(ST. CHARLES, Mo.) – The contents of the antique shop and items from the personal collection of Brad and Eunice Witt, formerly of Missouri, will be sold without reserve on Saturday, Nov. 14, in the grand ballroom (upper level) of the St. Charles Convention Center, located at exit 229 of I-70. The auction will be conducted by Woody Auction, based in Douglass, Kan., with a start time of 9:30 a.m.
Sold will be over 300 lots of Victorian furniture, vintage French dolls, Babes in the Woods items, Yard Longs, Flow Blue, R.S. Prussia and more. “Brad and Eunice have decided to downsize their private collection and small antique shop,” Jason Woody said, “and as with every Woody Auction, all items will sell to the highest bidder, without reserve. Come prepared for a really exciting auction.”
Mr. Woody said he isn’t sure what to expect from this sale, since period furniture isn’t something he typically offers. “The R.S. Prussia and Flow Blue people will be there. I can always count on them,” he stated, “but we’ll just have to see regarding the furniture. If the quality and consistency of the pieces count for anything, then it should be a wild success. We’ve got some truly wonderful furniture items.”
Some of those furniture items will include a super Victorian walnut drop-front dresser/etagere attributed to Jelliff and featuring a domed cornice with carved bust and heavy burl accent; a rare 8-foot ornate oak display cabinet with large winged gargoyle supports, beveled glass door and lots of carving; and an all-original Belter recamier with carved apron surrounded by heavy scrolls and grape clusters.
About 20 Babes in the Woods pieces, all circa 1880-1920, will cross the block. Expected to pique bidder interest will be a rare and excellent Royal Doulton winter season plaque depicting a lady and child in the woods during a snowstorm; a Royal Doulton oval plaque showing a lady playing the mandolin; and a very rare tall (16 ¾ inches) Royal Doulton vase, spring season, with a lady and girl.
Yard longs are so-named because they’re just that – about a yard long. The long, skinny prints usually show women, but sometimes flowers and fruit. Two pieces in the sale that should do well are a 1916 Clay Robinson & Co. advertising calendar, with a woman in a blue hat surrounded by flowers; and a Temptation Candy Girl calendar print, the only one known and with 10 of the 12 months intact.
R.S. Prussia pieces will include a wonderful 15 ½ inch carnation mold center piece bowl, cobalt blue, with great size, color and condition; and an outstanding 6-piece plume mold ice cream set, with 13-inch oval tray and five matching bowls, cobalt blue with nice gold highlights. Also sold will be a nice Victorian bride’s basket with fireglow ruffled bowl by Sandwich Glass and large silver plate frame.
Fans of vintage French dolls will not be disappointed. Anticipated top achievers include a gorgeous 29 ½ inch tete Jumeau closed-mouth doll with an ornate beige and blue costume with matching hat; and a beautiful 25-inch Jumeau doll (size 12), dressed in a lavender Victorian costume with matching hat and plumes and lifelike hair with blond curls. Many other examples will be sold.
Flow Blue is a common offering at many Woody Auctions, and this one will be no exception. Pieces include a 23 ¼ inch Royal Doulton burslem umbrella stand/floor vase in the Jessica pattern, with great color, pattern and size; and a 6- inch by 8-inch Nonpareil pattern handled tray by Burgess & Leigh. Also sold will be a 7-foot Victorian walnut easel with inlaid ebony designs and gold highlights.
Returning to Victorian furniture, the following will be sold: a magnificent and important etagere attributed Mitchells & Rammelsberg, 108 inches by 74 inches, with four shelves, large carved finial, deep pocket crest, great carving, and a huge mirror back with four swivel mirrors on each side; and a Victorian red velvet pin cushion chair with bride’s floral head piece, bride’s flowers and beveled mirror.
Also from the furniture category: a walnut center room parlor table attributed to Mallard, with long carved floral finial and rose and scroll design; a mahogany partner’s desk attributed to Horner, with large cherub legs; a beautiful and rare Karpen mahogany barrel-shaped parlor set with love seat and two arm chairs; and a Victorian walnut marble-top table by Brooks, with a large carved pedestal.
Rounding out the expected top lots: an outstanding three-piece figural clock set with bronze women holding a cherub above their head surrounding the clock, with 40-inch tall side pieces consisting of a woman holding a 6-arm candelabra above the head, and every piece matched on bronze marble and gilt metal base; and a 54-inch floor fan with light, Luminaire, by the Cincinnati Victor Co.
Online bidding will be facilitated by Proxibid.com. Proxibid terms and conditions will apply. There will be no phone bidding, but absentee bids will be accepted with a written statement indicating the amount of the bid (deadline: noon Thursday, Nov. 12). Absentee bids will be charged an additional 10 percent of the sale price and may be faxed (316-747-2145) or e-mailed ([email protected]).
Inventory items from Mr. And Mrs. Witt’s antique shop will be charged 7.45 percent unless a current sales tax number is provided. Items from their private collection are indicated with an asterisk (*) and will not be charged a sales tax. As for lodging, the Embassy Suites Hotel (636-946-5544) is connected directly to the Convention Center. The Fairfield Inn (636-946-1000) is across the street.
Woody Auction’s next big sale after this one will be held the very next weekend, on Saturday, Nov. 21, in Wichita, Kan. Offered will be art glass, Oriental furniture, clocks, pickle casters and more. Check the website (www.woodyauction.com) as the sale date approaches. Updates are posted often.
To inquire about consigning an item, an estate or collection to Woody Auction, you may call them at (316) 747-2694, or e-mail them at [email protected].
For more info, log on to woodyauction.com
