The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-03

cURIos AND CERAMICS.
An Interesting Collection Rcccntly Sold
mt Auction.

| An Interesting Collection Rcccntly Sold
Mt Auction.
In noting the great variety of teapots,
kettles, caddies and cups and saucers
displayed in an old collection of bric-a-
brac recently, the writer was forced to
conclude that tea making must have
been quite rs popular and fashionable
an occupation in the days of our great
grandmothcrs and must have been at
tended by quito as artistic surround
ings as at the present time. The col
lection referred to, says the Chicago
Herald, was the property of the late
Mrs. c. L. A. Tank, Il wealthy Holland
lady who recently died at Fort Howard
e. the advanced age o. cighty-seven
years. Her husband and only child
having died many years ago, the bulk
of her fortune was bcqueathed to mis-
sionary work, in which she had always
manifested grcatinterest. In accordance
with the provisions of the will her i'm
mense collection of curios, COMPRISING
pottery, crystal, cut glass, brasses, cop
perware and antique furniture, is being
disposed of at auction Mt Green BAY.
The china includes Il few pieces of the
celebrated Delft ware and other ancient
and highly-prized potteries. There are
also few examples of crown Derby
and Wedgewood, besides quantities of
Holland, Japanese and Indian wares
Curio hunters from all over the country
were in attendance upon this sale.
Although many articles sold very
reasonably, others, which to the
uneducated eye, at least, APP
pear to be quite common bits
of clay, brought fabulous prices.
Among the gems of the collection were
pair OF crystal bottles trimmed with
gold 6ligrce, with enameled stoppers
The enamel representations were diff
ferent, one showing ST. Marks cathc-
dral at Venice, the other the Pantheon
at Rome. Among the numerous pieces
in blue and white ware were some fra
gile cups and sauccrs which were very
old and rare. An enthusiastic art col
lcctor of Chicago, who came especially
to attend the sale, placed the value of
these tiny cups at ten dollars and twelve
dollars each. The collection of kettles
alone is large enough to fill an average
sized junk shop. There are kettles of
brass, copper and pewter, kettles with
legs and kettles with fiat bottoms.
Many Of these, together with other
quantity shaped pieces in brass, copper
and pewter, have been captured by
young artist. Thus far the pieces of
cut glass, bohemian glass and crystal
have sold very much under value. A
charming covered dish with ladlc and
deep saucer, all in fine and deep cut
ting, brought only ten dollars and could
not be duplicated for twice that amount
Several tea sets have found ready pur-
chascrs, but in spite of the hundreds of
dollars worth of china sold there seems
TO be very little diminution of the stock.
None of the furniture has vet been
offered. A large and handsome inlaid
wardrobe is very antique in appear
ance and has many admirers. Mrs.
Tank is known to have refused an offer
OF five hundred dollars for this piece of
marquctry few years ago. Although
the wardrobe is, perhaps, the most con
spicuous article of furniture, there are
many others which are almost equally
desirable, including wall cabinets,
shelves, stands, etc. Tho greater part
of the silver will be melted and dis
posed of in that FORM much to the re-
greet of many who had been hoping to
get possession of some of these antique
pieces. This is in accordance with Mrs.
Tanks expressed wish. The collection
originally contained number of fine
pictures. Some Of these have been
given to the State Historical society,
others have been sent to Chicago and
some few will be sold at this auction.