As Alderfer Auction began its sale on September 11, among the diverse group of buyers crowding the auction was a pair of gentlemen on a quest to complete a 50-year collection.
The two gentlemen †Jim E Coley Jr and Stefan Moro from North Carolina †after receiving a phone call about the auction from mutual friends in Tennessee, departed Tuesday and drove through the night with the hopes of fulfilling their dream to complete their collection of a group of Dorothy Doughty American Birds. The gentlemen had driven for ten hours, arriving at the auction center at 2:30 am to attend the auction that would not begin until 9 am. They faced strong competition from the phone as well as from other bidders who came from all over to complete their own collections.
After the sale of the figurines, the men spent hours packing each of the pieces they had purchased, making sure every one would arrive at their destination safely. With much joy and excitement, Coley said, “Today is like Christmas; we completed our collection here at Alderfer Auction after collecting for 50 years. We are absolutely delighted.”
Later in the day, Jennifer Goodman, a local resident who has been attending auctions at Alderfer’s for more than a decade, sat anxiously with her parents as they waited for the pieces they were interested in to come up for sale. A collector for several years, Goodman has a variety of specialty collections she adds to and is always on the lookout for her next treasure. September 11 was the second day of a three-day auction that included fine jewelry, furniture, historical and ephemera, a large clock collection and fine art, which was sold on September 12. The wide variety of buyers helped to make the fall sale a success, according to auction house officials.
Several pieces of art offered at the auction highlighted the beauty of the local towns and countryside. “Thompson Neely Mills” by Fern I. Coppedge sold for $50,600 to a phone bidder who was in strong competition with several other phone and floor bidders for the 16-by-16-inch landscape. “The Passing of Winter” by another Pennsylvania Impressionist, Harry Leith-Ross, garnered $34,500 and depicts a quiet countryside view with melting snow and changing of the seasons.
Views of the Delaware River proved popular. With the phone bank packed full with bidders, “Summer Afternoon on Delaware” by Arthur Parton, a 36-by-31-inch luminist landscape, sold for $28,750 †the second highest price ever garnered for a work by the artist at auction. New Hope Impressionist John Fulton Folinsbee’s “Shad Fishermen” brought $27,600. The 20-by-30-inch oil featured fishermen with nets along the Delaware River. “The Aqueduct” by RAD Miller featured the New Hope aqueduct and the town in the background and realized $20,700.
An Old Master-style scene depicting two figures surrounded by wine and fruit was of high interest prior to the sale at both the auction house and the Internet. With the phone table full and an active Internet, the painting sold for $16,100 against a presale estimate of $800․1,200. An 8-by-10-inch Wall Street winter scene by Guy C. Wiggins garnered $25,875.
September 10 kicked off the sale with a large clock collection. The sale featured a range of types, makers and sizes. An English fusee regulator sold for $2,700, and a three-piece French garniture clock brought $2,070.
Estate and modern jewelry was also featured on that day. A 1.75-carat mine-cut diamond ring with yellow gold setting sold for $5,175. A diamond and pearl necklace with sapphire accents brought $4,600.
Among the variety of collectibles offered, a circa 1925 Italian covered dish by Richard Ginori received much attention prior to the sale, and sold for $9,775 to a phone bidder in Italy. During the silver portion of the sale, a silver presentation cup by Faberge brought $9,200. A Tiffany Studios lamp with a pigtail glass shade sold for $8,050.
The furniture portion of the sale featured an eclectic grouping of pieces ranging from Eighteenth Century to Midcentury Modern. Despite having a cracked soundboard, a Steinway & Sons baby grand piano dating from 1911 sold for $9,000. A Walnut tall case clock by Joseph Hollinshead realized $12,650. A renaissance revival sofa attributed to R.J. Horner of New York brought $4,025. A pair of Serab runners sold for $7,475 during the fine carpet portion of the sale, which featured a variety of styles and sizes.
Prices reported include the 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Alderfer’s next sale will be conducted December 10‱2 and will feature a large grouping of fine silver along with jewelry, furniture, historical and ephemera, china, porcelain, Americana and fine art. For information, 215-393-3023 or www.alderferauction.com .
