The Estate of the Late-Myrtle Reeve that Sold at Auction Last Weekend in Ontario, Canada

On March 18, 2016, Ontario auctioneer, Tim Potter sold the collection of the late-Myrtle Reeve at his auction gallery in Odessa, Ontario. According to the auctioneer, "We were asked by the executor of the estate of Myrtle Reeve, from Toronto, Ontario, to sell her personal collection of antiques put together over the past fifty-plus years. Myrtle and her late-husband opened their antique business in the early-1960's in Toronto. After her husband passed away at a young age, Myrtle continued in the business doing various shows across the province, and operated a retail outlet in Toronto. After she retired, she retained her interest in Canadiana and continued to collect both furnishings and collectibles of interest."

For me, the highlight of the auction was a hand-modeled red earthenware tree; although, I do not know the maker or the era that it was produced - but, the object does seem to show a bit of age. The form intrigues me since it may be a whimsical product produced by a utilitarian potter in the late-nineteenth or twentieth-century.

There was also a nineteenth-century earthenware poodle decorated with coleslaw fur, which was reminiscent to products produced by the Pennsylvania-Germans in the nineteenth-century. This object is likely evidence of the influence that was found in Ontario in the 1800's from the Pennsylvania-Germans, who migrated north into Ontario in search of opportunity after the Erie Canal opened in 1825. The poodle also reportedly descended in the family of an Ontario utilitarian potter.

A rare two-gallon stoneware jug decorated with a cobalt robin, stamped, 'James Massie & Co. / Guelph (Ontario)' was among the most-desired examples of pottery in the sale. It sold for $3,900 plus the buyer's premium. According to Maple Leaf Auctions in Carleton Place, Ontario, "James Massie was a merchant in Guelph, Ontario from circa 1863-1879." The robin decoration is very-rare on American or Canadian-made stoneware today.

A red earthenware pitcher produced in Ontario after 1850 also did well selling for $2,600 before any of the premium's were added to the final hammer price.

This is how the remaining group of pottery is described in the auction listing: "Table wares consisting of a selection of Portneuf-type china with mainly bird and animal decoration, a quantity of flow blue china, large blue on white transfer ware platters and pitchers, Staffordshire figures. a rare pottery spaniel in brown slip (purchased from the Lazier family of Prince Edward County), other examples of pottery dogs, crocks in both stoneware and redware including a rare two-gallon stoneware jug decorated with a Robin and signed James Massie & Co. Guelph, a floral decorated two-gallon crock marked Morton & Bennett, Brantford C.W., a one-gallon crock crudely signed John Walzs, XX, Lager Bier, Toronto. CW, a small stoneware bottle marked "J, Turner Ink Manufactory, Toronto", a stoneware bottle marked James Brown, redware to include a small pitcher, a mixing bowl, crocks, etc."

 Late-19th or 20th Century Red Earthenware Tree

Possibly Made in America or Canada

Photo Courtesy: Tim Potter - Odessa, Ontario

 19th Century Earthenware Spaniel with Coleslaw Decoration Probably Made in Canada
The Coleslaw Seems to Imitate a Type of Decoration Applied in Pennsylvania in the 1800's

Circa 1850-1900

Stands Approximately 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Tim Potter - Odessa, Ontario

Rare 2-Gallon 19th Century Stoneware Jug Decorated with a Cobalt Robin

This is an Extremely Rare Bird Decoration to Find on American or Canadian Stoneware Today

Stamped 'James Massie & Co. / Guelph (Ontario)'

Circa 1863-1879

Stands Approximately 12" Tall

Sold for $3,900 Before Premiums were Added

Photo Courtesy: Tim Potter - Odessa, Ontario

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Made in Ontario

Circa 1850-1880

Sold for $2,600 Before Premiums were Added

Photo Courtesy: Tim Potter - Odessa, Ontario

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...