: An assortment of early American gems were peppered in among a
varied lot of merchandise auctioned by Paul Gorzocoski of
Northfield Auction. A standing-room-only crowd packed its way
into the auction hall, although numerous people were deterred
from the sale by torrential downpours, fierce lightning, flooded
roads and accidents on the highways. Despite the booming storms
slowing transit, it was quick bidding all night for those that
made it to the gallery, with lots to bid on and even some good
chow served up by the mobile Roadrunner Café.
Gorzocoski has been the main auctioneer at Ken Miller's for the
past several years and was with the auction house for a total of
31 years. With Mrs Miller now in a nursing home, Gorzocoski
decided it was time to open his own business and get things
rolling. Working from a new location on Main Street, this was the
third sale conducted under the Northfield Auction banner.
Highlighting the sale were several pieces of pottery including
two stoneware jugs, one decorated with an American ship of war
and the other an unusual example of Commeraws stoneware, along
with two early and unusual redware flowerpots loosely attributed
to the Bell Pottery. An eclectic selection of furniture ranging
from an early tap table to a "cowboy" desk were also among the
offerings, as well as a large selection of Oriental carpets,
clocks and at least one really good painting.
Ship decoration on the stoneware jug that sold for $10,450.
The painting, a study attributed to Thomas Gainsborough, was
titled "Young Lovers in Landscape." Consigned from a Bennington
area estate, the painting had originally been collected by a noted
New York doctor's wife who had amassed a collection of primarily
English art between 1900 and 1930. The painting attracted the
attention of a host of art collectors and dealers and bidding on
the lot was brisk with it selling at $12,100.
Another of the anticipated top lots of the auction was the jug
with ship decoration that was thought to be a commerative piece
for the War of 1812. The piece, incised and blue filled with
sails up and American flags flying, had been discovered by a
picker in Florida and consigned to the auction.
Some thought the early ovoid jug might have been the work of
Clarkson Crolius, others place a Connecticut attribution on it.
Regardless, it was a nicely executed example with crisp incising.
Condition was good except for a thumbnail-size chunk that had
been broken from the mouth of the jug and unprofessionally glued
back in place.
The Thomas Gainsborough study, "Young Lovers in Landscape,"
sold for $12,100.
When it came time for the jug to be offered, Gorzocoski asked
for an opening bid of $10,000, then $5,000 and the lot finally
opened up when he asked for $2,000. Four telephone lines were
active and one of them jumped into the fray immediately hitting the
lot at $2,500. Action bounced back and forth between two phones for
a while until a bid from the rear of the room came at $7,500. The
bidding narrowed to the phone bidder and the client in the room
with the room claiming the lot at $10,450.
The Commeraw was marked with the double clamshell decoration, yet
instead of being brushed with blue, the potter had applied blue
polka-dots inside the stamp. Active bidding on this jug was also
seen with it hammering down at $4,785.
Two Pennsylvania unglazed flowerpots decorated with in floral
slip pattern also attracted their fair share of attention. The
pieces were also decorated with blocks on the sides from which a
loose ring hung that served as a handle. The first to be offered
was free of any nicks and it sold for $2,750, the second with
minor chips went out at $1,320.
The two Pennsylvania unglazed flowerpots decorated with in
floral slip pattern sold at $2,750 and $1,320.
Other lots of interest in the sale included a burl tea caddy
that sold at $825; a miniature four-drawer chest, $715; an Ansonia
wall regulator, $770; a large Rose Medallion basin, $605; and a
large Rockingham glazed teapot with unusual teapot finial and
applied decoration, $1,595.
Furniture sold included a nice tap table with button feet that
brought $1,210.
All prices include the ten percent buyer's premium charged. The
next auction at Northfield will be conducted in late August and
will feature the post card collection of Mrs Miller.
For further information contact Northfield Auction at
413-498-4420.
