Live Auction

Morris Butler House

Bid on Victorian artifacts from Indiana Landmarks’ Morris-Butler House during an auction benefiting preservation of the 1865 Second Empire-style home.

NOVEMBER 18, 2023 starting 11 AM
Ripley Auctions, 5564 N Rural, Indianapolis 46220
In-person LIVE Auction + Online

A Victorian Time-Capsule Cabinet of Curiosities 
Bid on a variety of Victorian artifacts from Indiana Landmarks’ Morris-Butler House collection during an auction benefiting preservation of the 1865 Second Empire-style home and former house museum in Indianapolis’s Old Northside Historic District.

Items to be auctioned range in date from the mid-nineteenth century through the early-twentieth century, including textiles (quilts, table linens, towels); children’s items (clothing, games, porcelain dolls, wooden blocks); lighting (floor, table, and hanging fixtures); furniture (chairs, tables, bedroom suites, sofas); household décor (vases, urns, clocks, fireplace accessories); kitchen and dining items (china, silver, flatware, cookware, serving ware, pressed glass); grooming items (wash sets, shaving sets, hairbrushes), paper-based items (books, magazines, stereoscope cards, photographs, advertising cards); and clothing and accessories (men’s and women’s, including wedding dresses).

PREVIEW DATE
Friday, November 17th Noon - 5 pm

Please call / email Ripley Auctions for all sale related questions.
317-251-5635 or [email protected]
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Restored by Indiana Landmarks in the 1960s, the Morris-Butler House served as a house museum from 1969 to 2014, showcasing decorative arts from the Victorian period. The home takes its name from two families who lived there in the nineteenth century. In 1864, John Morris commissioned the house’s construction, occupying the home with his family until 1878. Noble Butler, a bankruptcy lawyer, moved into the house three years later with his wife and seven children. The family remained until 1957, when Florence Butler, the youngest daughter, died and her survivors sold the estate.
In 1964, Indiana Landmarks — then known as Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana — rescued the dilapidated house. The home’s initial five-year restoration, spearheaded by Indiana Landmarks founders Eli Lilly and architect H. Roll McLaughlin, and the Old Northside neighborhood’s listing in the National Register of Historic Places acted as catalysts for revitalization of the area. Today, the Old Northside is once again an enviable residential neighborhood, where restored historic houses blend with new homes.

In 2018, Indiana Landmarks’ board, with the blessing of H. Roll McLaughlin and other early supporters, voted to deaccession the Morris-Butler House collection following American Association of Museum guidelines. Indiana Landmarks will retain all items related to the Morris and Butler families and continue to maintain the house’s Victorian character.

Proceeds from the auction benefit ongoing preservation of the property, which serves an integral role on the Indiana Landmarks Center campus as a rental venue and office space for Indiana Landmarks’ Sacred Places Indiana program.

This auction is now CLOSED! Check out the sales results below. Thank you to everyone who participated!

Auction and Contact Information

Location

5564 N Rural Street
Indianapolis, IN 46220

Previews

Friday, November 17th from Noon - 5 pm
or by appointment.

Auction Preview

International Prelude sterling silver flatware, service for 10 with 9 serving pieces in walnut box; 69 pieces in total. 11 1/2"H x 16"W x 4"D (box)

Lot 44

International Prelude sterling silver flatware, service for 10 with 9 serving pieces in walnut box; 69 pieces in total. 11 1/2"H x 16"W x 4"D (box)

Sold: $1,200

 
Huge group of Victorian stereoscope cards with various themes including American and foreign scenery, the Civil War, actors and actresses, statuary, and lots more. 3 1/2"H x 7"W (one card)

Lot 69

Huge group of Victorian stereoscope cards with various themes including American and foreign scenery, the Civil War, actors and actresses, statuary, and lots more. 3 1/2"H x 7"W (one card)

Sold: $7,500

 
Antique Lone Star radiant 8 point star quilt. 112"H x 106"W

Lot 188

Antique Lone Star radiant 8 point star quilt. 112"H x 106"W

Sold: $1,100

 
Duhme & Co. Aesthetic Victorian silverplate flatware set with Japonisme engraving with Hampton Silver Plate Co mother of pearl and sterling silver handled knives. 107 pc. 12"H x 20"W (cloth bags)

Lot 159

Duhme & Co. Aesthetic Victorian silverplate flatware set with Japonisme engraving with Hampton Silver Plate Co mother of pearl and sterling silver handled knives. 107 pc. 12"H x 20"W (cloth bags)

Sold: $700

 
12pc set of Royal Bavarian Hutschenreuther China porcelain dinner plates with gilt decorated green trim borders & hand painted garden floral designs in the center 10 3/4"Diam.

Lot 39

12pc set of Royal Bavarian Hutschenreuther China porcelain dinner plates with gilt decorated green trim borders & hand painted garden floral designs in the center 10 3/4"Diam.

