Strawser Auctions
200 North Main Street PO Box 332, Wolcottville, Indiana 46795-0332
260-854-2859
About Auction House
Ever since he began conducting auctions over thirty five years ago, Michael G. Strawser has stood committed to delivering services far beyond the norm so that clients could receive results far beyond the expected. Today this commitment stands stronger than ever as the cornerstone of the Strawser Auction Group, one of the most respected auction resources in the Midwest.Auction Previews & News
5 Results
Auction IndustryIt’s Party Time: Strawser Auction Group’s Two Day March 2024 Fiestaware Auction
Strawser Auction Group of Wolcottville, IN held its signature early spring two-day Fiesta Auction on March 8 and 9, 2024. Fiestaware, known for its vibrant, eye-catching colors and Art Deco presentation, was launched in 1936 by the Homer Laughlin China Company. Nearly 90 years onward, Fiestaware is still in production, has a very active collecting community, and consistently ranks as a top brand noted on bridal registries. The first day of this sale included 300+ lots of modern Fiestaware from 1986 onward. The second day featured 400+ lots of prewar and vintage examples. Here are some key highlights that caught the attention of the Auction Daily team. All prices noted include the auction house's buyer's premium. Lot #0616, a maroon two-pint jug, was estimated at USD 3,000 to $5,000 and sold for $11,160. Image courtesy of Strawser Auction Group. This Fiestaware auction featured a number of maroon items which generated breathtaking results. The top lot in the sale was #0616, a Fiesta maroon two-pint jug. Estimated at USD 3,000 to $5,000, it made $11,160 and generated 35 bids. It was marked Fiesta on its glazed underside and was detailed with a round handle and traditional Fiestaware striping along the top. According to Strawser's experts, this example was only one of two extant. Lot #0686, a maroon Fiesta cup and saucer, was estimated at $200 to $400 and delivered $2,232. It produced 16 bids. The tapered cup was decorated with a round handle and concentric circles on its upper half. The matching saucer included an indentation for the cup and matching circular decorations. Lot #0770, a maroon Fiesta relish tray without inserts, was estimated at $500 to $800 and traded hands at $10,540. The lot generated 40 bids. This lipped, circular serving piece was fully glazed and branded with the Fiesta logo on its underside. Lot #0686, a maroon cup and saucer, was estimated at $200 to $400 and sold for $2,232. Image courtesy of Strawser Auction Group. Form and color are key factors for collectors when it comes to determining the rarity and collectability of Fiestaware items. The Fiesta Tableware…
Auction IndustryDishing on Strawser Auctions’ June 18th and 19th Fiestaware Sales Event
Fiestaware has put collectors in a party mood since its 1936 introduction at the Pittsburgh China & Glass Show. Produced in the US by The Homer Laughlin China Company, these timeless tableware and serving pieces are treasured for their eye-popping colors, functional and decorative shapes, and Art Deco aesthetic. Strawser Auctions of Wolcottville, Indiana, is holding its signature two-day Fiesta Auction on June 18th and 19th, 2021. Auction Daily spoke to Michael Strawser, President of the Strawser Auction Group, to learn more about Fiestaware and this comprehensive event. Vintage yellow relish tray. Image from Strawser Auctions/Liveauctioneers.com. Auction Daily: Strawser Auctions is well known for hosting important Fiestaware auctions. How and when did this get started, and what are a few notable sales from your previous Fiestaware events? Michael Strawser: Strawser Auctions has been hosting Fiestaware auctions for 25 years. Our first collection came out of Pennsylvania. We sold a Majolica collection (another one of our specialties) for a family who had us come back to get their Fiesta collection, and others began to follow. In the past 25 years, we have auctioned some of the rarest, one-of-a-kind pieces of Fiesta, including a pair of vintage rose ebony tripod candle holders that sold for USD23,000. Rose ebony was an experimental color in the 1930s, and pieces in that hue are very rare. We also sold a prototype vintage yellow relish tray for $21,850 and a vintage maroon coffee pot for $19,550. Vintage maroon coffee pot. Image from Strawser Auctions/Liveauctioneers.com. Auction Daily: Tell us about the named consignor in this June 18th and 19th event. Who is Sandra Bond, and what are a few premier items in her collection on offer in this sale? Michael Strawser: Sandra Bond is from Nebraska and has collected Fiesta for many, many years. She and her husband would travel to the HLCCA (Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association) conventions, and eventually, she became the president of the association. Homer Laughlin would make special limited-issue pieces to be sold at the HLCCA convention every year, and Mr. Bond would be set on purchasing them for his wife’s collection. …
Auction Industry, Press ReleaseStrawser Auction Group’s Four-day Antique Auction, May 26th-29th, Will Feature Majolica, Pickard China, Fenton, Minton And Mt. Washington
