Amelia Jeffers, Columbus, Ohio
Photos courtesy Amelia Jeffers
Amelia Jeffers used the nation’s semiquincentennial as a springboard for a three-day auction that drew fireworks July 30 to August 1 at her auction house in Columbus, Ohio. The sale, having 1123 lots, realized $1.64 million.
The first day featured the Ohio Valley session, an annual specialty sale started by Garth’s Auctions and continued by Jeffers, that concentrated on antiques originating from states bordering the Ohio River. The second day broadened the scope to nationwide with an auction dubbed “America 250, American Material Culture.” The final day offered a new specialty sale for Jeffers in “America 250, Holiday and Toy.”
Two-piece stepback cupboard in poplar with original paint decoration, Jackson Township (Mahoning County), Ohio, 19th century, pegged construction, 84¾" x 54¾" wide, $76,875 (est. $25,000/45,000).
The top lot overall came from the Ohio Valley portion: a paint-decorated Ohio stepback cupboard that realized $76,875 (includes buyer’s premium) with an estimate of $25,000/45,000. From Jackson Township in Mahoning County, the two-piece cupboard features a top that has a molded cornice over two six-pane doors over a pie shelf, while the base has two drawers over two raised-panel doors and cutout feet. The large size is impressive (84¾" x 54¾"), but paint lit the fuse on the bidding. Described in the auction catalog as “exuberant,” the design is grained, combed, dotted, and sponged in ocher, mustard, green, red, and black.
Jeffers summed up the cupboard’s virtues. “Original, original, original. Condition, condition, condition. Scarcity, scarcity, scarcity,” she said.
Two other merits came into play. The cupboard has history, being featured on the cover of the second volume of Ohio Furniture Makers 1790 to 1860 by Jane Sykes Hageman and Edward M. Hageman (1990). It was also fresh to the market. “The picture on the cover is the spot we took it out of the house forty years after the book was published,” said Jeffers.
More than just the highlight of the auction, it was a statement about the desirability of top-tier goods representing the Ohio Valley. “Selling an Ohio cupboard for $62,500 [hammer price] was incredible,” said Jeffers. “Find another one,” she said.
“Same thing with the pitcher. Super thing,” she continued. Highly decorated in cobalt, this 19th-century stoneware pitcher was cataloged as a presentation piece connected to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. It is lettered “Docter [sic] Lisle / Roseville / Ohio / I.O.O.F.” and features the Odd Fellows’ triple links as well as folkish arrows. Measuring 13" high and with some chips, it realized $46,125 (est. $8000/16,000).
“Poland is my Dwelling Place” Ohio needlework sampler made by ten-year-old Lucretia Kirtland in 1807-08, polychrome silk thread on linen, 14¼" x 11 3/8" (sight size), light toning, foxing, and fading throughout, sewn down to paperboard, wear and losses to the frame, new glass, $12,915 (est. $8000/16,000).
A third piece from the Ohio Valley session was a needlework sampler made by ten-year-old Lucretia Kirtland in 1807-08, 14¼" x 11 3/8" (sight size), that brought $12,915 (est. $8000/16,000). The text around the edges reads: “Lucretia Kirtland is my Name 1808 / Wallingford [Connecticut] is my Native Place and English is my Nation / Poland [Ohio] is my Dwelling Place, and Christ is my Salvation. Jar. Kirtland is my Fat’s Name & Lois K is my Mother.” Alphabets and a large homeplace landscape added to the charm. The sampler was displayed in Ohio Is My Dwelling Place, a 2003 exhibit at the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, and it is illustrated in Sue Studebaker’s 2003 book, Ohio Is My Dwelling Place: Schoolgirl Embroideries 1800-1850. A copy of the book and related material were included in the lot.
Family connections deepened the intrigue of the sample. The auction catalog noted “Lucretia Kirtland’s father, Dr. Jared Kirtland, was a well-respected and accomplished physician, naturalist, and politician. He co-founded the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. His father (Lucretia’s grandfather), Turhand Kirtland, was a surveyor with a group led by Moses Cleaveland. In 1796, the group surveyed and registered Poland Township as township 1, range 1 of the Connecticut Western Reserve of the Connecticut Land Company. Turhand Kirtland is considered the founder of Poland, Ohio.”
A quick footnote: The decorated cupboard, stoneware pitcher, and schoolgirl sampler all came from the collection of Don Watkin and were handpicked by Jeffers for the Ohio Valley session. The bulk of Watkin’s collection will be offered for sale in Jeffers’s Thanksgiving weekend auction.
Goddess of Liberty life-size figure, carved and painted wood, attributed to New York City, 19th century, 53" high (figure only), 71" high (overall), $73,800 (est. $60,000/90,000).
