Carter Collection: White Glove & World Records– Presidential Provenance Boosts Brunk Auctions’ February Sales to $2.9 Million
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA – Brunk Auctions concluded three days of sales with outstanding results for Premier British & Continental on February 24, Americana featuring the Estate of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter on February 25, and Premier American & Southern on February 26. More than 1,000 lots were offered, 31% of bidders were new to the auction house and, with more than 95% selling, Brunk Auctions realized $2.96 million.
This surge in interest highlights a universal reality: even presidential families must eventually navigate the complexities of downsizing. The Carter Collection serves as a high-profile example of a growing national trend, as families across the country find themselves stewards of an expansive array of items from previous generations. This shift has transformed the auction model into a booming business, providing a critical secondary market for meaningful objects that require new homes and new stories.
“We are so proud to have had the opportunity to offer our bidders a chance to own a memento of the beloved Carter Family. To own a small piece from the life of an esteemed peacemaker, conservationist, family man, politician, spiritual guide, teacher… President. Buyers can now fish with the President or Mrs. Carter’s fly rod; or have a glass of wine at dinner with the presidential seal on it– or lounge on a settee made by President Carter’s own hands… they now have a wonderful story to tell, and a piece of both public and private history,” said Nan Zander, Brunk Auctions’ Vice President and Senior Fine Art Specialist.
The top lot of the week was a solid 24-karat gold presidential inaugural medal that smashed its $40,000/50,000 estimate to sell for a new world record price of $159,900. It was one of more than 200 lots from the estate of President Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, a collection that was 100% sold by lot and 177% by value. Another new world auction record of $34,440 was achieved, for a bamboo fly fishing rod, realized by a personalized Oyster rod with leather presentation case.
Other exceptional results from the Carters’ Estate included his paintings of a Peace Dove ($34,440), Childhood Home ($29,520), and four-year-old Amy Carter ($14,760); an 18-karat rose cut diamond link bracelet worn by Rosalynn ($11,070), 42 pieces of Woodmere china with fishing fly decoration made for the Carters’ Ellijay, Georgia, cabin ($15,990); a cedar blanket chest made for Rosalynn by Jimmy Carter ($7,995); and a presentation copy of Carter’s memoir, “Keeping Faith” ($7,380).
About 40 lots from the estate of a cousin of President George HW Bush followed the Carter Estate, with Philip de Laszlo portraits of Mrs James Smith Bush ($98,400) and her daughter Henrietta Lowe Bush ($79,950) finishing in second and third place, respectively.
Leading about 40 lots of presidential signatures was Andrew Johnson’s signed pardon for South Carolina governor John Manning that had provenance to Millford Plantation ($46,740). It was followed by a medical discharge signed by George Washington ($31,980) and a handwritten wartime letter signed by Abraham Lincoln ($31,980).
British & Continental
Capping a 200-lot session of British and Continental works offered on Tuesday, February 24 were three paintings by Rosa Bonheur, all from a private collection. Leading the sale with a $104,550 result, was “Tete de Lionne (Head of a Lioness)” that had been published in 1900. Following at $39,360 was Bonheur’s “Le Battage du Bles (Wheat Thrashing)”, a study for a larger composition. Rounding out the Bonheur lots was a charming painting of the head and forequarters of a gray mule that ran to $27,060.
British and Continental silver featured many rarities from the Collection of Dudley and Constance Godfrey and exceptional results were realized. Among these was a Queen Anne English silver sponge box, made in London in 1706 by Benjamin Pyne, that gaveled down for $27,060. A George II English silver basket, made by William Cripps in London in 1750, achieved $12,300.
Sporting art was in plentiful supply and the category was capped by a pair of paintings by John Herring Sr — one of rabbits, the other of chickens – that found a new home for $15,990, nearly twice its estimate. Multiplying its low estimate by more than 10-fold, a group of 11 ornithological prints by Francois-Nicholas Martinet flew to $10,455.
Nearly 50 lots of rugs and carpets was capped by a $14,760 Serapi, one of more than a dozen examples from the Louisville, Kentucky, estate of Susan G. Gary, while a 1999 Jaguar XK8 from a Greenville, South Carolina, collection drove off to a new home, for $13,530.
American & Southern
Closing out the week was a 400-lot session of American and Southern that saw its high bar set early on when a wedding portrait by Jeremiah Theus (1716-1774) gaveled down for $67,650. Bringing more than four times its high estimate, a Federal inlaid mahogany sideboard from Rhode Island with Israel Sack provenance sold for $36,900 to lead a selection of American furniture. James Bard’s 1852 portrait of the ship United States sailed to $31,980 and a Madison Township (PA) fraktur from 1814 sold for $13,530, more than triple its high estimate. Interest in more than 60 lots of English teapots proved unusually strong, with multiple bidders on each lot and the group was topped off by an English salt glazed creamware landskip pattern teapot, possibly Wedgwood, that earned $17,220.
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house.
Brunk Auctions will sell coins & currency on March 10, Jewelry & Luxury Goods on March 11, and Asian Art on March 12. More Premier British, Continental, American & Southern works will be sold Wednesday and Thursday, March 26 & 27.
Quality consignments for future auctions are always accepted.
Brunk Auctions is at 117 Tunnel Road in Asheville, North Carolina. For information, call 828-254-6846, email marketing@brunkauctions.com or madelia@brunkauctions, or go to www.brunkauctions.com.
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