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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 45, NO. 41 FRIDAY OCTOBER 10, 2014
The John J. Snyder Jr. Estate Sale Auction Showcases Collection Of Impressive Range expertise, and his knowledge was vast. Just two areas of study he contributed to were sulphur inlaid furniture of Lancaster County, and tallcase clocks of the Susquehanna River Valley. Snyder created a foundation and lasting legacy by forming the John J. Snyder Jr. historic preservation fund. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the auction went to this fund, which will support historic preservation efforts in both Cumberland and Lancaster counties, according to Conestoga president Jeff DeHart. Snyder had no heirs. The objects sold by Conestoga reflected but one part of Snyder’s extensive holdings. There were 14 organizations that received objects from the Snyder estate. All are located in Pennsylvania, except the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Delaware and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) in North Carolina. The auction realized a hammer price total of $807,125 (not including buyer’s premium). There were 320 in-house registered bidders and 2,027 bidders online. The predominantly formal highstyle offerings included an array of Asian arts, jewelry, silver, and china in many categories: Wedgwood, Lustre, Blue Staffordshire, Pearlware, among others. There was also a wide variety of both paintings and furniture. “John was a full-time professional collector and so you see an assemblage that really reflects the This is just a small sampling of the heart, soul, and passion of someone By Karl Pass
onestoga Auction Company held a 1,077 lot two-day unreserved sale for the John J. Snyder Jr. estate on Sept. 12 and 13 at their Manheim, Pa., facility. Snyder passed away in late 2013 at the age of 67 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was a well-respected researcher, author and antiquarian whose expertise was extensive, notably in the area of southeastern Pennsylvania decorative arts. Snyder was born in Harrisburg, Pa. He was a graduate of Dickinson College and was a fellow in the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture through the University of Delaware. Snyder resided the bulk of his life in Lancaster County, Pa., and was an advocate for historical preservation among other pursuits. He was charitable with his time and
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who could focus upon it 24/7. Also, John built the collection without the benefit of the Internet (catalogs or buying) and without traveling very far from home (he told me that he had not left the Mid-Atlantic in decades),” commented Peter Seibert, friend and director of the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, N.M. “There are different types of collectors out there. John and I used to talk about them. One that irritated us both the most was the collector who only bought with an eye toward what it would be worth. They never saw either the art or the history of the object but only what it would be worth in 10 years or 20 years. “John, as a professional collector, really never talked about what the collection was worth,” said Seibert. “Rather, it was always about the study and pursuit of knowledge that could be shaken, squeezed, magnified out of a piece.” (Continued on page 2)
This Historical Staffordshire blue transfer china tureen and cover with the capital of Harrisburg, Pa., on it is an extremely rare item. Possibly two or three in this pattern exist. It was made by S. Tams & Co. and had a professional repair to one handle and several chips under the rim. Conestoga president Jeff DeHart is shown here selling the tureen. It sold for $5,605 to a local dealer seated in the front row.
china offerings from the Snyder estate sale.
This Chinese 19th-century Manchu woman’s ceremonial headdress sold for $22,420.
The fine Maryland Hepplewhite mahogany inlaid butler’s desk and A pair of George II Battersea 11- bookcase sold for $15,340. The buyer inch-high enamel candlesticks sold was Downingtown, Pa., dealer Philip to Marietta, Pa., dealer Harry Bradley. These two antique Chinese Famille Hartman for $1,180. Verte decorated porcelain vases sold for $8,260.
This Prattware figural watch hutch This 14-carat yellow gold and dia- with Sunderland decoration and mond pendant pin sold for $1,121. restoration sold for $1,652.
The J.E. Caldwell & Co. goldwashed sterling silver repousse bulbous form covered tureen with bent twig open handles, floral finial, and footed base sold for $2,242.
These 14 portrait photographs sold for $384.
This Pennsylvania Chippendale cherry sulpher inlaid tall-case clock with the initials “HS” sold for $2,360. It had replaced feet and finials.