Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

Biography

Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates
Auctioneers, Appraisers, Brokers, Consultants & Collections Management

Jeff Evans is the former president and principal auctioneer for Green Valley Auctions, Inc. in Mt. Crawford, Virginia (1979-2008), and director of its specialty/catalogued auction division (1995-2008). In 2009, Jeff and wife Beverley withdrew the catalogued auction department from Green Valley, and began conducting their fine antiques and decorative arts auctions as Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Inc. The newly constructed state-of-the-art auction gallery, designed specifically for catalogued auctions, is within walking distance of the old location, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.

Since conducting their first catalogued auction in 1995, the Evanses have sold many important and landmark collections for such consignors as Duff and Molly Allen of Falmouth, MA, John Bilane, noted cup plate collector and author, of Union, NJ; Dr. & Mrs. Oscar Hollander of Cape Cod, MA; Kyle Husfloen of Dubuque, IA; Mac & Dolly McKenney of Mint Spring, VA; Dr. Charles Rand Penney of Lockport, NY; Anne & Dr. Leon Powell of Stuart, FL; Sean & Patricia Skinner of Houston, TX; the H. Richard Strand Trust of Sandwich, MA; and John and Elizabeth Welker of Bucks Co., PA.

The company logo is inspired by the decoration found on the circa 1800 hanging cupboard that brought the highest bid price in the history of Jeff Evans' catalogued auctions. Boldly painted by Johannes Spitler in red, white and blue, a featuring a six-point buck bounding diagonally across the door panel, the cupboard achieved a record price for American painted furniture when it sold on November 12, 2004 for $962,500.

Jeff Evans’ expertise in Early American Pattern Glass and 18th and 19th century Shenandoah Valley furniture and decorative arts is recognized throughout Virginia and across the United States. He has worked as an appraiser and consultant for Virginia collections at the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace in Staunton, the Stonewall Jackson House in Lexington, the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton, the Shenandoah Valley Folk Art and Heritage Center in Dayton, and the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester. In addition, Evans has worked closely with the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY, the Sandwich Glass Museum in Sandwich, MA, the WV Museum of American Glass (Board of Directors 2006-2016), and the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts (MESDA) (Advisory Board 2013 to present, Editorial board 2012 to present) in Winston Salem, NC, as well as numerous other national institutions.

Beverley Evans served on the Board of Directors at the Virginia Quilt Museum in Harrisonburg, VA for 10 years, and currently serves on the Board at Fort Harrison, Inc. in Dayton, VA. Jeff Evans is on the Board of Directors at the Museum of American Glass in Weston, WV. For more than fifteen years Jeff served on the Board at the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Historical Society, where he was also the Head of the Shenandoah Valley Folk Art & Heritage Center's Museum Committee.

With more than thirty years in the auction business, Jeff and Beverley Evans have developed a passionate interest in antiques, with a special focus on Shenandoah Valley material. Through the years they have conducted, and continue to devote, countless hours to antiques research, and have also contributed pieces from their private collection to various museum exhibits. Jeff has lectured and conducted classes on antiques including American glass, and Shenandoah Valley pottery and chairmaking.

In 2004, Jeff’s extensive knowledge of Valley pottery was showcased when he served as guest curator and co-authored the accompanying catalogue for the exhibit, “A Great Deal of Stone & Earthen Ware–The Rockingham County, Virginia School of Folk Pottery.” As a guest speaker at the 2009 MESDA furniture seminar, Jeff lectured on Shenandoah Valley of Virginia seating forms of the late 18th to early 20th centuries. In December 2009 an exhibit on this same subject opened at the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley (MSV) in Winchester, VA, and was on display through June 20, 2010. As guest curator for the MSV exhibit, Jeff authored the companion book for the exhibit and lectured on Shenandoah Valley chairmaking at the museum to a standing-room-only crowd. His most recent work was with Kurt Russ as co-director of the Virginia Safe Project, an undertaking which produced the Safes of the Valley exhibit at the Museum of the Shenandoah Vallery and the associated publication Opening the Door: Safes of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.

The Evanses host a continuing series of free public lectures and educational symposiums at their auction gallery, featuring expert speakers on Virginia decorative arts and American glass. Lectures are generally held in conjunction with specific specialty auctions.

Standard office hours are Mondays through Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern. Check the firm’s auction schedule for auction-related dates and times.

Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates is located just two miles east of Mt. Crawford, VA, between Harrisonburg and Staunton. Take I-81 to exit 240 and turn east on Route 682 (Friedens Church Road), then proceed 1.4 miles to Route 681 (S. Whitesel Church Road) to Green Valley Lane.

The auction gallery is only two hours from Washington DC and Richmond, VA, and just minutes from hotels and quality B & B’s.