Berks Community Television (BCTV) is bringing live auctions to television with the debut airing of a new show called “Auction Action on BCTV” on Monday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. The first item will come up for bid at 7 p.m. The program will be hosted by Bill Howze, the owner of The Renaissance Auction Group in Reading, Pa., and host of the existing BCTV show “All That Stuff.”
In the first hour of the show, Howze will explain how the auction works and preview featured lots. All bidding is online. Individuals can bid from anywhere in the world on their desktop or mobile devices; bidding began on Jan. 16.
Auction previews will be held at 1251 Chestnut St. in Reading, Pa., on two Saturdays and Sundays – Jan. 21, 22, 28 and 29, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Berks County residents who have BCTV as part of their cable package will be able to view the show live. Bidding will be driven through The Renaissance Auction Group website at www.auctionhowze.com. The show will average one item closing per minute.
The debut program/auction will feature many items in a broad range of categories, many of them specific to Berks County. These will include a Berks County tall case clock, a Reading Trolley fare counter, a Philadelphia & Reading Railroad platform sign, and paintings by regional artists.
“The merchandise mix will include multiple categories of antiques, collectibles, and fine art,” said Howze. “We expect a strong and enthusiastic viewership in our first show, especially with the many interesting items relating to Berks County. I’m pleased that my auction firm will be conducting this event in conjunction with BCTV. Part of the proceeds will benefit our public access channel.”
Heather Adams, executive director of BCTV, echoed those sentiments. “Bill Howze’s ‘All That Stuff’ show consistently ranks in the top 10 programs viewed online at bctv.org, so we’re excited to have him host a second show with such a unique auction concept,” she said. “As for the partnership, it’s a win-win. Plus it widens our audience by attracting antiques and collectibles enthusiasts.”
Adams said BCTV has benefited from fundraiser auctions for 25 years, but not in this way. She added that “Auction Action on BCTV” is scheduled to air from 6 to 10 p.m., but because of the nature of an auction, it may run shorter or longer. The show will be telecast live from the BCTV studio. BCTV is seen in 100,000 homes in Berks County through Comcast and Service Electric cable.
The regional artists represented in the auction will include Christopher Shearer (1846-1926), Victor Shearer (1872-1951), W. Eugene Burkhardt Jr., M.B. (Mary) Leisz, and Hazel Feltman (1947-2012), among others. All had direct ties to Reading and Berks County. A 1925 oil-on-canvas by Christopher Shearer will be sold, along with three Victor Shearer works dating from 1935 to 1941. Two W. Eugene Burkhardt Jr. cut flower collages will also be sold.
Christopher Shearer was born in Reading and is known for his landscape, coastal, and wildlife paintings. His father encouraged his artistic side by building him a studio in the backyard of their Shearertown farm. At age 21, he opened a studio in Reading. Shearer exhibited his works at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
Victor Shearer made a name for himself by becoming a landscape and seascape painter in the traditional style. He often sold his artworks for a few dollars apiece on the streets of Reading. He lived in Reading nearly his entire life, and prior to pursuing art, he had a basket making business.
W. Eugene Burkhardt Jr. was an internationally known dried flower artist and the author of “Pressed Flower Art: Tips, Tools, and Techniques for Learning the Craft.” In September 2015, an auction of Burkhardt’s work including framed and unframed prints, awards, and Philadelphia Flower Show entries was held at Renninger’s Market in Kutztown.
Additional items in the auction specific to Pennsylvania will include a Chippendale tall case clock, a period Chippendale side chair, a 1909 photo lithograph showing the mayor of Reading and members of the Reading Police Department, a watercolor painting by Jack Coggins (1911-2006), and photos of Civil War soldiers from Fleetwood, Pa., and Reading.
Items in the auction not connected to Reading will include an original work by pop art icon Peter Max (New York, b. 1937), a Tiffany sterling silver cake stand weighing 38 troy silver ounces, portrait miniatures of the Emperor Napoleon and his Empress Josephine, and a pair of original oil-on-canvas studies by Lord Frederick Leighton (Great Britain, 1830-96). Leighton received his training in Brussels, Paris, and Frankfurt, unlike most major artists of the 19th century, who studied at the Royal Academy of Schools.
BCTV can be seen on Comcast Reading channel 15, Comcast-Southern Berks channel 965, and Service Electric channel 19. The Municipal Access Channel (MAC) is Comcast Reading channel 99. BCTV.org is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation committed to providing live programming produced and hosted by members of the community on cable TV and its website.
The Renaissance Auction Group is located at 1404 Friedensburg Road in Reading.
To learn more about Berks County Television, visit www.BCTV.org.
To learn more about The Renaissance Auction Group, visit www.auctionhowze.com.