Steve and Amy Slotin held the highest grossing sale in their career on Nov. 14. The couple have been holding folk and outsider art auctions at their Georgia-based facility for 28 years. The November masterpiece sale had 403 lots grossing $1,479,250. Prices reported include a 25-percent buyers premium. Among the stars was a Bill Traylor (1853-1949) graphite, tempera and conte crayon on found cardboard titled Four Figures and Basket in Blue. The drawing came from a private collection in New Orleans, La., and was purchased by another private collector for $105,000. A very large 105.5-by-44-inch enamel-on-masonite work by Howard Finster, titled Chelsea Baptist Church, sold for $51,250. Finster created the work in 1977, which involved an inspiration after receiving a vision from God. The preacher-turned-folk-artist ministered at Chelsea Baptist Church in rural northwest Menlo, Ga., from 1950 to 65. The monumental painting was done for the congregation. As explained in his 1989 book, Howard Finster: Stranger From Another World, I just come home, and God showed me how to preach through my art. For decades the work was displayed behind the pulpit but was moved following the construction of a baptismal. A congregants family member had reached out to the nearby nonprofit foundation that operates Paradise Garden, Finisters visionary art sanctuary, for consultation. A portion of the proceeds from the sale is going to both the church and the Paradise Garden Foundation. A large carved bull head by Pennsylvania folk carver Noah Weiss (1842-1907) realized $16,250. Weiss was the proprietor of the Allen House, an inn in Northampton, Pa. He later built an inn named the Mount Vernon Inn, modeled after Washingtons Mount Vernon. A nice piece was written on the carver/inn keeper in the Fall 1985 issue of The Clarion, and biographical information is included in the 1991 book, Just For Nice. Ohio folk artist Elijah Pierces carvings are collectible in todays marketplace, and an exhibit, Elijah Pierces America, is currently running at the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia (check before visiting due to temporary closures). The Pierce carving, Dont Bite the Hand That Feeds You, brought $8,500. For more, visit www.slotinfolkart.com.