Andrew Wyeth Art And More At An Auction On A Farm

"A moderate-size rock makes a bigger splash in a smaller pond," says auctioneer Bill Bunch, explaining his pitch that won the on-the-premises sale scheduled tomorrow at Big Spruce Farm in Chester County.

Bunch said he persuaded the guardians of Genevra Rumford that there was an advantage to selling on site on a Saturday afternoon in Chester County over a minor listing at a New York auction house.

"I'm selling an Andrew Wyeth watercolor called The Fog Horn and six hand- done Wyeth Christmas cards, a fine Daniel Oyster tall case clock, two other tall clocks, 50 pieces of jewelry, a cupboard full of historical blue Staffordshire and some good rugs - so the New York auctioneers were interested," says Bunch, who has been holding auction sales at the Concordville Inn in Concordville, Delaware County.

"The Wyeth will bring every bit as much in Chadds Ford as it would in New York and maybe even more," Bunch says. He believes the picture, which measures 21 5/8 inches by 29 5/8 inches - and cost $600 when Rumford bought it in 1952 - should bring $35,000 to $55,000.

"The big auction houses would probably lump all the Christmas cards together and estimate them at $3,000 to $5,000, but I will sell them one at a time, so people can get one for around $1,000," Bunch says. Except, that is, for one picturing Santa Claus and signed Our love & warmest greetings to you - Betsy & Andy, which may bring $2,000 to $3,000.

The furniture includes an 18th-century, two-drawer, stretcher-base farm table; a chest-on-frame (chest raised off the floor on a frame with cabriole legs) signed by Virgil Eachus, a Chester County cabinetmaker; a walnut Chippendale chest and much more.

SHOWS Buckingham Antiques Show, Tyro Grange Hall, Rtes 413 & 202, Buckingham, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. today, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow * Suburban Philadelphia Holiday Collectibles Show, George Washington Lodge, King of Prussia, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. tomorrow.

SALES Lionel train auction, Maurer (Pa.) Ridge Fire Company, Rte 23 between Phoenixville & Rte 100, 10 a.m. tomorrow * General sale, Freeman/Fine Arts, 10 a.m. Wed * Jewelry, 18th- and 19th-century paintings, furniture, silver, rugs, Freeman/Fine Arts, Philadelphia, 10 a.m. Thu, next Fri & 11/10.

The sale of items from the Big Spruce Farm, Rocky Hill and Ridge Roads, Chadds Ford, Chester County, begins with a preview today at 9 a.m.; the sale tomorrow begins at 9 a.m. with uncatalogued box lots. At 10 a.m., the sale of catalogued items begins.

To reach the farm: From the intersection of Routes 1 and 202, head south on Route 202 a mile, to the traffic light at Ridge Road. Turn right and proceed 2.1 miles, then follow the signs for auction parking in fields adjacent to the house. Phone: 388-0485 or 388-0486.