Pook & Pook's September 30th & October 1st, 2021 Americana & International Auction

Pook & Pook Auction’s two-day sale September 30^th and October 1st promises to be one of its biggest Americana & International events to date.

The sale will begin with the Pennsylvania Mocha collection. The first three quarters of this noted collection was sold over the course of multiple Americana auctions at Pook & Pook starting in October 2019, where 62 lots bringing a total of $61,616. The last batch of the collection promises to be equally as exciting. Amongst the 65 lots is an excellent large Mocha bowl with earth worm decoration, estimated at $3/4,000.

Next on the block will be The Estate of Charles W. Wilson of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, featuring 86 lots of Pennsylvania Chippendale and Philadelphia Queen Anne furniture, and an extraordinary collection of early tall case clocks. The collection highlight is The Taylor Family Queen Anne mahogany easy chair, Philadelphia, ca. 1760, an early example of American upholstered seating furniture in the Queen Anne style, estimated at $20/30,000. Other notable furniture lots include a pair of Queen Anne walnut compass seat dining chairs circa 1760 estimated at $8/12,000, a Boston, Massachusetts Chippendale mahogany secretary desk, circa 1770, estimated at $10/20,000, and a Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania Queen Anne tiger maple high chest estimated at $8/12,000. The clocks include desirable examples from 18^th century Philadelphia clock makers. Of importance is a rare New York Federal mahogany musical tall case clock, ca. 1790, estimate $20/30,000. A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Chippendale walnut tall case clock by William Huston, ca. 1775 is estimated at $8/12,000; and a rare English mahogany tall case clock by Joseph Skinner Winterbonn at $15/20,000.

Lot 68, a Chester County walnut line and berry spice chest, ca. 1760, estimated at $10,000-$15,000

The Americana sale at Pook & Pook always offers a quantity of fine furniture, and this sale is no exception. Top lots include a Chester County, Pennsylvania walnut line and berry inlaid blanket chest, dated 1782, estimate $15/20,000, and a Chester County walnut line and berry spice chest, ca. 1760, estimated at $10/15,000. Also from Chester County is a Queen Anne walnut spice chest, ca. 1760, estimate $6/12,000. Another lot not to miss is a rare Philadelphia combback Windsor armchair, ca. 1760 and branded by Thomas Gilpin, estimate $8/12,000. Three Soap Hollow pieces grace the sale, as does a dower chest by The Embroidery Artist, ca. 1797. New England furniture includes an important Massachusetts Federal mahogany three-part secretary desk, ca. 1805, attributed to the shop of John and Thomas Seymour, estimate $8/12,000, a Massachusetts Federal mahogany card table, ca. 1800, also attributed to the shop of John and Thomas Seymour, estimate $8/12,000.

Other objects include a variety of folk art, frakturs, and samplers. Of note is a Pennsylvania redware plate, possibly by Diehl, at $3/5,000, and a New Jersey spoon rack at $4/8,000. A fine miniature Pennsylvania painted pine blanket chest, ca. 1810, is $6/9,000. A Lancaster, Pennsylvania painted Weber dressing box is estimated at $8/12,000. An extremely rare Pennsylvania German large cutwork valentine for Johannes Schaffer, who was born in Philadelphia ca. 1788, is estimated at $6/8,000. A collection of weathervanes includes a rare copper butterfly, 19^th c, at $5/8,000, and a molded copper jumping horse and hoop, ca. 1870, estimated at $6/9,000. Frakturs include a vibrant Adam Wertz, Paradise Township, York County, PA ink and watercolor fraktur with a large eagle, dated 1835, estimate $3/5,000, and works by the Blousy Angel Artist and Reverend Henry Young. Maps include a scarce Thomas Holmes map of Philadelphia, ca. 1683, the first printed map of the city. 

Pook & Pook continues its tradition of bringing folk art carvings by Wilhelm Schimmel (1817-1890) to market. This sale offers seven Schimmels, including a spread wing eagle estimated at $12/18,000. A major work of folk art offered is an important Boston, Massachusetts needlework, ca. 1780, depicting two couples in front of a Georgian brick home with a young woman, leaping dog, and African American servant pouring glasses of wine. An early typed note verso states that the needlework descended in the family of Revolutionary War General Christian Febiger (1749-1796), estimate $20/30,000.

Lot 599, Historical Blue Staffordshire Landing of Lafayette, estimated at $3,000-$5,000

The theme of The Transferware Collection of Robert Galli is the visit of the Marquis de Lafayette, the last surviving general of the Revolutionary War, to America on August 16, 1824. Featured are 61 lots of Historical Blue Staffordshire Landing of Lafayette pieces, 10 lots of Welcome Lafayette, and a rare Samuel Maverick engraving “The Landing of Lafayette,” the artwork that served as the basis for the iconic image.

The Dic and Donnie Catzen Collection of Americana features early 19^th century items. The Catzens, of Stevenson, Maryland, collected Americana for decades and were well-known as proprietors of Englemeade House. Their collection includes a Kingston, Massachusetts Queen Anne walnut high chest, ca. 1765, estimate $10/15,000, a quantity of Delft, to include a large Delft  portrait, tulip, and Adam and Eve chargers, a polychrome bowl, and Georgian silver. The Adam and Eve charger is the cover lot for the printed catalog for this auction.

There are many fine silver lots, including a Tiffany seven-piece sterling tea and coffee service, estimate $6/10,000, and several lots of Georg Jensen sterling silver: flatware service in the Cactus pattern, estimate $7/9,000, a sterling silver pitcher, by Henning Koppel, estimate $5/7,000, and a scarce Francis Richardson Jr., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania silver porringer.

The Fine Art category is very strong, offering a major collection of 20^th c. American sculpture. Works include Harriet Whitney Frishmuth’s 1926 large bronze fountain Crest of the Wave, estimated at $200/300,000, and Malvina Hoffman’s large bronze fountain, Boy with Panther Cub, ca. 1915, estimated at $40/60,000. A unique Elie Nadelman bronze, titled Man’s Head, ca. 1906-1907, is estimated at $40/60,000. Two bronzes by Wiliam Zorach include Pair of Pumas, ca. 1950, estimate $20/30,000, and Black Cat. Two posthumous bronze castings by Paul Howard Manship include his iconic The Moods of Time: Morning, Day, Evening, and Night, cast ca. 1992, estimate $15/25,000, and an enormously engaging Tortoise. British works include Dame Elisabeth Frink’s Bird (With an Attitude), estimate $12/18,000, Edward Paolozzi’s Newton, After Blake, estimate $12/18,000, and a whole barnyard menagerie by Terence Coventry. 

Lot 129, Bass Otis (American 1784-1861), oil on canvas family portrait, 1824, Caleb Cresson's Children

Paintings include early American works, led by Charles Wilson Peale’s 1772 portrait of Sarah Benezet Bartow, estimate $10/15,000. A portrait of Mrs. Tobin, attributed to John Singleton Copley, is estimated at $4/6,000. Also of note is the lively family portrait Caleb Cresson’s Children, 1824, by Bass Otis. Works of a later date include Cecilia Beaux, Stanley Arthurs, Christopher Willett, Philip Jamison, Eric Sloane, and three members of the Gruppe family of painters. 

Modern works on paper include Andy Warhol’s Mickey Mouse (from Myths) screenprint in colors with diamond dust, estimate $80/120,000, and a pen and ink colored drawing by Damien Hirst, estimate $10/20,000.

Anchoring this massive sale is a massive limestone fireplace mantel, early 19^th c., inscribed Liberty, estimate $5/10,000.