Clifton And Clara Ward Estate Sale Offers Items From Around The World

An upcoming sale will be held this weekend that will see one of the Chattanooga area’s premier estates go on the market. This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the estate of Clifton and Clara Ward will be up for sale at their final residence in the Shepherd Hills subdivision.

The Wards were world travelers who had an eclectic sense of art between them. There are pieces from all over the U.S. and Europe, many from Italy, as well as the Orient and Middle East.

The couple moved to Chattanooga from West Virginia in 1953 and started their business, Uniform Rental Service with their friends Charles and Jean Campbell.

The Campbells later moved to Atlanta to expand the business, Mr. and Mrs. Ward sold their interest in the company in 1986. 

The Cliftons were very active in the charitable and civic aspects of Chattanooga.  As members of Brainerd Baptist Church they supported both local and foreign mission work. Mrs. Ward was generous in her outreach to young couples at the church. The Wards were extremely benevolent to Bethel Bible Village, often entertaining the children in their own home for Christmas. They were also patrons in helping the children’s home move from its original home on Signal Mountain to its present home in Hixson.

Other such organizations to receive support from the couple were the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home, John Hagai Ministries, and the Southern Baptist Foreign Missions Board. 

The Wards were also benefactors to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and Carson Newman College. They also paid to have the elevator at Finley Stadium installed.

Of particular interest at this weekend’s estate sale is a pair of candleholders from the 1850 to 1860 time period, made using the French Bronze Dore’ process. Also for sale is a copper and bronze bicycle wall sculpture by C Jere’. 

Among the estate’s holdings are five dinner tables, each with a complete set of china place settings. These range from Noritake to Granite Wear. Underneath the Granite Wear settings you will find one of the original wooden tables from the old Brass Register restaurant down on Georgia Avenue.

The collection also includes quite a few pieces of sterling silver dinner wear, bowls and serving pieces. A showcase of silver jewelry also stands out. 

Downstairs one will find many pieces of copper kitchenware as well as several outstanding furniture items including a library card catalog much like the one seen on “The Big Bang Theory” television show. Another throwback piece is a rattan dinner table and chairs from the 1960’s era, resplendent of the “Mad Men” series.

For those looking to build out their Christmas collections, there is a complete set of Christmas Village houses, as well as an olive wood crèche and Santa Claus dolls. There are several items marked from the Isle of Patmos.

Of the furniture pieces, a Bernhardt sideboard and a late 1800’s chest of drawers stand out, as well as an antique school desk along with at least seven sofas. 

There will be pieces available at this sale for both the serious collectors and those looking for a good weekend deal.

This estate sale is managed by Janet Plain of Movin’ On Estate Sales and More with appraisal and research done by Dale Smith of Estate Troopers. 

According to Ms. Plain, “Movin On’s mission is to honor and bring closure to the families they represent.”  Movin’ On also does work with several various charitable organizations in the area.

To gain access to and find out the location for this weekend’s estate sale, please contact Janet at (423) 413-3700 or on the web at www.MovinonEstateSales.net.

 

Mr. Smith is a certified personal property appraiser, who may be contacted at (423)488-9839 or www.estatetroopers.com.

 

(Dennis Norwood may be reached at newswriter614@gmail.com or on Twitter at DennisENorwood.)