy, $1,380; a large Royal Worcester ewer with a mermaid handle at $460; and a Mills 1940s slot machine, $517.

Prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer's premium.