Pair of Snake Decorated Georgia Andirons

Sold for $1,000.

Estimate $500. - $1,000.

3 bids

Macon, Bibb County, Georgia, 1860s, andirons, hand-forged iron, 20-7/8 x 21 in. overall.

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 140, cat. nos. 449-50, Burrison writes, “These ‘fire dogs,’ decorated with entwined snakes that also function as handles, were used on the Domingo estate.”

Illustrated: Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, plate 1, description on pg. 140, cat. nos. 449 and 450.

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

There were amazing.

The andirons and large wooden bowl can be seen in the above photo. This is from a blog post on

The Gillespie Family Mountain Gunmakers from here.

Group of Nine Early Tableware Objects

Sold for $200.

Estimate $50. - $150.

Bids 3

Possibly mid 1800s, forks, bone and metal, set of four with bone handles and three tines, 6-1/2 in. long; Rome, Floyd County, Georgia, 1800s, sifter, rawhide and wood, 7-3/4 x 2-3/4 in. overall; Washington County, Georgia, circa 1860s, coffee pot, copper, 10-1/2 x 6-1/2 in. overall; Milledgeville, Baldwin County, Georgia, trivet, forged iron, turntable type, solid iron disk. 3-3/4 x 20 in. overall;

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 140, cat. no. 448, Burrison writes, “This implement for open-hearth cooking was used at the Stetson-Nesbit-Morris house.”;

Georgia, circa 1900, oil lamp, copper, brass, 7-1/4 x 5-1/4 in. overall; Washington County, Georgia, 1850s, dough tray, poplar, 27-1/2 x 17-1/4 x 5 in. overall;

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 132, cat. no. 343, Burrison writes, “This biscuit-making implement was used on the plantation of Henry Sills Taylor.”

Illustrated: Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 81, description on pg. 140, cat. nos. 452-3.

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Three Georgia Quilts and One Bolt of Fabric

Sold for $2,000.

Estimate $300 - $600.

Bids 29

Mary R. Shell, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, 1930, pieced quilt, cotton, “Circle Saw” pattern, 75 x 62 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 138, cat. no. 433, Burrison writes, “This unique design was inspired by circular blades at the sawmill where the African American maker’s husband worked. The “teeth” are made from sewing scraps; the top was dyed with red clay and salt “on a cloudy day, so the color is cloudy.”;

Georgia, late 1800s, pieced and appliquéd quilt, cotton, “Cotton Boll” pattern, 78 x 69-1/2 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 138, cat. no. 434, Burrison writes, “Wear of the pattern’s colored material reveals that it was stitched onto the white top.”;

Ms. Sidney Fowler, Blount County, Georgia, 1870s, fabric, cotton, plaid pattern, 89 x 33 in. overall.

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 136, cat. no. 406, Burrison writes, “This bolt of homespun, eight yards long, was stored away just as it came off the loom, never to be used for warm-weather dresses or shirts.”;

Annie B. Howard, Madison, Morgan County, Georgia, 1957, pieced quilt, cotton, “Brick Work” and strip pattern, 82-1/4 x 77 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 138, cat. no. 433A, Burrison writes, “This African American quilt was made as a light cover, its thin middle layer apparently a quilt top. With its framed center and improvised strip border, Anglo-American and African American design elements are combined.”

Illustrated: Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, plate 13, description on pg. 138, cat. no. 433A.

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Group of Six Georgia Woodworking Implements

Sold for $100.

Estimate $100. - $300.

Bids 2

three hand forged iron drawknives: one Calvin Pierce, Murrayville, Hall County, Georgia, 1870s 9 x 4-1/4 in. overall; two by unknown makers, Trenton, Dade County and Dade County, G.A, 1800s, larger 19-1/2 x 5-1/2 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 130, cat. no. 292-94, Burrison writes "The two smaller examples were recycled from old files.";

Illustrated: Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 80, description on pg. 130, cat. no. 293-94

Dekalb County, Georgia, maker unknown, scorpers or round shaves, 10-3/4 x 4 in. overall

Note: Attached label notes scorpers are "used in gouging out dough trays and butter paddles. From rural Dekalb County.";

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Group of Blacksmithing and Farrier Tools

Sold for $50.

