The Thursday and Friday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, Pook & Pook sale will begin with a collection of mochaware. The first three-quarters of this large grouping was sold over the course of multiple Pook & Pook auctions beginning in 2019. This last batch consists of 65 lots. Among them is an excellent large mocha bowl with earthworm decoration.
Next on the block will be the estate of Charles W. Wilson of Red Lion, Pa., featuring 86 lots of Pennsylvania Chippendale and Philadelphia Queen Anne furniture, and an extraordinary collection of early tall case clocks. The highlight is the Taylor Family Queen Anne mahogany easy chair, Philadelphia, ca. 1760. It is an early example of American upholstered seating furniture in the Queen Anne style and estimated at $20,000-$30,000. Other notable furniture lots include a pair of Queen Anne walnut compass seat dining chairs, ca. 1760, estimated at $8,000-$12,000; a Boston, Mass., Chippendale mahogany secretary desk, ca. 1770, estimated at $10,000-$20,000; and a Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania Queen Anne tiger maple high chest estimated at $8,000-$12,000.
The clocks include examples from 18th-century Philadelphia clock makers. Of importance is a rare New York Federal mahogany musical tall case clock, ca. 1790, estimated at $20,000-$30,000. A Philadelphia Chippendale walnut tall case clock by William Huston, ca. 1775, will be estimated at $8,000-$12,000, and a rare English mahogany tall case clock by Joseph Skinner Winterbonn, $15,000-$20,000.
Expected top lots include a Chester County, Pa., walnut line and berry inlaid blanket chest, dated 1782, estimated $15,000-$20,000, and a Chester County walnut line and berry spice chest, ca. 1760, estimated at $10,000-$15,000. Also from Chester County is a Queen Anne walnut spice chest, ca. 1760, estimated $6,000-$12,000. Another lot not to miss is a rare Philadelphia combback Windsor armchair, ca. 1760 and branded by Thomas Gilpin, estimated $8,000-$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, $8,000-$12,000, and a Massachusetts Federal mahogany card table, ca. 1800, also attributed to the shop of John and Thomas Seymour, $8,000-$12,000.
Other objects include a variety of folk art, frakturs, and samplers. Of note is a Pennsylvania redware plate, possibly by Diehl, and a New Jersey spoon rack. A very fine Pennsylvania German large cutwork valentine for Johannes Schaffer, who was born in Philadelphia, ca. 1788, is estimated at $6,000-$8,000. A collection of weathervanes includes a rare copper butterfly, 19th century, $5,000-$8,000, and a molded copper jumping horse and hoop, ca. 1870, $6,000-$9,000. Frakturs include a vibrant Adam Wertz, Paradise Township, York County, Pa., ink and watercolor fraktur with a large eagle, dated 1835, 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 attributed by Wilhelm Schimmel (1817-1890) to market. This sale offers seven Schimmels, including a spread wing eagle estimated at $12,000-$18,000. A major work of folk art offered is an important Boston, Mass., 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 (1749-96), estimated at $20,000-$30,000.
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 Aug. 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 19th-century items. The Catzens, of Stevenson, Md., collected for decades and were well-known as proprietors of Englemeade House. The material includes a Kingston, Mass., Queen Anne walnut high chest, ca. 1765, estimated $10,000-$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, which can be ordered online at www.pookandpook.com.
There are many fine silver lots, including a Tiffany seven-piece sterling tea and coffee service, estimated $6,000-$10,000, and several lots of Georg Jensen sterling silver, flatware service in the Cactus pattern, estimated $7,000-$9,000; a sterling silver pitcher, by Henning Koppel, estimated $5,000-$7,000; and a scarce Francis Richardson Jr. Philadelphia, Pa., silver porringer.
The Fine Art category is very strong, offering a major collection of 20th-century American sculpture. Works include Harriet Whitney Frishmuth’s 1926 large bronze fountain “Crest of the Wave,” estimated at $200,000-$300,000, and Malvina Hoffman’s large bronze fountain, “Boy with Panther Cub,” ca. 1915, estimated at $40,000-$60,000. A unique Elie Nadelman bronze, titled “Man’s Head,” ca. 1906-07, is estimated at $40,000-$60,000. Two bronzes by Wiliam Zorach include “Pair of Pumas,” ca. 1950, 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, and an enormously engaging “Tortoise.”
Paintings include early American works, led by Charles Wilson Peale’s 1772 portrait of Sarah Benezet Bartow, estimated $10,000-$15,000. A portrait of Mrs. Tobin, attributed to John Singleton Copley, is estimated at $4,000-$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, estimated $80,000-$120,000, and a pen-and-ink colored drawing by Damien Hirst, estimated $10,000-$20,000.
Anchoring this big sale is a massive limestone fireplace mantel, early 19th century, inscribed “Liberty,” estimated $5,000-$10,000.
Phone, absentee, live, and internet bidding are all available for this auction. Online bidding will be available on Bidsquare and Invaluable. To learn more about the auction, visit Pook & Pook’s website at www.pookandpook.com or call 610-269-4040.