Pook & Pook Auctioning Important American Folk Art
The January 13-14 sale also includes fraktur, tall case clocks, fine art, furniture and more.
DOWNINGTOWN, PA - Pook & Pook will ring in the New Year by auctioning a number of rare and important works of American folk art and fraktur, as well as a large group of tall case clocks and fine art in its wide-ranging Americana & International sale January 13 and 14.
Session 1 on Thursday starts at 6 p.m. EST and features 160 lots. Session 2 on Friday, featuring 429 lots, starts at 9 a.m. EST.
One of the American folk art highlights being offered in Session Two includes by a rare, large carved and painted pine figure of a tiger devouring a soldier by Wilhelm Schimmel (Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania 1817-1890). Carved circa 1880, this subject matter is unique for Schimmel, whose art was typically of local animals and pets. The victim, Hector Munro, was hunting on Saugor Island in West Bengal in 1793 when he was fatally attacked by a tiger. This horrific event fascinated people both in Europe and America. The Sultan of Mysore, a bitter enemy of the British, celebrated the event by having a life-size tiger devouring Munro built, with mechanical devices to simulate screams and roars. The device is now in the V & A Museum in London. Staffordshire potteries also produced pearlware figures to commemorate the event.
It is most likely that Schimmel saw one of these representations somewhere in his travels of rural Pennsylvania, and desired to duplicate the figure in his unique manner. Estimate is $40,000-$60,000.
Another folk art highlight being offered in Session One is a rare large John Scholl (American 1827-1916) floor-standing sculpture. Typical of his best work and standing over six feet tall, three tiers of colonnades support elaborate decorated cornices, all painted red, white, and blue, resting on a pedestal supported by a shelf and four downward-sloping brackets and shoe feet. A Pennsylvania German carpenter, after retirement he started whittling toys, wall plaques, and free-standing sculptures. He referred to the free-standing sculptures as “Celebrations,” celebrating occasions such as Christmas, spring, weddings, and snow. Estimate is $20,000-$40,000.
A tiger maple shelf being offered in Session Two, mid-18th century, with scalloped sides retaining a fine old patina and four shelves, holds an instant collection of vibrant color and form: a fine collection of around 34 Pennsylvania German small wallpaper boxes, pin cushions, and carvings begun by Mr. and Mrs. Paul Flack of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, and added to by noted artist and collector Barry Cohen. Estimate is $15,000-$20,000.
A large selection of high quality fraktur being offered in both sessions is highlighted by the Engraver Artist (Southeastern Pennsylvania active 1791-1804), a wonderful ink and watercolor fraktur of a husband and wife flanking a pair of flintlock pistols and a sabre, all within a floral vine border, the man and woman each with a faint German inscription around them translated on back as the woman: Ah my love, have mercy. Come and kiss me, the man: I have no time for love. I must practice soldiery, estimate: $8,000-$12,000; and a Christian Alsdorf (Southeastern Pennsylvania active 1789-1821) ink and watercolor birth certificate for Judith Alsdorff, b. 1799, estimate $6,000-$9,000.
Other Americana lots not to miss are a collection of 19th century fire helmets; a collection of American flags; trade signs; quilts, coverlets; and a carved and painted carousel horse, circa 1900, attributed to the Dentzel Company, Germantown, Pennsylvania, retaining an old paint history and a Harry Hartman provenance. Also noted is a pair of large wrought iron andirons, early 20th century in the manner of Samuel Yellin, with bronze figural tops, tulip engraved plinths, and large dragon heads.
A wide assortment of early tall case clocks includes a Boston Federal signed Aaron Willard, Jr., a Philadelphia Queen Anne signed Joseph Wills, a Philadelphia Federal signed David Weatherly, a Delaware Chippendale signed Thomas Crow, and more early American clocks from the Estate of Charles West Wilson, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, including examples by Philadelphia clock makers Benjamin Rittenhouse, John Wood, and William Huston, and a Massachusetts clock signed John Rogers Newton.
Fine Pennsylvania furniture will feature a Berks County painted pine dower chest, dated 1806, retaining its original lid decoration and a number of added features like spread winged eagles, birds, and roosters—an especially fine example from this group of chests, in a very fine state of preservation, estimate $12,000-$18,000. Also of note is a Pennsylvania painted poplar hanging wall box, mid-19th century, retaining its original decoration with flowers and fruit on a red ground, estimate $10,000-$15,000.
Many pieces of silver include a large Gorham sterling silver compote, 1871, with figural support; a Bailey & Co. sterling berry bowl with wirework strawberry design; and a New York sterling tureen, circa 1870, by Wood & Hughes, with figural handles.
The gallery exhibition begins on Saturday, January 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and will also be held Monday, January 10, through Wednesday, January 12, from - 10am to 4pm, Thursday, January 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday, January 14, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Online bidding for this auction is on Bidsquare.com, Invaluable.com and PookLive! Phone, in-house absentee, and live bidding will also be offered.
For more information, visit pookandpook.com, call 610-269-4040, or email info@pookandpook.com.
