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FRIDAY JANUARY 5, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 1
Verna Seagreaves Paintings: A Study In Revivalist Arts A Short Look At Some Of The Finest 20th Century Pennsylvania German Watercolors By Karl Pass Verna Seagreaves (1913-2000) of Breinigsville, Pa., was a skilled watercolor artist deserving of recognition among folk art circles. Unlike her better known artisan husband, redware potter James Christian Seagreaves (1913-97), Verna never produced her artwork on a prolific scale. She was a music teacher by profession, teaching in the Alburtis and East Penn School District, from which she retired. She was also the organist
49th Pittsburgh Antiques Show Set For Feb. 17 And 18
Crowne Plaza Hotel To Host Annual Winter Event
and choir director for 28 years at Zion Lehigh Lutheran Church in Alburtis and also for the Church of the Good Shepherd in Alburtis. Ve r n a w a s a w a te rco l o rist for roughly 40 years. Selftaught, Verna mainly worked in the Grandma Moses style of folk painting. Her work was exhibited in 1999 at the Historical Society of Berks County (now the Berks History Center). Like her husband’s, Verna’s artwork is known for the use of bold colors. For a time period, she also assisted Jim in his
The Pittsburgh Antiques Show is back. In its 49th event, the Pittsburgh Antiques Show will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 17 and 18, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. The Crowne Plaza (Pittsburgh South) is located at 164 Fort Couch Road. Show hours will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, with an early buyers’ preview from 9 to 10 a.m. Hours on Sunday will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $7, or $15 for early buyers. Children age 12 and under will be admitted free of charge. One of the longest running annual regional shows, the Pittsburgh Antiques Show always has something for everyone at this dealer-packed antiquing event. The quality and variety is vast, from Mid-Century Modern to Verna painted several Adam and Eve watercolors. This one is in a period gilded frame. A similar Adam and Eve and Garden of Eden scene sold at auction in 2018 for $1,925.
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Snow Globes With A Peculiar Twist Are Subject Of New Exhibition “Strange Winter: The Snow Globes Of Walter Martin And Paloma Munoz” Now On View
When talking about 20th century folk art paintings depicting old time farm sales, Hattie Brunner auction scene paintings usually come to mind. Here is a Verna Seagreaves farm sale painting.
This exceptional Verna watercolor depicts Jim Seagreaves working in his shop.
It doesn’t get much more Pennsylvania German than this. Color, flowers, folk expression: check, check, and check.
pottery studio. She often signed press molded pieces she boldly glazed with her initials, “VAS,” and also, “Verna.” T h e a r t i s t i c co u p l e m a rr i e d i n 1 9 41 , f i rs t l i v i n g i n Alburtis, Pa., until 1961, when then moved to Breinigsville. In 1966, the Seagreaves joined the Reading-Berks Chapter of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsman. Their work is still regionally collected by those interested in Pennsylvania German arts. In 2018, in Fogelsville, Pa., fa t h e r/s o n a u c t i o n te a m o f Woody and Eric Zettlemoyer held
three sales on behalf of Jim and Verna’s daughter, Claudia, who lives in Colorado and was downsizing. Two highlights from one of those auctions was a large folk painting depicting Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden painted by Verna, selling for $1,925. An unframed winter scene depicting a large folky Belsnickel by Verna sold for $1,595. Today, 20th century Pennsylvania German folk paintings by Hattie Brunner dominate the headlines. In the eyes of some people, paintings by Verna Seagreaves far Continued on page 4
The Muskegon Museum of Art in Muskegon, Mich., is excited to present “Strange Winter: The Snow Globes of Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz” now on view through Feb. 11. “Strange Winter” is an exhibition featuring unique, eerie, and fantastical worlds of unexpected and often macabre scenes within a snow globe. With a peculiar take on the traditional snow globe, artists Walter Martin and Paloma Munoz create Continued on page 11
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . .
starting on page 2
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 5
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 6 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 8 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 8
FEATURE RESULTS: “Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland” Auction - Page 7
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . on page 10