From the session of American material culture, a Goddess of Liberty life-size figure made of carved and painted wood in the 19th century and attributed to New York City, 71" high overall, sold for $73,800 (est. $60,000/90,000). It features a robed woman wearing a red sash and a red and gold liberty cap, a sword in one hand, a laurel wreath and shield in the other, on a stepped plinth with swags. The auction catalog noted, “By tradition, this carving was found and sold by Helena Penrose, noted folk-art dealer and peer of Abby Aldridge Rockefeller. A recognized authority on figural carvings, Penrose represented that the carving had originally resided in New York City’s Tammany Hall headquarters circa 1916-1919.”
Hamilton & Jones, Greensboro, Pennsylvania, 15-gallon stoneware jar with stenciled eagle and stars plus freehand flourishes in cobalt blue, 19th century, 22½" high, discoloration to the main decoration, small area of glaze loss and flaking, one handle chipped, the other having a hairline crack, $61,500 (est. $50,000/80,000).
Other top lots in that session included a highly decorated 15-gallon stoneware jar made by Hamilton & Jones, Greensboro, Pennsylvania, stenciled with the company’s name, an eagle, and stars, 22½" high, that sold for $61,500 (est. $50,000/80,000). The decoration was important but so was the size. As the auction catalog noted, “Fifteen gallon capacity marks are extremely unusual and scarce. An uncommon size, rarely are they found and particularly with such well-developed decoration.”
Decorated pipe tomahawk, late 18th- or early 19th-century, iron or steel head, the bowl cast with tobacco leaves and beading, one side of the blade having a pewter-or silver-inlaid spread-wing, shield-breasted eagle perched on a globe and holding in its beak a banner lettered “E Pluribus Unum,” the other side inlaid with a double-pointed oval engraved “I Baker,” the walnut shaft having inlaid vining, engraved mother-of-pearl inlay, and a pewter or silver band with a heart-shaped medallion engraved “W. A.,” 16¼" x 4¾", the mouthpiece and some inlay missing, $39,360 (est. $5000/10,000).
A pipe tomahawk, late 18th- or early 19th-century, with inlay on both the head and the shaft, 16¼" x 4¾", sold for $39,360 (est. $5000/10,000). The iron or steel head has a bowl cast with tobacco leaves. The blade has a pewter- or silver-inlaid spread-wing, shield-breasted eagle perched on a globe and holding in its beak a banner lettered “E Pluribus Unum,” while the other side has a geometric inlay lettered “I Baker.” The walnut shaft has inlaid vining, engraved mother-of-pearl inlay, and a pewter or silver band featuring a heart-shaped medallion with initials. The mouthpiece and some inlay were missing.
Store display witch candy container, German, early 20th century, composition face, hands, and shoes, brown glass eyes, two molded teeth, the figure holding a broom and wearing a cardboard witch’s hat, 44¾" high, $30,750 (est. $4000/8000).
The “Holiday and Toy” session had its own impressive results. Two lots sold for $30,750 each—a store display witch candy container, German, early 20th century, having a composition face, hands, and shoes, brown glass eyes, two molded teeth, the figure holding a broom and wearing a cardboard witch’s hat, 44¾" high, estimated at $4000/8000; and a large, standing Santa candy container, German, late 19th- or early 20th-century, having a papier-mâché face, coat, and boots, blue glass eyes, the beard made of real hair, the dark-gray coat with white specks, the figure holding a feather tree sprig, 20¼" high, estimated at $3000/6000.
“Holy cow! Holiday and toys, sign me up,” said Jeffers. “Prices are just exciting.” She anticipates developing the holiday and toy concept into an annual specialty sale.
For more information, phone Jeffers at (740) 362-4771 or visit the website (www.ameliajeffers.com).
Paint-decorated blanket chest, Long family, Ada, Hardin County, Ohio, second quarter of the 19th century, in poplar with brown over red and yellow graining, the front three panels with dark blue backgrounds and large vases or urns of multicolored flowers, the three drawer fronts with crotch graining, trim and legs painted green, pegged construction, 31½" x 48½", some paint wear, one pull detached, backplates missing, $12,300 (est. $8000/16,000).
Miniature blanket chest by J. Shipley, poplar with original paint decoration and lettered “Ella” in script on the lid, brown over ocher thumbprint-style graining, the lower drawer over a serpentine bracket base, attributed to Coshocton County, Ohio, 19th century, signed on the bottom of the case and inside a drawer cavity, 9¾" x 12¾" wide, imperfections to some foot facings and the catch for the lid, $10,455 (est. $2000/4000). It is the only known signed example.
