I wasnt going to let it go, mentioned the proud new owner of the Tulip Shop sign when Witman Auctioneers conducted the Barbara Strawser estate at the Lebanon Expo Center in Lebanon, Pa., on Oct. 25. The large double-sided tin with wooden frame mid-20th century sign advertised Hattie Brunners antiques shop. The buyer, Amy Brunner Moore, is a descendant of Hattie Brunner. An interested and active steward of family history, Brunner Moore and husband have an extensive archive of family information, much of it pertaining to the famous antiques dealer and folk painter. Any regular reader of Antiques & Auction News knows the name Hattie Brunner (1889-1982), one of the most well-known dealers of American antiques to ever live. The Reinholds, Pa., native operated a shop on Rt. 897 in the village for roughly half a century and used this sign periodically down the block to advertise the shop in the 1960s and 70s. The sign was kept in a carriage house outbuilding following Brunners passing and inherited by Strawser, also connected to the family. It sold for $13,800. Prices reported include a 15 percent buyers premium. A folk painter, Barbara Strawser (1944-2024) of Schaefferstown, Pa., passed away unexpectedly last year at age 79. From a family of folk artists, her grandmothers sister was Hattie Brunner. Barbaras parents were Walter (1921-2018) and June (1920-2021) Gottshall. Her grandparents were Luke (1899-1993) and Fannie (1891-1976) Gottshall. Fannie and Hattie were sisters. Barbara was the former wife of the late Daniel G. Strawser, Sr. The two divorced in the early 1980s. Dan Strawser (1943-2023) passed away at age 79. Luke and Clarke Witman of Witman Auctioneers conducted the estate sale. It was in-person only bidding, and a sizable crowd attended. Among the items sold were country antiques, Barbaras artwork, Gottshall folk art, Foltz pottery, Breininger pottery, Hopf artwork, and much more. The sale ran all day, and buyers stayed until the end. For a marketplace that many attest is all over the map today, prices as a whole held up. To be an appraiser in 2025 is akin to throwing darts; you can try and make an educated assessment, but prices are more uncertain that ever in the market. At the heart of it all is the balance of supply and demand. If a particular category had five serious buyers and one passes away, two begin to downsize, and one is on vacation during a particular sale, that leaves one active participant left, until a new audience enters the fray. The generation who bought quality Pennsylvania German folk art such as the material in this sale were active during the golden era around the bicentennial in the mid 1970s and are now downsizing. The majority of their children have not followed their parents passions in collecting or decorating. A related example of how a market changes over time is that of David Ellinger paintings. Ellinger (1913-2003) was a folk painter whose work, citing auction prices realized, have cooled off. Following his passing, record prices were paid, but as time passed, not enough buyers have continued to support the market, and prices have fallen. Yet, Hattie Brunner remains relevant and as popular as ever today. Her watercolor paintings have an active audience. An original winter farm scene sold for $8,400. Brunners brother-in-law Luke Gottshall (1899-1993) was a folk artist on Mechanic Street in Reinholds. One of his horse-drawn wagons sold for $750. Brunner sold his folk art in her shop. Her sister and Lukes wife, Fannie, made folky fabric spool chickens and collages. They sold well at this sale. A Walter and June Gottshall (Reinholds) large rooster carving brought $800; a tall crane, $480; and their incredible 6-foot tall bird tree realized $2,500. A Dan Strawser Jr. large Schimmel-influenced spread-wing eagle realized $750. A Luke and Fannie primitive farm scene painting was $520; a Barbara Strawser pumpkin patch painting sold for $700; a Barbara painting of rabbits and cat, $630; and a farm scene from the 1970s was $600. Another Barbara Strawser painting reading Chow Chow was $330, and an auction scene painting, $500. A 1950 Stahl redware molded rooster was $350, and an unusual three-scene vertical reverse painting on glass with gilded walnut shells embellishing the frame by John F. Long (1894-1984) of Reinholds sold for $300. This John Long is not to be confused with John G. Long of Slatington, Pa., who passed away in 2002 and was a master basketmaker. One week later, on Nov. 1, Witman held an on-site sale at Strawsers house in Schaefferstown, Pa. It was another all-day event. The real estate brought $289,000. Much of the material sold on-site had damage, but her friends were there and bought, marking the end of an era in this chapter of Pennsylvania German folk art. Barbara is dearly missed by many who loved her. For more information, call Witman Auctioneers at 717-665-5735.