COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Museum Publishes Scholarly Volume Of American Furniture Featuring Masterpieces From The Collection “American Furniture 1650–1840: Highlights From The Philadelphia Museum Of Art” Is Released
FRIDAY JANUARY 8, 2021 • VOL. 52, NO. 1
Luke W. Gottshall: Folk Artist Of Reinholds
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has published “American Furniture 1650–1840: Highlights From the Philadelphia Museum of Art,” co-published and distributed by Yale University Press. It is the first publication dedicated to one of the finest collections of early
A Profile In Pennsylvania German Studies By Karl Pass Luke W. Gottshall (1899-1993) resided much of his life on Mechanic Street in the village of Reinholds, Pa. Reinholds is a small West Cocalico Township town in northern Lancaster County close to the Berks County border. He worked in Wyomissing at Narrow Fabric, a company that produced fabric rickrack (often spelled ricrac). Gottshall had one brother and three sisters. His sisters were Aquillia, Lizzie, and Vesta. His brother, Israel. All are buried This is a larger-than-average framed bird tree collage comat St. John’s Cemetery bining cut-out fabric and watercoloring. Private in Sinking Springs, collection. Berks County. Israel operated a grocery in West Reading. her 70s and 80s. Her antiques shop Luke married Fannie Klapp in Reinholds was named the Tulip (1891-1976) of Vera Cruz, a village Shop. In the 1970s, she marketed along Route 897 near Reinholds. and sold the work of her brotherHer parents were Abiram and Mary in-law, Luke, and sister, Fannie. One of the things Luke and Weinhold Klapp. Fannie was one of seven children and had an older Fannie Gottshall made were framed collages. Brunner would supply sister by two years named Hattie. Hattie Klapp Brunner (1889- Fannie and Luke with old calico for 1982) had a near lifelong involve- the couple’s collages, according to ment in the antiques business. Her Gottshall’s granddaughter, artist mother-in-law, Hattie Sweigart Barbara Strawser. The couple also Brunner, was also an antiques deal- inevitably secured material at er. Young Hattie’s first show was in Narrow, his place of employment. 1926. She developed a national rep- Many of the collages were bird utation within the business. She trees made up of cutout fabric birds sold to countless collectors, and embellished with watercolornotably Dr. Albert Barnes and Henry ing. Some were just watercolors. Francis du Pont. Later in life, Gottshall paint-decorated the around 1958, she took up painting frames, often scratch decorating and produced well over 500 primi- them while the paint was wet for tive watercolors, primarily during decorative effect. Luke was also a woodcarver and made horse-drawn wagons. He was locally known as “the wagon man” and often signed his work with that nickname. He painted farm scenes as well. Fannie made calico stuffed birds, often using spools as bases and button eyes. Today, paintings/collages and wood carvings by Gottshall are sought Gottshall working in his studio, December 1976. Photo courtesy after by collectors of of the author. Continued on page 2
Alexandra Alevizatos Kirtley
American furniture in the United States and underscores the leading role of Philadelphia’s artisans and patrons who profoundly shaped early American furniture design. The book is published in anticipation of the opening of the new galleries for the display and interpretation of American Art from the early Colonial period to the mid-19th century, which are made possible through the ambitious master plan by architect Frank Gehry to rejuvenate the museum’s iconic Main Building, opening next year. The richly illustrated volume focuses on nearly 300 works from the museum’s spectacular collection of early American furniture, which is especially well known for furniture by artisans
AAN Current News
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Highest Graded Copy Of “Batman No. 1” Heads To Auction Newly Discovered 9.4 Graded Copy Of The 1940 Dark Knight’s First Solo Title To Be Sold By Heritage Heritage Auctions will begin the new year by offering the finest-known copy of 1940’s “Batman No. 1,” which until now has never been sold at auction. This near-mint issue, the sole copy ever to receive a 9.4 grade from the Certified Guaranty Company, is the centerpiece of the auction house’s Thursday and Friday, Jan. 14 and 15, Comics and Comic Art Sale. This unrestored copy comes to market only weeks after Heritage sold a 7.0-graded copy of Detective Comics No. 27 for $1.5 million. For the moment, at least, that’s the highest price ever paid for a Dark Knight title. “This ‘Batman No. 1’ is just breathtaking,” according to Heritage Auctions Senior Vice President This is the only copy of “Batman #1” to ever receive a 9.4 Ed Jaster. grade from the Certified Guaranty Company and is the “Of course, no one can highest-known graded copy. say for certain, but it’s highly unlikely that a better copy is just the first issue of Batman, but anywhere out there. It has great still one of the best, provides the color and white pages, not off- template for countless Dark Knight white, not off-off-white, but white,” tales to follow over the next said Jaster. “It is as though it has 80 years. First, there’s the iconic, just been bought off the newsstand. And the color strike is exceptional.” oft-imitated cover image, Batman Continued on page 2 This extraordinary book, not
Collector Anecdotes And Antics on page 3
The Red Earthenware Manufactured In River Edge, New Jersey on page 4
Crocker Farm Sets New Mark For New Jersey Stoneware, Selling Incised Ship Decorated Cooler for $252,000 on page 6
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 6 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 6
FEATURE RESULTS: Crocker Farm Online Auction - November 20-December 4 - Page 6
AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 11