Seller Story: Pepper Pike, OH
“I’ve lived in Cleveland since 1972. My father worked for B&O Railroad in Baltimore, and when it merged with C&O to form Chessie, we moved to Ohio. He has a railroad car named for him at a museum in Baltimore, and there’s a bridge in his name in Pensacola.
I met my husband Kevin 35 years ago—we met in January, got engaged in May, and married in October. We’ve lived in Pepper Pike our entire married life, and in this house for 27 years. Now we’re downsizing into a newly built home about three miles away. I decided it was time to pare down.
My mother lived next door to us after my father passed away. She was really the beginning of all these collections. She loved English antiques and also had a flair for Chinese, which wasn’t really my passion. I tended to go more for English—like the Staffordshire figurines—and Oriental rugs. I inherited my collecting from her. She had such a large collection when she passed away, and I knew I couldn’t bring everything with me.
We have an incredible house. It has a racquetball court, a four-car garage, and plenty of bedrooms. But our three kids have moved out, and we want a space organized differently. I’ve felt lots of emotions as the house has gotten packed up, but it’s time to do something different. I’m only taking what brings me joy." -Nancy
Spode China Tableware in "Chelsea Garden"
Godinger Bee Honey Pots
Safari Style Glass Mugs
Persian Isfahan Area Rug
Pair of Hermes Headbands
White and Black Staffordshire Dog Figurines
Cobalt Cut-to-Clear Glass Perfume Bottle with Metal Cap
Tiffany & Co.18K White Gold Bracelet
Pair of Framed Butterfly Prints
Halcyon Days Enamel Trinket Boxes and Music Box
Chinese Porcelain Cider Jug
Herend Hand-Painted Porcelain Sting Ray Figurine
14K Gold Engraved Bangle Bracelet
Hermes "Feux d'Artifice" Scarf
Set of Ten Wine Glasses
1897 Victorian Sterling Silver and Ruby Glass Smelling Salts Vial
Hermes "Qu'Import le Flacon" Scarf
Set of Four Antique Staffordshire Poodle Figurines
Sterling Silver Salt and Pepper Shakers
Tortoise Shell Ink Well and Box
Tortoiseshell Trinket Box
White and Black Dice Set
Pair of Weighted Sterling Candelabras
Shield Shaped Antique Tortoise Shell Card Case
Hepplewhite Style Arm Chair
Set of Six Floral Ceramic Plates
Vintage Wooden Butler's Serving Tray Table and Folding Stand
Silver Plate Serving Assortment
Pair of Miniature Double-Ended Glass Bottles
Four Herend Porcelain Animal Figurines
Sterling Silver and 14K Yellow Gold Green Glass Intaglio Pendant
Louis Vuitton Wallets, Cuff Link and Paper Holder
Aqua Cushion Sofa With 9 Pillows
Sterling Silver Beaded Jewelry Collection including Tiffany & Co.
Hand-Made Persian Area Rug
Sterling Silver Urn
Lizard Handbag in Brick Red
Fenton Blue/ Purple Carnival Glass Jar with Cat Motif
Pair of 14K Yellow Gold and Pearl Earrings
Antique Cherry Corner Cabinet, circa 1870
Hilliard & Thomason Antique Silver Perfume Bottle
Lalique Gold Tone Frosted Link Bracelet
Two Gold Chains
Tortoise Shell, Mother of Pearl and Ivory Matchbox
Pair of Candle Sconces
Antique Glass Perfume Bottle with Red Accents and Metal Cap
Four Souvenir Ceramic Jewelry and Music Boxes
Nathan Hale Abstract Bronze Sculpture
Herend Hand-Painted Porcelain Cat Figurine
Four Hermès Scarf Rings
Amethyst and White Pearl Earrings
Thomas Lund Tortoise Shell and Ivory Card Holder
Majolica Hand-Painted Fish and Shell Ceramic Pitcher
Tortoise Shell Slim Case
Set of Embroidered Dining Linens
Cream And Black Storage Box
Trio of Royal Albert China Beatrix Potter Figurines
Hand Knotted Persian Kerman Area Rug
Hermès "Eperon d'Or" Silk Scarf with Two Neck Scarves
Barbie, Ken, and Skipper Dolls with Cases
How would you describe your style?
Like my mother, I collected a lot of things with animals—like the bee honey pots, which are really English spoon warmers. In the olden days they would put boiling hot water in these, and you would put your spoons in them so they would stay warm and wouldn’t cool down your soup. I like the unexpected—I glued a Herend stingray to my bathroom door because it fit the beachy theme. And I love color, so my living room is lacquered hot pink, my family room has green and white stripes going around the room, and my powder room has fish painted after the personalities of my children.
So you don’t stick to just one style or era.
The house really has a personality. It has evolved—it started more like old Williamsburg, and now it’s more like Dorothy Draper and the Greenbrier Hotel she designed in White Sulphur Springs, WV.
What are some of your favorite pieces in the sale?
The Staffordshire figurines. Some are from my mother, and some come from travels to England and Nantucket. The mugs with the animal handles come from Nairobi. We’ve been on two safaris with our kids. The silver vials were in my mother’s powder room, and she collected all the Beatrix Potter for my daughters.