Prices for Religious Plaques by Ohio Folk Artist Soar

NEWS ANTIQUE.COM

OHIO - The highlight of the Ohio folk art [auction] included eleven works by Columbus artist Elijah Pierce, the son of a former slave, whose work ranges from the religious to the secular (showing his interests in politics, sports, and African-American history). However, the religious plaques drew the top bids in this auction. Tremendous interest in lot 10, a 1966 work titled Jesus and the Angels, ensured that the phones were packed and bidding paddles were in the air early in the first session. Measuring 28 1/2"h. x 15"w., the relief carved plaque of Jesus surrounded by clouds and angels and, what appeared to be the 12 disciples, retained the original, vibrant polychrome painted surface and carried an estimate of $18,000-22,000. It sold to a phone bidder for $24,675. Lot 74, another Biblical plaque by Pierce estimated at $8,000-12,000, was inscribed with Psalms 46:1, and also sold to the phones - doubling its mean estimate - for $21,150. [link]