Motley’s To Auction Estate of Former U.S. Congressman Norman and Rhoda Sisisky

On December 3rd, Motley’s Auction & Realty Group of Richmond, VA will be selling at auction the contents of the estate of long-serving U.S. Congressman Norman Sisisky and his wife, the former Rhoda Brown, along with items collected from other prominent central Virginia estates. Norman Sisisky, a “Blue Dog” Democratic congressman from Virginia was a senior […]

November 20, 2008; 10:52 AM • by brenda p

On December 3rd, Motley’s Auction & Realty Group of Richmond, VA will be selling at auction the contents of the estate of long-serving U.S. Congressman Norman Sisisky and his wife, the former Rhoda Brown, along with items collected from other prominent central Virginia estates.

Norman Sisisky, a “Blue Dog” Democratic congressman from Virginia was a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. After serving nine terms in congress, the popular representative died while in office in 2001 at his Petersburg, VA home at the age of 73. Sisisky was an anomaly as a Jewish politician who represented the Fourth Congressional District of his state, where voters included peanut growers, pig farmers and military personnel, yet he was so popular that he ran without opposition in his last term. Prior to his Congressional election, he served eight years in Virginia’s House of Delegates.

Sisisky was born in Baltimore, MD on June 9, 1927 and grew up in Richmond, VA during the Great Depression. Before being elected to Congress in November 1982, he transformed a small Pepsi bottling company in Petersburg, VA into a highly successful distributor of soft drinks throughout South side Virginia. He was survived upon his death by his wife, Rhoda, and four sons, Mark, Richard, Stuart and Terry, a popular central Virginia sports announcer known as the “T-Man.”

Rhoda Sisisky died this year, and Motley’s Auction & Realty Group was selected to assist in the liquidation of her estate, which includes a large collection of furniture of various styles from their numerous residences in Washington, DC, Richmond and Petersburg, VA.

The approximately 700 lots that comprise Motley’s December 3rd auction will also include a large selection of antique furniture, Biggs and Suters furniture, as well as the largest collection of dining room furniture and antique Oriental rugs the 41-year-old auction house has ever offered. Additionally there are nearly 20 beds ranging from an early Baltimore, MD example to an ornately carved mahogany 19th century West Indies bed.

Period furniture collectors will be particularly interested in an 18th century VA walnut Chippendale desk, an early VA tall case clock and a 19th century refractory table with a spectacularly carved base supporting a marble top.

Joining these fine examples of furniture will be collections of miniature portraits on ivory, early lighting, Waterford and other crystal, crystal perfume bottles and some of the most elaborate chandeliers Motley’s has ever offered.

The approximately 70 lots of jewelry in this sale include a 4.23-carat diamond ring and numerous other important rings, pendants and brooches, plus designer watches and more seized by the Richmond Police Department. Items for sale also seized by the police include laptop computers, a portable Blu-ray player and Blu-ray disks. The contents of the former Darryl’s Restaurant in Midlothian turnpike will be offered including an early gas pump, barber’s pole and a host of unique advertising and collectible items.

Silver will be strongly represented with an additional 70 lots of sterling, including approximately 10 different patterns of flatware. Parker, Browning and Winchester shotguns and other early firearms will be offered, as well. Art offerings will range from 19th century examples to contemporary.
The sale also includes four estate vehicles, including a 2006 Honda Ridgeline with just over 2,000 original miles from an estate in Stafford, VA.

“With Christmas approaching, the timing is right for a sale as diverse as this one,” said Mark Motley, president of Motleys Auction & Realty Group. “From the Sisisky collection and other antique and contemporary furniture to the seized police offerings, I challenge anyone not to be able to find the perfect gift for themselves or someone close to them at this sale at a fraction of what they would pay elsewhere.”

The auction will begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, December 3rd and run until approximately 10 p.m. Perspective bidders are welcome to drop by at any time during the sale just to watch the fun or to join the bidding action.

All items will be viewable by November 26th at www.motleys.com. The gallery will be open to preview all lots December 1st and 2nd from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Items can also be previewed the day of the sale starting at 10 a.m.

Motley’s gallery is located at 4402 W. Broad Street, Richmond, VA. For those unable to attend the sale, Motley’s offers phone bidding, absentee bidding and bidding via the Internet.           

For more information on this or any upcoming Motley’s auction or their comprehensive appraisal services, visit www.motleys.com or call 804-355-2100.  

November 20, 2008 10:52 AM 0