Date: Fri 16-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAG

Quick Words:

Pook

Full Text:

Pook & Pook Auction

w/17 cuts

By J.M. Fletcher

LUDWIGS CORNER, PA. -- Pook & Pook, Inc. held their large, two-day autumn

antiques auction on September 25 and 26. Fine late Eighteenth and early

Nineteenth Century furniture and paintings dominated the more than 874 lot

sale catalogue.

According to Ron Pook, Friday evening's event was standing room only. He then

predicted a banner sale for the following day, naming the large number of lots

offered -- the most Pook has ever featured in a fall auction -- as a major

factor. With only three open lines, the phone bank also anticipated a busy

sale. "I have about 200 different bids to execute," said Erin Duffy.

Pook's comments were prophetic. The auction, including a ten percent buyer's

premium, pulled in over $1,100,000.

The top lot, number 61, carried a modest $4/5,000 estimate: a pair of F.

Kemmelmeyer (American, act. 1788-1816) pastel portraits of husband and wife

John Bell and Jane Tilden. The works, 24 inches high by 18 inches wide, each

signed and dated 1814, in their original frames, had descended directly to the

present owners.

"There was a lot of interest in [the portraits]," commented auction cataloguer

Kellie Seltzer, "some from museums in the Virginia area."

Competition seesawed between floor and telephone, with the most persistent of

the several floor bidders out-distancing the rest to a final price of $50,000.

Other highlights included a southeastern Pennsylvania fraktur bookplate, circa

1800, 3¬ by four inches, depicting two gentlemen in long blue coats with

rapiers, together with another bookplate, ex Susse collection (est

$1,5/2,500), which brought $20,000.

Featured on the catalogue cover, a rare, 12-inch high Pennsylvania tinsmith's

model of a gentleman wearing a blue military jacket and hat, following behind

a two-wheel plow drawn by two yoked oxen, sold at $5,000 (est $2,5/3,000).

Selling for over three times its low estimate of $1,500, copper sulky and

rider weathervane, circa 1900, rode to $4,750.

Outstanding paintings included a 32-inch high by 46-inch wide, oil on canvas

Western landscape signed Edgar Payne (American 1882-1947), which made $14,000

(est $10/15,000). Two pairs of oil on canvas portraits featuring Salisbury,

Conn. sitters, by Ammi Phillips (American, 1788-1865) sold at their low

estimates of $5,000 and $5,500.

Of more than 20 lots of hand woven rugs, a small Caucasian mat with six blue

geometric medallions, 7'5" by 4'5", made $2,750 (est $1/1,400).

Among some 25 lots of pewter flagons, chargers and candlesticks, the top

offering consisted of three teapots, including one bearing the touch of F.

Porter, Westbrook, Me., that made $3,500 (est $5/700).

Seldom seen at auction was an autographed card of introduction, signed and

dated October 7, 1864, by Abraham Lincoln, that sold for $5,000 (est

$2/3,000).

Also rare and very actively sought after, a 10‹-inch diam eter slip decorated

Pennsylvania redware bowl, bearing a green, yellow and black glazed distelfink

-- or brightly colored bird -- sitting on a tulip, early Nineteenth Century,

ex Sussel collection, made $13,000 (est $2/3,000). Also much desired by the

floor was a pair of Chinese Export porcelain famille rose wall pockets, 10«

inches high, late Eighteenth Century, ex Sussel collection, that sold at

$2,600 (est $600/800).

Prices quoted, unless otherwise noted, do not include buyers premium. The next

Pook & Pook catalogue sale will be held on December 4 & 5.