COMPLIMENTARY COPY TM
The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East VOL. 45, NO. 17 FRIDAY APRIL 25, 2014
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
“Eggs And Rabbits”
On-site Sale For Barbara And The Late Lester Breininger By Karl Pass onestoga Auction Company of Manheim, Pa., held their fourth on-site sale at Taylor Mansion, the residence of Barbara and the late Lester Breininger on April 4 and 5. Located in the Berks County town of Robesonia, Pa., the 20 room house had long been filled to capacity with one of the largest regional Pennsylvania German collections of art, antiques, and artifacts ever assembled. The bulk of the collection had origins in Berks County. The once prolific buyer, Lester, who died at the age of 76 in 2011, was a local historian and former school teacher. He was the patriach of the Breininger pottery business and amassed the vast assemblege over many decades. Not one to miss a good farm sale, he collected anything and everything local to the region, noteably redware pottery. On Nov. 11 and 12 of 2011, Pook & Pook, Inc. of Downingtown, Pa., held a 940lot sale grossing over $2.1 million for the family. Many lots had multiple items. There were well in excess of 1,000 items sold at the two-day sale. Roughly another 1,500 lots of material were sold at the first four onsite sales and it is estimated there will likely be 4 or 5 more sales to come. All together, the collection, including contemporary Breininger pottery, likely totaled at least
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A large wooden carved rabbit of unknown age or origin sold to the trade for $900.
This is a side/front view of Taylor Mansion.
5,000 items. A ninth-generation Pennsylvania German, Lester was active in historical preservation and in preserving traditional crafts. For 42 years, the family gathered every August for their famous “Porch Show,” where that year’s production of Breininger pottery made by the potter’s he employed was sold. The final “Porch Show” was held in 2011. This two-day spring sale began with a Friday afternoon session at 4 A large heated tent was put up behind the house and next to the p.m. consisting of 225 to garage for the two-session sale. 300 lots of paper/ephemera, including Easter material, and a wide selection of Lester’s vast local postcard collection, Breininger pottery of various dates. Box lots assorted printed taufshein, and antique ref- were sold first, and a small selection of furerence books. Saturday’s sale began at niture on the porch and in the house was sold at noon. 9 a.m. Given the time of year, a large number Jeff DeHart of Conestoga Auction Co. had a heated tent put up. Unseasonably low of German egg shape candy containers were temperatures and wind affected the area. No sold. A large example in mint condition sold buyer’s premium or sales tax was charged. for $300. A pair of paper mache rabbit The session included various general candy containers sold for $65 to the trade. store items, advertising material, milk bot- Chalk ware rabbits were sold as well as tles, glassware, tinware, paintings and numerous baskets of eggs. Some of the egg prints, tin toys, baskets, patriotic items, baskets were of Breininger redware eggs. Groups of 10-12 eggs per basket sold for $110 to $250. Among the notable items sold at the A large Regina music player was sold at noon two-day sale were a period redware molded during the furniture portion of the sale. It half ear of corn, which sold for $1,450; a brought $12,500. Willoughby Smith slip-decorated redware plate, which sold for $2,200; and a handdrawn fraktur with birds and tulips dated “1801,” which sold for $3,900. The two later items sold to Marietta, Pa., dealers Oliver Overlander II and Harry Hartman. Potter Willoughby Smith (1839-1905) worked a short distance down the road from
This large German candy container shown here by Conestoga Auction Co.’s Doug Ebersole sold for $300.
the sale site in Wormelsdorf. A rye straw bee skep sold for $650, a large wrought iron fork, $1,500; a cast iron painted standing rabbit doorstop, $225 to the trade; and an early watch hutch with tombstone arched door with watch and gold fob sold for $1,900. A miniature Peter Derr (1793-1868) stamped brass scoop sold for $1,700, and a small Derr weight with lead filling went for $525. A kettle lamp made in 1969 by Charlie Rittle (1920-2008) of Myerstown, Pa., sold for $70. Lester often invited skilled (Continued on page 2)
This large Breininger pottery platter sold to a private collector for $225.
The Breininger man and lion made in 1974 in excellent condition sold for $725. It was probably made to represent the biblical story of Daniel in the lion’s den. It is illustrated in Paul This early Breininger redware lamb with a An array of German candy containers sold. Locher’s book titled “Collecting Breininger broken and repaired base sold for $160. It was One large example in excellent condition made in 1968. Pottery: From A to Z.” brought $300.
Contemporary carver Jonathan Bastain of Virginia painted this portrait of carver Wilhelm Schimmel. Notice the two applied spread-wing eagles on the frame. It sold for $525 to dealers Oliver Overlander II and Harry Hartman.