The Collection of Nan Gurley
Saturday September 17th at 10am
At her home. 536 North Road. Parsonsfield, Maine
Preview Friday 10am- 5pm or 8am Day of Sale
The Gurley family is pleased to announce that we will be selling the collection of Nan Gurley, at the house she loved so much, in North Parsonsfield, Maine. We believe there is no more appropriate way to celebrate the life of a great Antique Dealer than to offer her collection for sale to her friends and the world. She wouldn’t have had it any other way. The first part of the auction will be antiques from the house. For many reasons these are the things that Nan loved the most and kept the longest. For us its not just a collection, it is a way of life that raised three generations. The next part will be all of the things at the shop that she just wouldn’t sell. Nan’s famous secretary full of smalls says more about the people in her life than the value of the stuff. Most of these items are gifts from friends and family. If you see something she bought from you over the years, well, your probably the reason she kept it. Finally, the last half of the auction will be Nan’s inventory. From folky, to whimsical, to rustic, and beautiful, Her shop was her signature. She only bought what she loved and it shows. This is a rare opportunity to find so much great merchandise in one place. Let’s celebrate Nan’s life by doing what she loved the most. Buying and selling antiques.
From The House: Rare and wonderful Maine Shaker trestle table in tiger maple, Folk art Black Americana marble game Signed “C.E. Cahill, Cornish, Maine. 1926”, six exceptional firkins in red, yellow, blues and greens, stepback cupboard in original red paint, Prior Hamblin school portrait of a girl with flowers, 18c flamestitch needlework theorem, red decorated document box with basket of flowers, decorated school girls box with shells, apple green painted trencher, red painted trencher, 18c needlework pot holder, large mourning theorem on velvet with ripple frame, folky carved and painted mask, turned treen lidded sugar bowl, folk art horse pull toy, salmon glazed redware crock, two nice mocha pepper pots, heavily decorated Sheraton Empire chest of drawers in white, Miliner and Dress maker sign, a fine assortment of 19c floral watercolors and theorems, wooden folk art horse pull toy, three wonderful child size chest of drawers in excellent paint, four color Maine decorated dome top, battersea box, tiny tole decorated pill box, German sheep and a large dog with a basket, Greiner dolls head under glass dome, tiny mittens, all kinds figural sewing smalls, sewing strawberries, needle cases, Native American catlinite pipe with stem, excellent large salmon decorated pantry box and mortar and pestle by the same hand from Vermont, pair of four color stick and spatter plates, decorated dressing table, Nan’s own collection of sterling jewelry.
From the Office: Vibrant red , black, and white double sided “ Japanese Bazaar” sign, glazed door built in Chippendale cupboad, three fantastic country store tables, large gilt wooden “&” letter, folk art French house bank, alabaster mourning carving, Portland Maine painters sign, ”Keep off the Grass” sign, carved Indian bust, 34 inch tall carved standing bear, and of course, a paint decorated glazed door country secretary cupboard and its contents: Pearlware decorated loving cup, lustreware quintal, early miniature slant front desk, great carved and painted folk art squirrel, wonderful miniature decorated cricket, mocha scrottle ball, carved polychrome folk art man, small flock of German sheep, Wieldon cup, glazed redware cow figure, German village, velvet theorem decorated pincushions, collection of shaker mirrors, tiny black forest bears, beaded sewing strawberry, butterfly needle cases, figural pin cushions and emerys, ivory bodkins, two ironstone ewers with full color shell transfers, floral needlework on paper.
From the Shop: Several good paint decorated chests of drawers and blanket boxes, two glazed door stepback cupboards in paint, 49 drawer apothecary in black paint, six drawer Hepplewhite chest, Paris Maine decorated bed, decorated country tall clock, set of six decorated arrow back Windsor chairs in yellow paint, pair of decorated birdcage Windsors, many good single chairs, Hepplewhite stretcher base farm table, fancy mahogany Federal dining table with carved legs, two good Sheraton on drawer stands in original red, German beer table, tiger maple Federal sofa, country sofa, green painted dry sink, Stepback cupboard with bold Peter Hunt style decoration, early bucket bench, red and black Maine dressing table, drop leaf tables, country sofa, blanket boxes, wrought iron glass top table and chairs. Nan was passionate about early American watercolors and school girl theorems. There are theorems on paper and velvet, theorems of fruit, flowers, family registers, watercolor portraits, watercolors of shells and  flowers. Some in decorated frames, some in lemon gold frames. There is a pastel of horses, sandpaper winter farm scene, theorem with puppies, still lifes, portraits, and more.
There is a large collection of white ironstone. Sydenham, Ceres, President, Baltic patterns and more, covered compotes, gravys, sets of plates, stacks of platters, pitchers, bowls, and serving pieces. Nan has been buying white ironstone and stashing it away for 20 years. Also a fine reticlated blue transfer pearlware compote, black mocha cats eye bowl with blue bands, blue banded mocha tankard, pearlware sugar bowl, many yellow ware bowls, three large Leeds platters. All kinds of children’s stuffed animals, velvet animals, Steiff animals, bunnys, elephants and kitties, good Griener doll, early folk art doll with carved and painted wooden head, rag dolls, dolls beds, decorated childs wheelbarrows, excellent decorated Pennsylvania childs chair, great early folk art rocking horse, crib quilt, dolls carriage. Other smalls include two 19c sandpaper signs, Five good painted pantry boxes, early tole decorated document box, set of 3 Alva Lord Baskets, decorated 19c book box, two make do pincushions, two wonderful painted sewing boxes, large chalkware spaniel, early silver creamer, full bodied rooster and running horse weathervanes, finely dovetailed 13 drawer mahogany spice chest, 2 drawer hanging shelves in old green, painted baskets, many good hooked rugs. Fabulous large vintage Murano glass chandelier and 3 Italian metal chandeliers, other good lamps and lighting, metal sconces, sterling jewelry lots, bits of bakelite, and so much more. Check our website often as the day approaches.
This sale will be held rain or shine under the tent. Catered and comfortable with seating provided. Plan to come early and stay late. This auction is going to be tremendous!
For More Information Call (207) 229- 0403 . Online at www.gurleyauctions.com
All Items Sold AS IS WHERE IS . 10% Buyers Premium. 5.5% Maine Sales Tax Without Resale Certificate. Cash , Check, Absentee, & Phone Bids Accepted.
Joshua Gurley Auctioneer ME Lic# AR1358.