Pottery with History
We would be the first to agree that any time you shop our bi-weekly estate sale, there is a high likelihood you are going to find a treasure that speaks to you. Sometimes that treasure is only in the eye of the beholder, and other times it catches an appraiser’s eye. Did you know that for each estate sale, WNC Bridge uses a general appraiser to determine pricing, and sometimes the appraiser identifies special items that are sent to specialized auction houses?
An appraiser recently identified a rare double-handled stoneware jug attributed to David Drake that was sitting inconspicuously in a recent sale WNC Bridge Estate Sales & Services was managing. David Drake was a potter and enslaved African American who lived in Edgefield, SC. He is recognized as the first enslaved potter to inscribe his work during a time when most enslaved people were illiterate, often forbidden from literacy, and anonymous.
This beautiful jug was sold for $5,000 at Brunk Auctions, benefiting not only WNC Bridge’s 5 Community Initiatives but also the client who allowed WNC Bridge to handle her estate sale. It now holds WNC Bridge’s record as the item to be sold for the highest price at auction. Other contenders include a Vietnam army helmet and a Belgian lace tablecloth.
If you need to downsize your home or are an executor of an estate, we hope you consider WNC Bridge Estate Sales & Services for your needs.
