Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 29, 1990 TAG: 9007300283
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Sandra Brown Kelly
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
The buyer was Marcus King, a Blountville, Tenn., antiques dealer who encountered some strong bidding from Bob Beard, who has an antiques shop on Roanoke's City Market.
Beard opened the bidding on the chest at $5,000.
The chest was made and painted by Johan Spitler of Luray. Beard said a clock made by Spitler brought $100,000 at a Sotheby's sale last year. The sale, conducted by Greenway's Auction Co. of Fincastle and Covington, was for the estate of Ellen Spitler Clark and Reginald Clark.
In 1975, there were six Spitler chests and a Spitler clock known to be in existence, according to an article in Antiques magazine.
Painted pieces of the Spitler period are generally divided into Upper and Lower Shenandoah Valley styles.
The price the chest brought is believed to be the largest amount paid for a piece of this type at a Virginia sale.
"That's top dollar around here," said Tony Whitwhell, Hollins College art and furniture history professor and furniture appraiser.
Greenway's Auction is affiliated with Charlton Real Estate.
by CNB