Garth’s Eclectic Auction Comes Alive with a Big Top Vibe

On Friday, April 3rd, Garth's Auctioneers & Appraisers will host their spring Eclectic auction where 900 items will be offered including: postcards, lighting, primitive furniture, Victorian, painted chairs, early chests, a Brunswick 9 foot pool table, paintings, a stickley bedroom suite, oriental rugs, stoneware, English Relief molded pitchers, sterling flatware, autographs, baskets, quilts, and coverlets, fountain pens, and autographs. Bidders are sure to be entertained with the carnivalesque atmosphere when 70 lots comprised of approximately 2,000 circus posters from a Northeast Ohio Collection and eighteen sideshow banners from two Ohio collectors all cross the block.

The auctioneer will put on her ringmaster's hat to sell items from some of the most well known big top names such as: Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Clyde Beatty, Cole Brothers, Seils-Sterling, King Brothers and Hagenbeck-Wallace. The colorful circus collection includes advertising posters and lithographic prints along with various foreign circus posters and 21st century circus posters. A video with some highlights from the approximately 70 lots to be offered was produced. Twelve Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus posters with "Attraction Extraordinary, A Congress of Japan's Famous Strong Men, Gladiators, Swordsmen, Wrestlers, Jiu-Jitsu, and Athletic Champions have an estimate of $300-400. Nine circus poster from Downie Bros., Wallace Bros., and Sells Floto carry a presale estimate of $175-250, while another nine circus posters including a Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros., a Parker and Watts, and Barnum and Bailey lithograph of “Persia or the Pageants of the Thousand and One Nights" should bring $200-300.

Eight sideshow banners will be offered throughout the day and include one example in original paint titled “Human Pin Cushion“ and signed, "O. Henry Tent & Awning Co., Chicago 40-Ill". The banner was possibly painted by Fred Johnson (Estimate: $900-1,200). Another banner, “Scavengers of the Battlefield-½ Monkey, ½ Bear,” carries a presale estimate of $600-1,200 while a circus side show canvas in original paint titled, “Tattooed Lady, Lorette,” is expected to sell for $600-800. One canvas sure to draw bidder’s attention is a mid 20th century banner signed "J. Sigler, Tampa”; the banner is titled “Mermar, Fish Girl” and features a mermaid in a fish bowl (Estimate: $400-600).

Silver buyers are sure to notice a Russian sterling tea pot with a wooden finial and handle, marked “84”, with an engraved two-headed eagle and a small creamer also marked “84” with ribbed design. The pair is expected to sell for $300-500. A Gorham flatware service for 12 in the 1810 pattern, Westmoreland flatware and several others sets of flatware​will be offered along with Arrowsmith candlesticks, weighted silver and Meriden silver plate.

Twelve Wedgwood plates for Tiffany and CO. retail marks featuring a multicolored enamel decoration are expected to sell for $200-400, and bidders will have an opportunity to take home four pieces of American Rookwood pottery including: a green bulbous vase, date stamped 1928, a green vase with stylized daisies, a blue-green ribbed vase, date stamped 1931, and a bowl with ribbing and mottled green-to-pink coloring, date stamped 1920 (Estimate $200-400). ​Royal Doulton character jugs; early transferware; flow blue; Historical blue; flint glass and an English relief molded pitcher will also be offered.

Fine art buyers will find a large selection of over 75 paintings, prints and frames, landscapes, still life’s and signed works by Rodriguez, Robert J. Smith, M. VanCauter, W. Parker, Gauthier, F.J. Aldridge. An oil on canvas pastoral landscape of cows drinking water by W. Parker and dated 1880 has a presale estimate of $300-500, while an oil on landscape by Geppi depicting a Hudson River style scape should sell for $200-400. A needlework picture set in a gilt oval frame, made from silk and watercolor and showing a young woman sitting with her head in hand and her dog curled at her side is expected to bring $225-450. Several interesting bronzes will cross the block including: a monumental pair of bronze horses that carry a presale estimate of $1,500-2,500, a pair of well detailed bronze seated lions (Estimate: $500-1,000), and a pair of bronze urns with classical detail have an estimate of $1,000-1,500.

A wide range of furniture will be offered throughout the day including corner cupboards, stepback cupboards, bucket benches, crock stands, painted chairs including six Hitchcock chairs, tavern tables, a cricket table, a painted drop leaf tables, slant front desks, settle benches, dry sinks, and a Stickley Bedroom suite. Two pairs of mahogany high-style Federal chairs from the first quarter 19th century are expected to sell for $200-400. A late Chippendale slant front desk, ca. 1800 with flame birch and tiger maple carries a presale estimate of $300-600, and an Eastlake Victorian small slant lid secretary featuring Southern gum and burl panels should bring $200-500.

Over 2,000 autographs from television and movie personalitieswill cross the block with names that bring back memories like the Rat Pack, Gunsmoke, Star Trek, and the Twilight Zone. A nice selection of actor’s autographs will also be offered including: Donna Reed, Jonathan Winters, Bob Newhart, Don Knotts, Gloria Talbot, Art Linkletter, Allen Ludden, Betty White, President Ford, and Sean Connery. Those looking for postcards won’t be disappointed in the breadth of material offered. The cards range in selection from states, expositions, oversized objects, and balloons to signed artists. A large collection of Neil Armstrong memorabilia including promotional advertising and press clippings will also made available.

Additional highlights of the sale include a Lincoln, Grant, Stanton “Council of War” Rogers group, patented March 31st, depicting a seated Abraham Lincoln flanked by General Grant and Secretary of War, E.M. Stanton (Estimate of $800-1,200). A large pair of 19th century figural girandoles with marble bases and cast brass Persian man stems with foliage branches should bring $200-400. A hand-painted German porcelain plaque from the 4th quarter of the 19th century depicting Ruth with harvested wheat and an illegible impressed mark on the back will cross the block with an estimate of $150-300. American Solar and Sunumbra lamps set on marble bases with cast and brass stamped fittings have a presale estimate of $300-600. Early lighting offered will include Betty lamps, Ripley lamps, lanterns and hogscraper candlesticks.​ A ca. 1900 nine-foot Brunswick pool table manufactured by Brunswick-Balke-Collender with a presale estimate of $1,500-2,000 is sure to make a buyer happy, and if textiles are your passion, don’t miss the quality handmade rugs, quilts, and coverlets, Oriental room size rugs, area carpets and runners.

Garth's Eclectic Auction brochures are available for purchase by contacting Client Services at 740-362-4771 or the full brochure may be browsed online at www.garths.com. Prices realized will be available online, both during and after the auction. Garth's Eclectic Gallery is located at 2097 London Road, Suite F, Delaware, Ohio and preview hours will be held from March 30th to April 3rd. Garth’s is accepting quality items for the 2015 auction year. For further information regarding how to sell at Garth’s or for a valuation of your item(s), please contact sell@garths.com or call 740-362-4771. For more information visit www.garths.com, find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.