Ivy Auctions, Laurens, South Carolina
Photos courtesy Ivy Auctions
In December 2022 Nancy Roth, a longtime antiques dealer, locked the door on her well-stocked shop in Laurens, South Carolina, grabbed her purse and little else, and moved to Ohio. Ivy Auctions, Inc., has been selling her primitives, country art, and other valuables ever since.
The sale held November 16 at the firm founded in 2010 by John and Patty Ivy in Laurens saw Nancy Roth’s inventory do very well, even though John said some of her most collectible items had been featured in previous auctions. Roth operated stores in Ohio and in Tryon and Hendersonville, North Carolina, before landing in Laurens.
Not surprisingly, regional items such as Edgefield pottery and South Carolina furniture fared well, while the European and Asian entries in the 543-lot sale lagged. John Ivy theorized that the preponderance of Americana meant he did not attract the size of bids or as wide an audience geographically online as he’s used to seeing. He said about 80% of the items initially passed sold two days later.
A kind of throw-back operation—John Ivy takes photos and Patty Ivy researches and writes descriptions—Ivy Auctions drew more than 100 in-person bidders, including one who knows Roth and “bought quite a lot of her smalls, including vintage Christmas items,” John said.
This 1888 stoneware storage jar sold far above its $1000/2000 estimate at $3955. Its maker, S. C. Dickson of Greenville County, South Carolina, stamped his name onto the base of the 17" tall, two-handled ovoid jar. The condition report noted small chips to the rim and to one lug handle.
Another participant, pottery collector Edwin Stroud, was eyeing an 1888 two-handled stoneware storage jar from Greenville, South Carolina, stamped “S.C. Dickson.” Having that signature made it special, he said. The 17" high jar sold to someone else for $3955 (including buyer’s premium). It was second only among the pottery lots to a one-handled, three-gallon jug attributed to Edgefield District potter Thomas Chandler that brought $4350.50.
Showing the intense interest in pottery from the Edgefield District in South Carolina was the $4350.50 sale of this three-gallon stoneware jug (est. $2000/3000) attributed to Thomas Chandler of Kirksey’s Crossroads. Circa 1850, the ovoid jug with a tooled double-rim spout and applied handle features kaolin slip decoration and white slip wreath decoration encircling the number “3.” Standing 16½" high, it has a small chip to the side of the top ring on the spout.
In discussing presale highlights, John Ivy mentioned an 1817 Pennsylvania Quaker desk and said brown furniture “was selling better.” Estimated at $800/1200, the desk signed by Caleb Seal brought $610.20. A table from “a very good New York maker [attributed to Charles Baudouine] and one of only three I know of,” said Ivy, was estimated at $3000/5000 but was passed. A versatile piece, it could be two separate tables or joined to form one table. A 19th-century American pine stepback cupboard sold for $194.80 (est. $300/500).
A standout among the furniture was this 19th-century South Carolina walnut stand of hunt board height (40¾") that brought $2435 (est. $600/1000). It features a dovetailed drawer and tall tapered legs. It had been purchased from Woodland Plantation/Mobley-Jeter House, Santuc, South Carolina.
Faring much better was a 19th-century South Carolina walnut stand with provenance from a Santuc plantation. Estimated at $600/1000, it went for $2435. Another piece from the state, a more modern inlaid Pembroke table, sold under the $200/400 estimate for $158.20.
Several specialty items caught on with bidders. A Tiffany sterling bonbon spoon with a pierced floral and foliate handle earned $1047.05 (est. $100/200). Twenty sterling ornaments from Gorham and Reed & Barton yielded $1459.38 (est. $300/500), and a painted papier-mâché jack-o-lantern brought $231.33 (est. $40/60). More than 50 pieces of stone fruit and nuts sold for $1582.75 (est. $400/600).
A bounty of more than 55 pieces of painted and carved stone fruit and nuts, including several clusters of cherries, apples, oranges, bananas, peaches, two half apples, and one half pear, sold for $1582.75 (est. $400/600). It was from the estate of Joseph Ewing, a longtime antiques dealer in Ohio, North Carolina, and South Carolina, and the proceeds from its sale benefited the Laurens County (South Carolina) Museum Association and the Laurens County Humane Society.
An online bidder bought five lots of books, with all but one grouping topping estimates. In contrast, the majority of collectible Lee/Rose cup plates did not sell. “That was not really a surprise,” Ivy said. “There’s not a lot of interest except in some rare, good plates.”
These two bottle dolls brought $271.20 (est. $100/150). Facial features are hand stitched as are the outfits—a green dress with a white pinafore and checked bandana and a red cotton dress with a white apron and matching bandana. One doll stands 16", and the other is 13½". Both are fitted on weighted bottles.
Results for black Americana items were mixed. A lot comprising recipe boxes, wall hangings, potholders, and a doll exceeded the estimate of $100/150 by going for $267.85, and a group of 13 folk-art dolls beat the $140/250 estimate, selling for $340.90. But only one of three lots of bottle dolls hit its mark.
The sale’s top lot, a 2.57-carat yellow gold and diamond ring, sold for $18,324.66 (est. $18,000/25,000). Several other rings and watches were passed.
The havoc wreaked on the area in September by Tropical Storm Helene was not far from participants’ minds as a church group served food and donated the proceeds to relief efforts. A local youth program also benefited.
Ivy said the next auction would likely be in March, a bit later than usual because of the expected arrival of the couple’s first grandchild in February. For more information, visit (www.IvyAuctions.com) or call (864) 682-2750.
This Coca-Cola branded tabletop electric pinball machine with operating flippers, bumpers, and scoreboard with lights sold for $633.10 (est. $140/250).
This two-sided painted wood game board from the late 19th/early 20th century brought $2861.13 (est. $140/250). One side is a baseball game with 10 carved concave “cups” stenciled “Catcher Out,” “One Base Hit,” etc. on the outline of a diamond; 9 more cups are in the outfield, and the perimeter of the outfield is lined with 16 spaces that possibly held marbles or other game pieces, though none were included. The reverse of the 18 5/8" square game board is a red- and black-painted checkerboard. Losses to paint and the frame edge were noted.
Antiques dealer Nancy Roth focused on primitive and country wares, such as this 51½" tall cornhusk broom. It sold for $219.15 (est. $100/200).
This late 19th-/early 20th-century painted poplar apothecary or spice box with 20 drawers earned $389.60 (est. $140/250). Measuring 15½" x 7½" x 5", it is signed on the base “Julius” with an illegible last name.
John Ivy was particularly impressed with this early 20th-century toolbox and its 21 wooden hand planes of various sizes. The box is pine with a leather front handle and metal side handles. The planes have marks of a number of makers, some from New York. It brought $876.60 (est. $140/250).
Four radios, two in Bakelite cases, sold for $128.43 (est. $60/100). Two carry the Philco brand, one is from General Electric, and the other is by RCA Victor.
Originally published in the January 2025 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2025 Maine Antique Digest
