Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508220086
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRIS HENSON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This Friday and Saturday, Farmer will auction off a large collection of important Americana, pieces of history, north and south. Farmer promises a sale comparable to those run by auctioneers with more familiar names like Sotheby's and Christie's.
"If I can prove one thing,'' says Farmer, ``it's this: People south of the Mason-Dixon Line can sell things for as much money as they can in New York."
For more a century Boston, Philadelphia and New York have been the meccas for collectors and clearing houses for historical estate collections.
Farmer takes this personally. "It's time for people to realize our material culture is just as significant," he says. "When there's a sale this important down here in Virginia, the collecting world takes notice."
Friday's auction of uncataloged items will feature antique toys and lumber, furniture in the rough, paperweights and glassware.
On Saturday the sale includes more than 400 catalogued items. Up for grabs are plates, framed pictures and paintings, headboards and cupboards, chairs, tables, sconces, pie safes and pistols.
About 40 percent of the pieces are from the Henry P. Deyerle collection. Dr. Deyerle, of Harrisonburg, began collecting pieces of America's history with his sister in 1951. He searched throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and the Virginias to build one of the most impressive collections of early Americana ever created.
By the time of his death last year, Deyerle had amassed the largest and most historically significant collection of folk art and furniture in Virginia. At the Boar's Head Inn in Charlottesville last May the collection of some 800 pieces sold at auction for more than $4.6 million. A teapot went for $16,000, a pine dower chest for more than $300,000.
Sotheby's, the New York auction house, executed the largest estate sale in 15 years.
"We were in the running to do that auction," says Farmer. "The plan was to put it in the Roanoke Civic Center."
The deal ultimately fell through, but Farmer is far from discouraged.
"We have a mailing list of over 11,000 people," he says. "We've sent catalogues for this week's auction to clients in England and Japan.
"At first it was intimidating going up against Sotheby's and Christie's for these auctions," says Farmer. Lately he believes he can do anything they can. "Now, they're just the competition," he says.
Farmer and his staff will be contending with several hundred bidders in attendance, as well as clients calling in bids by phone. He is expecting a lot of action. "We may break a half-million dollars."
Further into the future Farmer sees the Hotel Roanoke's Conference Center as the perfect place for big estate sales.
For now, though, he has an auction to run. And the more the merrier.
"We're air-conditioned," says Farmer. "Admission is free, but if you want a seat you've got to buy a catalogue." Those sell for $20 and are worth three seats. "We've sold about 600 catalogues already," he says. "You may have to sit on the north 40."
Friday's auction will begin at 1:30 p.m., Saturday's sale starts at 10 a.m., both at the Farmer Auction Center in Radford. Items will be previewed Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Important Americana Auction: Ken Farmer Auctions Estates, 1122 Norwood Street, Radford. 639-0939. Previews Thursday, 1-8 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sale is Friday, 1:30 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m.
by CNB