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Finds and Interests
Each day, I can’t wait to see what exciting items have gone under the hammer at auctions held by our WorthPoint Industry Partners. Our Price Guide updates daily, with thousands of new items streaming in, and I always try to highlight a few of my favorites to share with our followers. There’s usually a good story behind so many of these pieces, and sharing my passion for antique and vintage items is the best part of my job. Let me tell you about an interesting item that one of our partners recently auctioned.
Sometimes, around a holiday, there’s a dip in auction sales. While families gathered for spring break and Easter this year, one auction was getting major interest in some rare pieces, which helped Crocker Farm bring in close to $1 Million across 390 lots. The auction was well-curated, which is half the battle in getting the most for the items. The right collection will bring in higher bids.
The clear standout in the auction was a figural jug made by Anna Pottery, Anna, IL, that dates back to about 1880. The jug was exceptional for a few reasons. The condition was incredible; very often, pieces with elaborate figural work in this style don’t age well. This jug still had its original stopper, and the glaze was in great shape. The jug was part of the collection of George and Kay Meyer, a couple from Michigan who actually “wrote the book” on face vessels, Early American Face Jugs.
Crocker Farm has sold dozens of Anna Pottery pieces, and this auction was a great example of how well they put together lots that make an auction successful. This piece is a “Temperance Jug,” a popular item at the time. The scary figures of snakes, spiders, and human figures are meant to evoke drunkards and hallucinations and remind users not to overindulge.
Collectors will likely not see another face vessel like this one anytime soon at auction, so the buyer of this piece, even at a premium price, has a rare and valuable item.