Headlining the auction is the Ann and Robert Fromer collection of majolica, assembled over the course of more than thirty years. It’s a live gallery sale with online bidding via LiveAuctioneers. WOLCOTTVILLE, Ind. – A four-day Antique Auction bursting with nearly 2,000 lots of quality items, including important collections of majolica, Pickard china, World War II collectibles, Fenton glass and more will be held May 26th through 29th, by Strawser Auction Group, live in the gallery at 106 East Dutch Street in Wolcottville, as well as online via LiveAuctioneers.com. Minton majolica blowfish teapot and cover, modeled as a fantastic fish with brown spout emerging from its mouth, supported on green waves, 7 inches tall (est. $10,000-$15,000). “Of special interest is the Ann and Robert Fromer collection of majolica, assembled over the course of more than thirty years. The Fromers were avid collectors,” said Michael Strawser, the president of Strawser Auction Group and founder of the Majolica International Society. “The pieces in their collection are outstanding. The estate collection of Pickard china is also superb.” Day 1, on Wednesday, May 26th, at 3 pm Eastern, will feature militaria (to include the World War II collection and firearms), toy banks, advertising collectibles, silver and jewelry. Top lots will include a Fowler Sportsman cast-iron mechanical bank by J. & E. Stevens (est. $1,500-$2,000); a Yankee Boy Plug Cut tobacco tin (est. $150-$250); and a silver mounted drinking horn with silver deer heads and other figures, made in Germany in 1899 (est. $800-$1,200). Day 2, on Thursday, May 27th, also at 3 pm, will contain furniture, over 300 clocks, lighting and Oriental rugs. Up for bid will be an oil on canvas of sheep in a meadow by Augustine Bonheur (French, 1824-1884) in a 28 inch by 35 inch frame (est. $1,200-$1,500); a Handel bronze desk lamp with large lily pad base (est. $300-$500); an unmarked Ansonia clock with Indian figure, key and pendulum and a bronzed 6-light lamp with boy and girl figure (both est. $200-$300). Day 3, May 28th, also at 3 pm Eastern, will feature 437 lots of antique glassware and…
Auction IndustryKnow Before You Bid: Fiestaware And Strawser’s Fiesta Auction
Fiestaware available in Strawser’s upcoming Fiesta Auction. Photo by Strawser Auction Group. Collectors have strong feelings about Fiestaware. "It's the Madonna of dinnerware," one style magazine wrote. At least one fan even painted their kitchen cobalt blue to match their dining set. Three times a year, those passionate about this Art Deco dinnerware line flock to Wolcottville, Indiana, where Strawser hosts its Fiesta auctions. Their next event begins on Friday, March 20th. What Is Fiestaware? Brightly-colored Fiestaware pieces first entered American households during the Great Depression. Payment plans allowed struggling families to pitch in fifty cents or a dollar a week towards their new dining sets. During World War II, the company ended production of its red glaze pieces, because the government needed the uranium necessary to make them for the war effort. But eventually, Fiestaware found an era that it couldn't adjust to. The 1950s and 60s saw a dwindling interest in Art Deco pieces, and Fiesta was temporarily discontinued by the Homer Laughlin China Company in 1972. Strawser Auction Group brings thousands of these vintage Fiestaware pieces to the auction block each year, with events in March, June, and November. They are now nostalgic reminders of childhood for Baby Boomers and of interest to Art Deco collectors of all ages. Strawser has hosted Fiestaware-related events for over twenty years. On their website, they highlight some of the noteworthy pieces they’ve sold. This includes a George Washington yellow pitcher, which went to a bidder for $1,150. In 2016, the auction house set a record for Fiesta onion soup bowls. A red-striped ivory soup bowl sold for $12,075 as part of a Strawser event that grossed $182,000. A “Post-86” Fiesta piece available in the upcoming Fiesta Auction. Photo by Strawser Auction Group. Which Fiestaware Pieces Are Available in This Sale? This year's event kicks off with "Post-86" Fiesta, which is the collectors' term for pieces made after the Homer Laughlin China Company relaunched the Fiesta brand in 1986. Highlights include a lemongrass-colored cookie jar in the shape of a dancing woman and a baseball-themed marmalade container. But the first day…
Auction PreviewFiesta Auction Day 2
Ceramic glazed wares in a variety of designs are particularly featured on the second day of the upcoming Fiesta Auction. Offered by Strawser Auctions, the sale’s available lots range from flower vases to water pitchers, all coated in Fiesta’s signature vibrant colors. One highlight of the auction is a vintage vinegar jug dating back to 1938. The monochromatic jug features an oval paneled form and a circular domed foot. Also available is a sweets compote bowl designed by Homer Laughlin China Company, glazed in turquoise. Those looking for decorative items in this sale can view a red dresser tray guarded by a seated donkey and a selection of candle holders. Explore all lots from the sale and register to bid on LiveAuctioneers.
Auction PreviewFiesta Auction Day 1
The Fiesta Auction Day 1 presented by Strawser Auction Group offers a collection of ceramic pottery in diverse categories such as dinnerware, teapots, vases, and more. These Fiesta wares were created by Homer Laughlin Company from the late 1930s until 1964. Among the highest estimated pieces is a set from Fiesta Kitchen Kraft, which consists of a maroon spoon, fork, and cake server. Vintage collectors should consider pottery by Harlequin, depicting a red cat. Harlequin pottery was adapted from the Homer Laughlin China Co. pottery line. In 1939, several novelty animal figurines were introduced by the company; one of them being the “Red Cat”. Like Fiesta, Harlequin pottery has a similar concentric ring design, however, the rings are distinguished by their triangular cup handles. Lot 287 is an example of that distinctive design. View each of these lots and register to bid online on the Strawser Auction Group.
