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VOL. 46, NO. 21 FRIDAY MAY 22, 2015
Pook & Pook Holds Three Exciting Sales Over Impressive Americana Weekend By Karl Pass
P
ook & Pook Inc., of Downingtown, Pa., held three sales over the course of three days on April 24, 25, and 27. The first was a multi-consignor Americana and Fine Art sale of 337 lots, which was 93 percent sold, totaling $768,930 (including buyer’s premiums). The second was the dedicated 535-lot sale of the J. Jefferson and Anne Weiler Miller collection. It was 99 percent sold and totaled $1,222,350. And finally, the third auction was an online-only decorative arts sale consisting of 857 lots with a 100 percent sellthrough rate totaling $175,214. The April 24 sale started with a wide range of paintings and also included sculpture and an array of American and European decorative arts. A fine oil-on-canvas by Pennsylvania impressionist Edward Willis Redfield (1869-1965) sold for $132,000 (est. $40,000$80,000) and will appear in Dr. Thomas A rare North Carolina redware dish attributed to Solomon Loy of Alamance County sold for $18,000 (est. $5,000-$10,000). It sold to a collector in Tennessee bidding by phone.
Several fine examples of Jacob Maentel’s work sold. This watercolor and gouache portrait of Ephraim Share, b. 1804, having descended directly through the family of the subject, was one of the best in the sale. It realized $40,800 (est. $8,000-$12,000). “I thought the Maentels all did well,” said Jamie Shearer of Pook & Pook.
Folk’s forthcoming catalog noteworthy item in the paint-decorated furniture category was a raisonne on the artist. Lancaster County paintTwo Klaus Ihlenfeld (b. ed blanket chest 1934) bronze sculptures attributed to This North Carolina Johannes Rank redware charger, (1763-1828) circa 1810, possiwith three bly from the front panels Dennis pottery of and potted New Salem, with floral decocentral green and cream slip ration. The decoration sold middle pot for $13,200 (est. was dated $4,000-$7,000) to “1789.” It New York City sold for dealer J. Garrison $18,000 (est. Stradling in the $5,000-$10,000). salesroom. The same chest was passed at the Sotheby’s sold. One was $300 and the other, $360. A Val Bertoia (b. 1949) sale for the late Sandy and Julie 45.5-inch-high bronze sound sculp- Palley on Jan. 18, 2002, where it ture titled “B-1836” sold was estimated at $20,000 to just over high estimate $30,000. A miniature Pennsylvania cher- The Edward Willis Redfield (1869-1965) oil-on-canvas, titled “Across the for $5,040. A Snow Hill Society red- ry blanket chest with inlaid initials Canal,” sold for $132,000 (est. $40,000-$80,000). ware “love feast” “PH” and banded inlaid edges, two-day sale consisted of sprigs around the border sold for bowl sold for sold for $5,760, and a pair of early glassware, china, frak- $6,900 in 1999 at Sotheby’s. Chippendale brass andirons with $4,080. Another rare redware lot sold tur, watercolor portraits, ironA Pennsyl- flame finials and ball and claw ware, among many other early in the sale was a large 7.5vania paint- feet sold well over its estimate inch high Pennsylvania figural items. d e c o r a t e d for $9,000. Jeff was a student standing dog dated “1883” on the A Pennsylvania toleware chest of drawof connoisseurship. base. It brought $10,200 from a ers with origi- octagonal tray in good condiIn 2001, the Millers private collector (est. $4,000nal red and black tion with floral decoration donated 333 iron and $8,000). At the landmark d e c o r a t i o n surrounded by a crystalline metal objects to Heilman collection sale held in believed to have center sold for $2,280. It sold Winterthur. It was a signif- 1982 on the York Fairgrounds originated in Berks for $17,050 at the first icant gift. Jeff researched through Sotheby’s it sold for County sold for $33,600 Dorothy and Eugene Elgin sale and collected up until his $2,600 (hammer price). The late (est. $3,000-$5,000). A similiar- held at Conestoga Auction passing at the age of 80 in Harry Hartman sold it to the ly decorated chest of drawers sold Company on April 3, 2004. Millers in 1991. 2005. Anne passed away at the Saturday’s single owner sale at Pennypacker’s on April 12, “We keep hearing the age of 85 in 2014. They had 1976, at the first Paul and Rita for the late J. Jefferson (Jeff) and six children, some of Flack sale for $6,500. Another Anne Weiler Miller realized con(Continued on page 2) whom attended the Pook & sistently strong hammer prices. Pook sale. The couple resided in Baltimore, The first item in the sale Md., and were well-known among was an important North the American decorative arts comCarolina redware dish attributed munity. Jeff served in the Army and to Solomon Loy of Alamance later became an attorney. He County. It sold to a phone became friends with fellow bidder in Tennessee for Baltimore resident Richard $18,000 (est. $5,000(Dick) Wood, an antiques $10,000). Miller bought it dealer, who urged him to purfrom J. Garrison and Diana sue the Winterthur Graduate Program in American Material The circa Stradling in 1999. Wellknown dealers from Culture. He shifted his career 1900 path and received his master’s painted Manhattan, N.Y., the This degree from the prestigious cast-iron Stradlings attended and 7.5-inch-high program. He soon after became tulip on a bought at the Pook & Pook Pennsylvania figural the curator of ceramics and stand sold sale. The multi-colored slip A star among a large grouping of glass at the Smithsonian for $2,214 decorated dish with inner standing dog dated 1883 on the Liverpool pitchers, this Institution. Upon retirement, he (est. $200- sawtooth border and central base sold for $10,200 (est. $4,000$8,000). The buyer was a major Herculaneum pitcher, circa 1810, $300). philphlot design and floral Pennsylvania collector. decorated with the Portland remained active in many capacObservatory tower of Portland, ities within the museum field. The Millers bought from many Maine, the reverse (shown) with an American frigate, sold for $10,200 dealers, among them Dick Wood. (est. $2,000-$3,000). Richard and Virginia Wood handled a lot of great material, predominately in the 1960s. The Woods sold their collection in 1976 through Pennypacker’s. The (Left) This framed 8-by-13-inch Pennsylvania fraktur vorschrift dated 1803 sold for $3,120 (est. $800$1,200). It sold for $1,955 in 1995 through Sotheby’s at the Dr. Henry Deyerle sale. On Sept. 24, 1959, Deyerle bought two vorschrift (one was this example) for $400 at Hattie Brunner’s “Tulip Shop” in Reinholds, Pa. (Right) This excellent oil-on-canvas view of St. Joseph’s Academy in Emmitsburg, Md., sold to a dealer in the salesroom for $26,400 (est. $8,000-$12,000).