AVENUE ANTIQUES


A PASSION FOR PROVENANCE


wooten & wooten’s auctions reflect the owners’ love of “tangible history” BY MARGARET LOCKLAIR


Like a conductor moments be- fore he raises his baton, Jeremy Wooten—gavel in hand—looks out over the auction house filled with treasure, chatter and buyers from across the country. He glances at Rebecca, sees his wife’s happy sparkle. For months, they’ve worked toward this moment of nervous ex- citement. Jeremy booms out a welcome and the room falls perfectly still.


The two-day auctions of Wooten & Wooten, scheduled


126 CSD


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Southern stoneware,” recounts Jeremy. “Several pieces sold for record prices to both museums and private collectors. At the sellers’ home, we noticed a fine Federal walnut tall case clock. Its top was raised and beaded. I asked the husband if that was something he might consider offering at auction.


“At the time, we knew only that the clock was likely Southern and would probably bring $3,000 to $5,000. What we didn’t know was that the inte- rior was signed—no common thing to find in furniture of this period. “With extensive genealogical


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research, we discovered that the maker’s name was James Mattison, a sawmill owner and skilled


cabinet maker of Anderson County, S.C., which is exactly where the modern-day owner found the clock 15 to 20 years ago.” It auctioned for $22,800 to a collector.


At a plantation in Camden,


the Wootens were picking up two engravings for auction when Jeremy spotted a 4-inch carved jade phoenix on a wood- en stand. The owner was willing to auction it for at least $100. “We advertised the piece well,” says Jeremy, “and ex- posed it to the correct audience in both Asia and Europe. It was purchased by one of the top collectors of jade in London for $26,400.”


In yet another case, a hand- painted New England family


quarterly in their 1895 former mercantile in Camden, South Carolina, are the most visible side of a young firm that’s quick- ly staked an international rep- utation among serious buyers and sellers of art and antiques, especially Southern Americana. Yet the long hours behind the scenes offer just as much potential for excitement. There’s always the thrill of discovery. For example, “Several months ago, we were handling a very notable collection of


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