The Theodore & Martha Bruning Estate Online Auction, Part I – 3/29 @ 1pm

Published by Cindy Burke at March 9, 2026

The Bruning Estate – Part I

Online Auction – Bidding Opens March 6, 2026 | Closes Sunday, March 29
B & H Antique Auctions is honored to present Part I of the estate of Martha Chandler Raymond Bruning and Theodore E. Bruning, Jr. of Chatham, Virginia. This remarkable collection reflects generations of history, thoughtful collecting, and a lifelong appreciation for antiques, books, and well-made objects.
Mrs. Bruning, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, descended from a New England family with deep historical roots. Many items in this estate have remained within the family for generations, including pieces connected to her great-grandfather, Dr. Charles Vose Bemis, whose name appears in several early books from the family library.
Mr. Bruning shared his wife’s appreciation for history and craftsmanship, and together they built a home filled with interesting objects gathered over a lifetime. Their collection reflects both their New England heritage and their many years in Virginia, where they were well known in the Chatham community.
Part I of the Bruning Estate Auction features a wide variety of items from the household including antiques, decorative arts, silver, furnishings, and personal treasures collected and enjoyed by the family for decades.
This sale is only the beginning. Part II – the Bruning Rare Book Collection Auction will follow and will feature an extraordinary library spanning more than two centuries, including rare and early editions from the 18th through 20th centuries, many with family provenance. Appropriately titled “Rare Book Collection Auction: 200 Years in the Making,” the sale will showcase the Brunings’ remarkable literary collection.
We invite you to explore Part I of this unique estate and join us as we begin sharing the Brunings’ story and collection with the public.

Join us for PREVIEW on Monday, 3/23 & Tuesday, 3/24 from 9:30-4:00pm and/or Saturday, 3/28 from 10am-1pm at the B&H Auction Gallery located at 3739 US 29 HWY, Danville, VA 24540

***PICKUPS are by Appointment Only – call 434-836-4636 or email: [email protected]***
PICK UP LOCATION: Auction Gallery, 3739 US 29 Business, Danville, VA 24540
PICK UP DATES & TIMES: Tues, 3/31, Wed, 4/1, Thurs, 4/2 from 9:30 – 11:30 & 1pm – 4pm, Fri, 4/3 from 9:30 – 11:30