Pook and Pook Inc. Auctioneers and Appraisers in Downingtown, Pa., continued to post strong results in these challenging times with their online only Decorative Arts Auction on May 20, selling 499 out of the 500 lots that crossed the auction block. Prices realized were almost 50 percent over high estimate, proving that the antique buying public is hungry to add acquisitions to their collections. Limited auctions, cancelled antique shows, and closed antique shops appear to be the driving force behind the online buying frenzy witnessed at the last five Pook and Pook auctions. There were 2,176 registered bidders covering all 50 states as well as a handful of other countries all vying to take home items. Bidsquare.com and Invaluble.com both brought potential buyers to the keyboard on their bidding platforms. Invaluable.com almost doubled Bidsquare.com in the number of registered bidders; however, Bidsquare clients spent the most money.
The top selling lot of the day came as a big surprise when two early religious texts sold for $5,375. Both books contained watercolor fraktur bookplates; however, it was the book itself that caused the surge in price. An early Ausbund das ist Etliche Schone Christliche Lieder, with leather cover dated 1774, was the prize, more so than the fraktur inside. It took 74 bids before it was sold to an East Coast buyer.
For the second online-only sale in a row, textiles from the collection of Linda and Dennis Moyer of Zionsville, Pa., produced oversized results. Someone loosened up their belt and bid $4,000 against a conservative estimate of $200-$300 for one lot of clothing. The remainder of this collection, including dozens of additional textile lots, is coming up for auction on Friday and Saturday, July 10 and 11.
It took 76 bids to declare a winner on lot 1071, which included two pieces of redware from Stahl Pottery, selling for $2,563. The main prize of the two items was a vase by I. S. Stahl, dated 1942 with interesting applied flowers and pretzel style handles. A piece of James Seagreaves redware went to the dogs. Two bidders chased one charming figural pup, which was initialed and dated 1957, to the howling sum of $1,813. Someone was having company over for Sunday dinner and needed some spare dishes because a nice set of ironstone with morning glory decoration was served up for $1,688, slightly more than the $1,438 paid for a Gaudy ironstone service with a vine pattern. A painted pine drysink in an old mustard surface did well, selling to a Midwest buyer. A Westtown School needlework sampler brought $975, and an unframed sampler sold for $850.
Some nice stoneware crossed the virtual auction block. A S. Hart, Fulton, N.Y., jug with love birds led the charge, bringing $925. Other items of note were a group of marbles, $613; a leaded glass table lamp, $750; a set of six plank seat chairs, $800; and an unusual Wagner Ware cast-iron country store display rack brought $900.
For additional information about upcoming or past sales, call 610-269-4040 or email info@pookandpook.com.