Sold: $750

 
Reed & Barton antique American sterling silver reticulated openwork basket, 25.563 Troy Oz. 14"H x 12"W x 7"D

Lot 9

Reed & Barton antique American sterling silver reticulated openwork basket, 25.563 Troy Oz. 14"H x 12"W x 7"D

Sold: $450

 
Antique 1817 needlework prayer and pictorial house and garden sampler on linen. 17"H x 13"W

Lot 220

Antique 1817 needlework prayer and pictorial house and garden sampler on linen. 17"H x 13"W

Sold: $500

 
Ferdinando Vicchi (Vichi), Italy / France (1875-1945), Gypsy dancer, Orientalist white marble full figure sculpture, Aesthetic Movement, 38"H x 14"W x 16 1/2"D

Lot 101

Ferdinando Vicchi (Vichi), Italy / France (1875-1945), Gypsy dancer, Orientalist white marble full figure sculpture, Aesthetic Movement, 38"H x 14"W x 16 1/2"D

Sold: $8,000

 
Antique Victorian 14k Gold cameo bracelet, 32.8 DWT. 8 1/4"L x 3/4"W

Lot 35A

Antique Victorian 14k Gold cameo bracelet, 32.8 DWT. 8 1/4"L x 3/4"W

Sold: $450

 
Antique Victorian cherry wood corner cabinet / cupboard. 80 3/4"H x 50 1/2"W x 18"D

Lot 249

Antique Victorian cherry wood corner cabinet / cupboard. 80 3/4"H x 50 1/2"W x 18"D

Sold: $450

 
Victorian Eastlake style high panel walnut dresser with mirror; heavily carved with scrolling vine and floral medallions, gallery pediment, and decorative patterning and exotic burlwood. 98 1/2"H x 51"W x 22"D (two piece

Lot 109

Victorian Eastlake style high panel walnut dresser with mirror; heavily carved with scrolling vine and floral medallions, gallery pediment, and decorative patterning and exotic burlwood. 98 1/2"H x 51"W x 22"D (two piece

Sold: $325

 
Sixteen antique Bohemian ruby red cut to clear crystal white wine goblet stems. 6 1/2"H. 3 1/2"dia.

Lot 43A

Sixteen antique Bohemian ruby red cut to clear crystal white wine goblet stems. 6 1/2"H. 3 1/2"dia.

Sold: $550

 
Griswold cast iron heart star Waffle Press & Pan/Griddle Waffle Iron: 17"Length (including handle) / 12 1/4"L (not including handle) x 11"Diameter (bottom), Pan: 17"Length (including handle) x 12 3/4"Diameter (bottom, lo

Lot 397

Griswold cast iron heart star Waffle Press & Pan/Griddle Waffle Iron: 17"Length (including handle) / 12 1/4"L (not including handle) x 11"Diameter (bottom), Pan: 17"Length (including handle) x 12 3/4"Diameter (bottom, lo

Sold: $325

 
Antique estate rug / carpet, 8x12. 147"H x 104"W

Lot 280

Antique estate rug / carpet, 8x12. 147"H x 104"W

Sold: $325

 
Pair antique hand knotted Caucasian carpets / rugs, 4x6 approx. 68"H x 53"W

Lot 65

Pair antique hand knotted Caucasian carpets / rugs, 4x6 approx. 68"H x 53"W

Sold: $325

 
Antique silver plated epergne centerpiece stand with crystal center bowl and 4 outer bowls, 13 1/2"H x 24"W

Lot 43

Antique silver plated epergne centerpiece stand with crystal center bowl and 4 outer bowls, 13 1/2"H x 24"W

Sold: $300

 
Antique Victorian glass wedding dome with floral arrangement of fabric / silk flowers in a basket, 21"H x 22"W

Lot 3

Antique Victorian glass wedding dome with floral arrangement of fabric / silk flowers in a basket, 21"H x 22"W

Sold: $350

 
Antique silver plated roast service; footed server with meat tray and dome cover. 15"H x 25"W x 16"D

Lot 36

Antique silver plated roast service; footed server with meat tray and dome cover. 15"H x 25"W x 16"D

Sold: $250

 
Antique hand knotted estate rug / carpet; 8x10. 8' 10" x 10'

Lot 299

Antique hand knotted estate rug / carpet; 8x10. 8' 10" x 10'

Sold: $300

 
WM Knabe & Co. antique Empire style rosewood square Grand Piano.

Lot 296

WM Knabe & Co. antique Empire style rosewood square Grand Piano.

Sold: $1,000

 
PHELPS'S TRAVELLERS' GUIDE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, 1849; Containing Upwards of Seven Hundred Rail-Road, Canal, and Stage and Steamboat Routes accompanied with a New Map of the United States, Hardcover, Publisher: Ensi

Lot 47

PHELPS'S TRAVELLERS' GUIDE THROUGH THE UNITED STATES, 1849; Containing Upwards of Seven Hundred Rail-Road, Canal, and Stage and Steamboat Routes accompanied with a New Map of the United States, Hardcover, Publisher: Ensi

Sold: $225

 
A little peek into this auction - scroll through photos as we catalog this collection.

Lot

A little peek into this auction - scroll through photos as we catalog this collection.