($10. each which seems criminal)

Estimate $50. - $100.

Bids 2

John Landon Pickelsimer, Morganton, Fannin County, Georgia, circa 1900, pincers, hand-forged iron, 13 x 3-1/2 in. overall; cherry log, Gilmer County, Georgia, unknown maker, circa mid 1800s, screw plate, iron, 26-1/2 x 2 in. overall; hammer, hand-forged iron head, 8-1/4 x 3-7/8 in. overall; Georgia, circa 1900, farrier nail grabber, hand-forged iron, 19 x 2-1/2 in. overall; Wilson county, Tennessee, owned by James Steed, clawhammer, hand-forged iron head, 13 x 6-1/4 in. overall

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

Copy and Photography from Brunk Auctions here.

"Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South" was an exhibit at The Atlanta History Center which we thought was permanent which after 28 years who wouldn't think that. The exhibit was dismantled in 2024 to make way for an interactive children's exhibit. Some of the items went to auction at Brunks.

Hunting Pouch and Powder Horn

Sold for $1,500.

Estimate $50. - $150.

Blue Ridge, Fannin County, Georgia, circa mid 1800s, maker unknown, hunting bag, leather, with horn tip decoration. 24 x 9 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 113, cat. no. 88, Burrison writes "Attached to this example, which belonged to the Sisson family, are cockspur and powder horn measures and a wooden tab with holes for patch encased balls to speed up loading.";

Blue Ridge, Fannin County, Georgia, circa mid 1800s, maker unknown, powder horn with carved tip and ringed wooden cap, leather strap, 11-3/4 x 2-1/4 in. overall

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 113, cat. no. 87, Burrison writes "This example was owned by the Terrell family."

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

More photographs of the bag can be seen in the blog post Atlanta History Center: Mountain Rifles here. In the background can be seen parts of the exhibit.

The guns that were in the display case with the hunting pouch were at the auction also.

Georgia Attributed Percussion Rifle

Sold for $1,700.

Estimate $800. - $1,200.

Probably Cohutta Springs, Murray County, Georgia, 1882, squirrel rifle, full stock, .36 caliber, Meier Ensley (faint signature and date on barrel top), brass blade front sights, 46 in. octagonal barrel, double set triggers, beaver tail rear sight, copper ramrod guides and thimble, hand wrought iron trigger guard, iron butt plate, 61 in. overall

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

John Daniel Nelson Georgia Percussion Rifle

Sold for $850.

Estimate $800. - $1,200.

Ball Ground, Cherokee County, G.A., 1871, squirrel rifle, half stock, .38 caliber. 42-3/4 in. octagonal barrel engraved "J.D. Nelson 1871" on top, long two screw barrel tang, dovetail brass blade front sight, v-cut rear sight, engraved lock plate, tear drop shaped brass side plate, iron trigger guard, butt plate, forend cap, ram rod guides and thimble, double set triggers, buttstock with cheek rest, 59-1/2 in. overall

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 112, cat. no. 85, Burrison writes, "The maker settled at Nelson, near Ball Ground, after serving as a surgeon in the Confederate Army. His blacksmith and gunshop was supplied with spring water via hand bored wooden pipes."

Illustrated: Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 45, description on pg. 112, cat. no. 85.

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024

Briggs Garland Georgia Percussion Rifle

Sold for $500.

Estimate $500. - $1,000.

Fannin County, Georgia, late 1800s, attributed to Briggs Garland, hog rifle, full stock, .41 caliber, dial 44 in. octagonal barrel, iron trigger guard, small butt stock, blade front sight, cut down rear sight, brass ramrod guides, 59-1/4 in. overall

Provenance: From the Folklife Collection of Southern Pottery Scholar, Author and Professor of English at Georgia State University, Dr. John Burrison, Atlanta, Georgia

Note: In the catalog description from Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in a Changing South, John Burrison, University of Georgia Press, 2000, pg. 112, cat. no. 86, Burrison writes, “Hog rifles were meant for bigger game than squirrel rifles and took a larger bullet. The construction of this one is so spare that it lacks a butt plate.”

Exhibited: Previously on Loan at the Atlanta History Center for viewing in the exhibition Shaping Traditions: Folk Arts in the Changing South from 1996 to 2024