![Cobalt-decorated stoneware Independent Order of Odd Fellows presentation pitcher lettered “Docter [sic] Lisle / Roseville / Ohio / I.O.O.F.,” 19th-century, brushed decorations including the Odd Fellows triple links, arrows, stylized latticework, and dots, 13](/uploads/visual_edit/jeffers1126-7.jpg)
Cobalt-decorated stoneware Independent Order of Odd Fellows presentation pitcher lettered “Docter [sic] Lisle / Roseville / Ohio / I.O.O.F.,” 19th-century, brushed decorations including the Odd Fellows triple links, arrows, stylized latticework, and dots, 13" high, chips to the rim and spout,
$46,125 (est. $8000/16,000).
John Haley Bellamy (1836-1914) eagle, late 19th century, carved and painted pine, the bird in flight while carrying a pole having a banner lettered “Don’t Give Up The Ship,” original paint in red, white, blue, black, and gold, 26½" long, repaired crack to the banner, split at the tip of the pole, $13,530 (est. $8000/16,000).
Carved sandstone sculpture of a bee skep on a rough-cut base, 19th century, 19" x 15" x 8", $10,455 (est. $2000/4000).
Pennsylvania folk-art bird tree, the four tiers holding 13 birds in graduated sizes, carved and painted wood with wrought-iron supports, third quarter of the 19th century, the paint decoration aged to black, 23½" x 12¾", one tail repaired, minor paint wear, the trunk with age splits from shrinkage, $27,060 (est. $8000/16,000).
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, “people” jar, stenciled “Uniontown Pa” in cobalt, the freehand decoration depicting a woman holding a parasol and possibly wearing a veil as she stands between willow trees, attributed to Norval Greenland (active 1870-82), some discoloration, minor crazing and glaze loss, $25,830 (est. $15,000/25,000).
Standing snow angel fairy candy container, German, early 20th century, porcelain face, blue glass eyes, open mouth, blonde bangs, white rabbit-fur coat, red pants with white cuffs, spun glass wings, holding a sprig of a tree in her right hand, 16½" high, repaired finger, $6765 (est. $3000/6000).
Store display clockwork automaton nodding snowman, German, early 20th century, having an orange carrot nose and black glass eyes, wearing a snow-covered top hat and white coat with black cuffs, holding a broom, 30" high, works, wear to the nose, discoloration and stains to the jacket, $11,070 (est. $3000/6000).
Pumpkin-head man Halloween wind-up toy, German, 20th century, painted papier-mâché head, black hat, pants, and shoes, gold scarf, 10¼" x 6", wrist reglued, $3690 (est. $400/800).
Clockwork automaton male rabbit on base, German, early 20th century, the standing figure having a fur-covered body, glass eyes, and articulated mouth, wearing a printed paper outfit, holding a basket of chicks, mounted on a wooden base, 28" high, with key, $5842.50 (est. $4000/8000).
Large standing Santa candy container, German, late 19th- or early 20th-century, papier-mâché face, coat, boots, and base, blue glass eyes, the beard made of real hair, the dark gray coat with white specks, the figure holding a feather tree sprig, 20¼" high, $30,750 (est. $3000/6000).
Indiana cupboard having 12 punched tins lettered “Gageby & Siling / Greensburg” and a design that includes the three-link chain of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, second half of the 19th century, original blue paint, 79" x 40¾", wear and loss to the paint, varied amounts of corrosion to the tins, some discoloration of wood and paint on the doors, chipping at edges and corners, $6765 (est. $6000/12,000). James Gageby and Milton Siling started a furniture factory in Greensburg, Indiana, in a mill they bought in 1867.
New Year’s Eve by Clyde Singer (1908-1999), oil on canvas, signed lower left, titled and signed on reverse, 17½" x 15" (sight size), gilt frame, good condition, $7380 (est. $4000/8000).
Clockwork automaton reindeer figure with nodding head, German, early 20th century, brown fur, brown glass eyes, composition antlers, 19" x 23", with its key, antlers a bit loose, clockwork mechanism works but the motion stops after one nod of the head, $15,375 (est. $4000/8000).
Santa on a sleigh drawn by six flying reindeer, German, early 20th century, Santa having a rabbit-fur beard and wearing a red velvet coat with white trim, the reindeer having glass eyes, brown metal antlers, and wearing saddles made of leather and felt, the figures mounted to a wheeled cart that when rolled makes the reindeer “fly,” 9½" x 19½", Santa’s sled missing, some reindeer eyes replaced, fading to the fabric, $11,070 (est. $2000/4000).
Originally published in the November 2026 issue of Maine Antique Digest. © 2026 Maine Antique Digest
