Public Auction at St. Mary’s of the Woods College Aug 9-12

The Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary of the Woods College of Terre Haute Indiana, home of the recently canonized Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, are offering an exciting opportunity to the public to share in their collaborative heritage and history by holding an on-site auction on August 9, 10, 11 and 12th. This unique event will allow the public the opportunity to purchase a wide variety of items, and at the same time the auction enables Sisters of Providence and Saint Mary of the Woods to restore and maintain their historical collections.
This once in a lifetime event is being conducted by Robert J. Brown Appraisal Services of Indianapolis. (Bob Brown and his partner Shelly Dubick are residents of the Shorewalk Community.)

The four day event is full of rarities that will attract buyers world wide. On Thursday, the auction highlight will be collectible books, including the largest single offering of rare fore-edge painted books ever to come to public auction. The technique of fore-edge painting was developed in the middle of the 17th century, but was little practiced until the end of the 18th century and began to flourish in the 19th century. The method was to fan the fore-edge of the book (the outer edge) and clamp it. Then a water color painting would be executed on the beveled edge. When the painting dried the fore-edge would be most commonly covered in gilt. The gilt conceals the painting unless the book is fanned to allow it to be seen. Thursday’s session will feature 112 lots of fore-edge books consisting of approximately 142 volumes total. This offering includes 10 double fore-edge books which are the rarest form of the paintings consisting of two paintings; depending on which way the edge is fanned!! It is estimated that only 2-3% of all fore-edge books are double fore-edge. We also have one panoramic fore-edge with paintings on all three edges. Another unique aspect to the fore-edge book collection is that is features six books that were previously in the Renown Estelle Doheny Collection!

On Friday, the sale will begin with a unique offering of coins and medals, along with nice antique furniture and collectibles. This day will also feature a lot of un-cataloged items and has something for everyone!
Saturday will prove the most wide ranging varying from an exhibition size painting by Indiana Artist T.C. Steele, marble statues, Lalique, Tiffany, Rookwood vases, KPM, religious items and what could prove to be the highlight of the entire weekend a collection of 58 Civil War letters (52 in envelopes and 6 loose) all by Horace F. Ball; a civil war soldier of the Massachusetts 34th Infantry Division written to his father Lewis F. Ball of Springfield, Massachusetts documenting the battle of Harper’s Ferry.

Sunday’s session will start with a rare collection of 112 various Nun dolls each under a glass dome. The Nun doll collection is a unique, one of a kind collection representing Nuns of Orders throughout the United States and Canada, orders which originated in France, Ireland, Poland, Switzerland, Holland and a few from the United States. The sale will conclude with more art, furniture and collectibles.

Never in the state of Indiana has there been such a diverse offering made available at public auction. Please see www.rjbappraisals.com for auction preview and updates.