COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 41, NO. 52 FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2010
“Detuk” Schrank Led Pook & Pook Sale Carolina parrot by Schtocks c h n i t z l e r Simmons achieved $18,960 and a bird by the Virginville Carver did well at $26,070. Two carvings by the DecoTex artist attracted active bidding. They brought $28,440 and $21,330 respectively. The Smiths had a wonderful eye for those little small “gems” in many catagories of Pennsylvania decorative arts including redware, stoneware, painted boxes, fraktur and baskets. The first lot of the sale was an attractive dome lid box retaining an unusual decoration of tulip petals and p i n -
A variety of local carvings, primarily he successful sale of from the outstanding lifelong collection of Richard and Joane Smith was held on October 30, 2010, at Pook & Pook, Inc., in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Turn out was strong as veteran collectors, dealers and museums lined up to bid on the exceptional pieces of painted furniture and accessories, carvings, fraktur, textiles, baskets and pottery. The Smith’s were known for their scholarship, historic community involvement and impeccable taste. Their eye for quality was t h e evident in each of the wonderful 1 9 t h items offered at the auction. and 20th centuries, were offered. Many of the registered Richard Smith worked with the bidders were excited to see Machmers on the the famous “Detuk” source book Just for schrank. This highly Nice which docuimportant Berks m e n t e d C o u n t y , Pennsylvania Pennsylvania, German folk art p a i n t e d woodcarving schrank was and carvers. inscribed “17 Two carved Philip Detuk and painted 75”. The horse figures exceptional by the well small size and known carver vibrant origiPeter Brubaker nal decorated of Lancaster surface intrigued C o u n t y , many potential ownPennsylvania, ers. After very sold to the active bidding on phone for the phone and in $20,145 and the showroom, $26,070 to the piece the same brought an buyer. A outstanding polychrome price of painted $818,500.
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wheels on a brilliant blue background. This piece by the “Compass Artist” sold for $33,180. A rare slide lid box by the same artist soared to $54,510, bought by a Lancaster County dealer and collector. Another decorated box made by Jacob Weber for his great-granddaughter Elisabeth Mosser was an important piece with stylized flowers and landscape with house and trees on a dark blue ground. After active bidding it sold for $45,030. A similar box by Jonas Weber with a yellow ground achieved $35,550. A myriad of small vivid wallpaper boxes in fine condition were
offered. The prices ranged from $562 to $6,517. A Pennsylvania miniature blanket chest dated 1786 with ivory tulip design was a charming piece. Originally from the George
Scott sale, it did well at $20,145. An unusual, possibly unique chalkware figural group of a fireman and his wife with original red, yellow
a n d black decorat i o n soared t o $16,590 and was bought by a l o c a l Philadelphia collector.
Pennsylvania redware, especially figural examples, was central to the Smith’s collection. An exciting covered sugar bowl attributed to Henry Grady of Somerset County stood out with its polychrome decorated surface of stars, dots and pinwheels, bringing a strong price of $59,250. A Diehl Pottery, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, redware plate dated 1850 with a bird and floral sprig decoration rose well above the high estimate of $10,000 to bring $37,920. Another by the same pottery with a striking tulip b r o u g h t $ 3 3 , 1 8 0 . Important redware figures included a sander in the form of a seated man with dog for $35,550, a large dog with a basket in its mouth for $28,440, a dog with a
whiskey jug for $15,405 and a lion with orange and green glaze for $13,045. A fine sgraffito plate attributed to Conrad Mumbouer and in excellent condition went over the high estimate to reach $52,140. An impressive John Bell harvest jug inscribed “Waynesboro PA May 12th 1860” and stamped “John Bell” garnered much attention. With very active phone and floor bidding, it finally sold to a Pennsylvania collector for $59,250. Other pieces of stoneware fared well including a small Pennsylvania pitcher dated 1873 for $8,887, a Cowden & Wilcox pitcher with the unusual “man in the moon” decoration for $14,220 and an Ohio watercooler with braided handles for $7,110. A very attractive fraktur bookplate depicting a mermaid made $14,220. and a colorful Dauphin County fraktur by Christian Mertel with unicorns brought $23,700. Other small items included betty lamps by Peter Derr for $3,081 and $5,925, a walnut watch hutch for $4,740 and a burl bowl initialed “TSI” for $4,977. Several pieces of painted furniture achieved high prices. A vibrant red and orange swirl decorated splay leg stand brought $22,515 and an unusual Pennsylvania painted chest of drawers with half columns and front cabriole legs with trifid feet for $16,590. The chest retained a wonderful original surface. It was an exceptional sale with 100 percent of items sold reaching a total of $2,314,226 for the 451 lots. For more information, please visit Pook & Pook’s Website at w w w. p o o k a n d pook.com.