COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East VOL. 46, NO. 23 FRIDAY JUNE 5, 2015
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
The Harry Hartman Estate Sale Session One By Karl Pass
C
onestoga Auction Company of the Hess Auction Group held a two-day unreserved 743-lot sale for the late Harry B. Hartman on May 15 and 16. It was the first of three sessions. “I was happy with the sale, and we’re looking forward to the next one,” said John Hess. The second two-day sale will be held on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 14 and 15, and the third will be held on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21. Hartman (1930-2015) was a well-known antiques dealer and interior designor. He sold to and influenced multiple generations with his eye for design. He was involved in restoring numerous historic properties over a 50-plusyear career and was a purveyor of decorating and living with Pennsylvania country antiques. He stacked wallpaper boxes, hung baskets, filled cupboards full of yellowware pottery and open hearth fireplaces with metalware cooking equipment, and decorated for the Christmas holiday with glass kugels. Hartman was a fixture at both York shows for many years, and his absence has been heartfelt among countless dealers and collectors. He was a longtime resident of
This miniature paint-decorated Soap Hollow blanket chest attributed to John Sala sold for $35,400 to dealer Kelly Kinzle in the salesroom. Stenciled “JKM 1851,” the chest represents an excellent example of western Pennsylvania painted furniture. Hartman had bought it at Conestoga Auction Company around 1990 and had an asking price of $55,000 on it at several shows.
Marietta, Pa., and lived next to his business partner, Oliver Overlander II. Overlander, along with his wife, Judi, attended the auction and oversaw how the estate is being sold. “We split everything out into thirds to make sure good things were in each sale,” said Overlander. A mix of material was inventory, and some came out of the house from Hartman’s collection. The two-day sale had A Bradley and Hubbard cast iron upright rabbit doorstop, painted in natural colors, sold for $1,534.
A three-gallon unsigned stoneware crock with deep cobalt boldly slip decorated “JULY” and “1859” on the front and from Hartman’s personal collection sold to Philadelphia-area collectors for $10,030.
The 14.5-by-18.5-inch image size Lititz Moravian Girls’ school theorem painting on velvet of a fruit basket was signed by Juliet Witmer (1810-86) and dated “1825.” The well-known Lancaster County school is still in operation. The painting is in a modern frame and sold for $8,260.
1,222 registered bidders. There were 227 in-house and 439 online on Friday, as well as 556 online on Saturday. The total gross, including buyer’s premiums, was $714,675. Conestoga charges an 18 percent buyer’s premium for inhouse bidders at their catalog sales. Friday’s session included china; baskets; yellowware; assorted textiles; and various metalware, such as hearth equipment and cast iron doorstops; and it ended with 73 glass kugels, sold individually. Some regular things brought regular prices, as expected in today’s market. A Hubley cast iron and painted Scottie dog doorstop sold for $295. A fine small-size unsigned copper tea kettle sold for $384. A yellow spatter cup and saucer sold for $561. The saucer was in
This 18-drawer paint-decorated seed chest with hinged lid and cut-out feet sold for $8,850 to dealer Kelly Kinzle in the salesroom bidding on behalf of private collectors. Vernon Gunnion had bought it from Philip Bradley and sold it to Hartman between 35 and 40 years ago. “Harry always told me he planned to keep it, and he did,” said Gunnion. Attributed to John Boyer (1833-1901) in the catalog, the drawer configuration, among other details, are unlike signed examples of Boyer’s work.
hooked rug depicting a reclining This Willoughby Smith, dog realized $3,304. Pa., redware fish form The collectible antique Womelsdorf, mold in good condition, but with a German kugels sold well. The few minor edge chips, sold to a priChristmas glass ornaments were vate collector in the salesroom for produced in great numbers begin- $1,770. ning during what is referred to as the Biedermeier period around 1830. Like many categories of furantiques, kugels were niture made much later than sold. A many people realize, even into Willoughby Smith the 20th century. Early examples in rare forms command high prices. A redware plate with green and yelgourd form green blown mold low slip designwork, an edge glass kugel sold for chip and two hairlines, sold for $3,540. A red $2,832, and a Smith mottled (Continued on page 2) blown mold cluster of grapes sold A fine copper and zinc “St. Julian” horse and sulky weathervane measuring 40 inches long realized $8,260.
good condition; the cup had some wear on the base rim. A Canton platter in very good condition brought $502, and a pair of Rockingham glazed yellowware seated spaniels with applied coleslaw fur sold for $1,416. A Franklin County, Pa., block pattern quilt sold for $384, and a mounted
for $3,186. A similiar cluster of grapes in blue realized $1,121, and a gold or amber geometric cluster of grapes sold for $5,900. A blue egg form sold for $649, and a red egg form example sold for $1,416. The salesroom was two-thirds full and lacked a bit of energy on day one. Much of the excitement came on day two German glass kugels were a when redware, The of the first day session. artwork and strength Here is a red blown mold glass cluster of grapes, which sold for $3,186.
Here is a fine punched tin, signed “M.Uebele,” circa 1840, Berks County, Pa., coffeepot with nonoxidized surface. It sold to Virginia tinsmith Jerry Martin for $1,652.
This 7.5-inch-high yellowware pitcher with brown mocha band decoration sold for $1,180. It had several spout chips professionally repaired.
Four graduated paper mache jacko-lanterns with original paper linings and wire handles and only minor wear sold for $1,888.