Early and Rare Bronze Buddha Surprises Owner With Healthy Pricetag

It’s possible that great-aunt Esther’s tea table was made by a famous Boston cabinet maker in the 18th century. If so, better call the insurance guy – because it’s worth half a million dollars. Maybe the copy of the Declaration of Independence that cousin John found under some old photos of Grandma and Grandpa is one of 500 official copies printed in 1776. Know any good auctioneers? History says it will likely fetch over $2 million at auction, if it is authentic. Maybe, just maybe, the old boots that Uncle Tom has hauled around for all of these years really were worn by Amelia Earhart on her trans-Atlantic trip in 1932. Priceless.
Urban legend or reruns on PBS, stories such as these, made famous by the hit series “Antiques Roadshow” and other spin-offs, may be motivating central Ohioans to line up each month for the free walk-in appraisal day at Ohio’s oldest premier auction facility, Garth’s Auctions in Delaware.
More often than not, Garth’s team has to gently break the news and explain how to spot reproductions, fakes, or just good quality in the future. It becomes a lesson in treasure-hunting, and off they go in search of the next great find. Sometimes they return, with an item that transcends “sentimental value” and is very marketable: a piece of Cincinnati art pottery made by the Rookwood company – rare in form, purchased at a yard sale for $2.50 and worth more than $500 at auction; an oil on canvas landscape painting, well done but with an artist signature that is difficult to read. Steve Bemiller, Vice President of Garth’s makes friendly conversation, “What made you buy it?”, “Do you collect anything else?” – all the while thumbing through an artist index and searching an online database. In the end, Steve estimates that it could bring $800 - $1200 at auction. “Would you like to sell?” he asks. “Absolutely! I bought it for $50!” is the enthusiastic reply.
And then, on July 25th, the pièce de résistance: in the 200 year old barn known as Garth’s Auctions, a bronze Buddha with a gilt surface and semiprecious inset stones, seated on a hammered copper base and pre-dating the selling venue by more than 200 years, sold for $43,475. The Buddha traveled to Delaware from Worthington, in the trunk of a car unassumingly wrapped in an old towel; it’s owner prepared for the staff at the walk-in appraisal day to tell her it wasn’t worth it’s weight in scrap.
“We knew it was special – the form and quality were there. The bronze had an unusual cast [color], so we weren’t sure if it was early or a 19th Century execution. We gave the customer a conservative estimate, hoping that if we exposed it to the right marketplace, it would fly,” explains President and CEO of Garth’s, Jeff Jeffers. “It felt great to call her after the auction with the news. I felt like Ed McMahon!”
“The idea behind the walk-in appraisal days was simply to reach out to the regional population. We are well-known for our location – “the big red barn and old brick house on US 23 and route 315”,” says Amelia Jeffers, Director of Marketing for the company. “But, surprisingly few people really know what we do, or that we are open to the public. We see these [walk-in appraisal days] as an opportunity to show people how accessible fine art and antiques expertise can be.”
Founded by an Ohio Wesleyan grad in the 1950’s, Garth’s has evolved into one of the country’s leading auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Competing for consignments with well-known auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s, and others throughout New England, “it can seem odd, even to us, to convince someone that their materials will sell just as well in the Midwest as in New York City. But, it’s true. We have buying clients all over the world, tuning in by phone, by the internet, and flying in to bid live. Simply, if you have it, they will come,” says Jeff Jeffers. It helps to serve up great materials with a healthy dose of integrity and customer service. Jeffers and his staff continue in a tradition established by the founder, and developed by second owners, Tom and Carolyn Porter. “When we bought it [the company], we knew we were buying the reputation,” Jeffers continues. “In business, reputation is everything.”
Clearly the reputation pays off, when bidders feel comfortable bidding five figures for materials they haven’t had a chance to hold. “The bidders on that Buddha were located all over the world – Asia, Europe, the United States. The phone lines were packed and internet bidding was enthusiastic, to say the least,” smiles Jeffers. “It’s great when we see the culmination of our marketing efforts, paired with our staff’s delivery of great customer service – in the form of extra photos, detailed descriptions. They literally hold the item and act as the client’s eyes and hands, spending hours on the phone, answering questions. When the results are this dynamic, it is all worthwhile.”
Garth’s conducts 12-15 auctions per year and hosts walk-in appraisal days on the last Tuesday of every month at their Delaware facility. For more information, contact 740.362.4771 or www.garths.com.