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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 44, NO. 46 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 15, 2013
Pook & Pook Holds Three Days Of Sales By Karl Pass
ook & Pook Inc., of Downingtown, Pa., held three days of sales Oct. 10 to 12 at their Downingtown, Pa., facility. On Oct. 10, the Goldberg and Brown collection of historical blue Staffordshire was sold. Of the 594 lots, 91 percent sold for a gross total of $410,805 (including buyer’s premiums). The sale was coined “Fifty Shades of Blue,” and condition, along with rarity of scenes and form, dictated much of the results. The two consignors collected in a scholarly fashion and made upgrades over time, and there were a fair number of rarities in the collection. A plate with
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Settting an auction record for any work by Hofman, this oil on tin version of the Berks County (Pennsylvania) Almshouse by Charles Hofman (1820-1882) in original walnut frame and done four years prior to his death sold to a dealer for $545,100, underbid by a collector. It was in an exhibition at the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg in 1968 and is considered one of the best versions of Hofman’s almshouse paintings. He also did similiar examples of the Schuylkill and Montgomery County almshouses.
A rare Philadelphia silk on linen sampler dated 1739 sold for $18,960.
the Mount Pleasant Classical Institute, impressed “Clews,” sold for $21,330 (est. $4,000$6,000). It was one of just three known examples. A reticulated basket with the Upper Ferry Bridge over the Schuylkill River sold for $9,480 (est. $1,500$2,500), and a platter impressed This Anna pottery stoneware frog inkwell, which was dated 1884 and came from the George Dittmar collection, sold for $10,073.
“Stevenson” with the junction of the Sacandaga and Hudson rivers sold for $4,029 (est. $1,500-$2,500).
in the past decade. Following the sale, Bill Kurau, a Ellinger’s unusual work ceramic specialist in Lampeter, did well, but most paintings Pa., remarked, “At times, conbrought less than what they once dition plays a bit of a lesser role behind rarity.” Kurau was an A Philadelphia brass surveyor’s active buyer at the auction. compass, dated 1790 and inscribed On Oct. 11 and 12, the firm “Benjamin Rittenhouse,” sold for held a multi-consignsor sale of $14,580. 1,262 lots, of which 95 persold for. For example, an cent sold for a gross total oil-on-velvet scene of of $2,621,413. Mount Vernon by Beginning the sale Ellinger in a gilt frame were 116 items from measuring 21 1/2 by 27 the collection of 1/2 inches sold for George Dittmar, who $5,214. An identical was from New version sold for $11,500 Jersey. The at an auction in 2006. first four lots Ellinger was known to were David make duplicates. Ellinger (1913-2003) An Anna pottery stoneware watercolors, selling in a inkwell dated 1884 in the form of range from $296 to a seated frog on a dome with $504. The late profilic incised decoration, 4 inches high, artist from sold for $10,073 (est. Montgomery $ 5 , 0 0 0 County, Pa., was $10,000). also an antiques A dealer. The market Lehn for his work spiked Joseph following his death in paint-decorated 2003, but has contracted wooden sugar bucket sold for $4,503 (est. $1,500-$2,500). A figural Pennsylvania redware seated dog with a basket in its mouth sold for $7,110 (est. $4,000-$7,000), and a Philadelphia pewter lidded sugar bowl attributed to Parks Boyd
sold for $3,792 (est. $1,500-$2,500). The star of the sale was the Charles Hofman (1820-1882) almshouse painting depicting the Berks County, Pa., almshouse with a central oval bird’s eye view of the elaborate complex, dated 1878 and in its original walnut frame. Hofman, a German Extensive selections of Chinese export porceimmigrant, painted scenes lain were in the sale. This Chinese Kangxi of rural life in southeast- blue and white porcelain monteith sold for ern Pennsylvania and is $28,440. known to have done verHarry Bertoia (1915sions of the Berks, 1978) brass and berylSchuylkill, and lium sound sculpture, Montgomery County 38 1/4” high with a almshouses. This oil-onlabel reading tin highly regarded ver“Beryllium Copper Atonal” and dated sion sold for $545,100 December 18, 1974, (est. $125,000-$175,000) sold for $33,180. to a Pennsylvania dealer bidding on behalf of form possessing line a client, underbid by a and berry decoration. collector. The captions Pook & Pook also show a small crosssold a 1907 $20 Saint section of the varied Gaudens “high relief” material from the uncirculated gold coin for numerous estates and $33,180 (est. $10,000institutional collec$15,000), and a first editions sold. tion autographed copy of The company’s Mark Twain’s next sale will be a “Adventures of decorative arts sale, Huckleberry Finn,” copyto be held Dec. 10 right 1884, sold for and 11. The next $42,660 (est. $15,000period furniture, fine $25,000). A Philadelphia art and accessories William and sale will be Friday and Mary walnut Saturday, Jan. 17 to 18, 2014. chest on To learn more, visit frame with www.pookandpook.com. line and berry inlay sold for This Pennsylvania hanging corner $35,550 (est. cupboard in old ochre sponge dec$30,000orated surface sold for $18,960. $50,000). The legs had been reduced and it was missing the center front leg and stretchers, yet it was considered to have been the only surviving example of the chest-onframe
A 6-3/4-inchtall wooden carved and painted spreadwing eagle attributed to German immigrant folk carver Wilhelm Schimmel sold for $22,515.
The Pennsylvania walnut hanging cupboard, circa 1770, with molded cornice, original hardware, open shelf, and scalloped sides and apron, sold for $18,960.
Here is a grouping of 11 wooden butter prints from A 54-by-68-inch hooked rug, reading “E.H. Bittner 1896” and depicting a This pair of Chinese export porcelain rose mandarin bar- the Skromme collection, which came from Lancaster, rel form garden seats sold for $8,888. Pa. The lot sold for $1,778. standing horse with leaf border, sold for $2,607.