On August 19^th, 2021, Pook & Pook presents The Collection of Barbara A. & Fred Johnson, of Rockford, Illinois. Owners of Barbara A. Johnson Antiques, the couple spent decades traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe in search of antiques, specializing in Swedish and Scandinavian folk art and furniture. Their personal collection features a colorful polychrome painted mixture of American furniture from Southeastern Pennsylvania and many very special pieces of 18^th and 19^th century Swedish furniture.

Highlighting the sale are two iconic Swedish clocks. Lot 1018 is a traditional 19^th century Mora clock with a signed dial and a rococo shaped, grain-painted case. Lot 1012 is another 19^th century Mora clock with signed dial. This clock case is rectilinear, its clean lines enhanced by a panel of carved detailing and pale blue paint. The works are from family workshops in the clock making center of Mora, in Dalarna, Sweden, and the cases likely by local carpenters nearer the purchaser’s home.

Like a pair of sisters in starched cornettes, two Swedish painted pine cupboards exemplify period style. Lot 1044, dated 1796, has two paneled doors above a single door with canted corners. Every panel is festooned with original paint decoration of stylized flowers, the architectural pediment with flower chains. Lot 1016 is a grain-painted cupboard constructed with two paneled doors over two lower, the panels decorated with vases of stylized flowers. The pediment bears flower chains and a floral crest dated 1831.

Two 18^th/19^th century Swedish sofa beds were early space savers, serving as bench seats in the daytime and pulling out into beds at night. Lot 1034 retains its original salmon surface, the initials of its owner, and the date 1876, while an earlier example, lot 1040, retains traces of an old blue surface.

Offering many desirable Swedish features are lots 1024 and 1028, a painted pine table and armchair. The small table has graceful rococo curves and retains an old powder blue finish. The armchair has out swept arms, tapered legs, and an old blue surface with red accents.

No fewer than eight 18^th and 19^th century Swedish and Scandinavian hanging cupboards brighten the collection with a burst of folkloric floral paint decoration. The grouping of shapes is sculptural in fashion with a mixture of gracefully curved pediments, flat and straight lines, and carved details.

Smaller objects include desirable 18th century Scandinavian mangle boards, to include a herd of Swedish horses and a Norwegian lion. There are four lots of iron-bound Swedish lock boxes, numerous wooden lanterns, painted scutching knives, and kitchen woodenware.

Americana blends beautifully with the Swedish and Scandinavian décor. Lot 1159, a painted pine turkey breast corner cupboard, late 18^th century, is dry scraped to an old blue surface, and lot 1367, a 19^th century Pennsylvania painted pine drysink with an old red surface.

There is also a Great Lakes regional presence in the collection. There are paintings, decoys, wood carvings, and carved and painted folk art furniture by Lou Schifferl, a noted Wisconsin artist represented by Barbara. As described by daughter Ginny Eames, suspended in air from beams in their home’s lofty ceiling flew a magical flock geese, swans, ducks, and all manner of birds, many carved by Schifferl.

The item that connects all elements of the far-ranging Johnson Collection, providing a narrative for the whole, is lot 1083, a Swedish immigrant trunk. A pine trunk, strapped in iron, retaining its original blue ground and floral paint decoration, is inscribed with the names of its owners and the date 1866. This piece, its simplicity, solidity, and folk art decoration, speaks volumes about its immigrant owners and the determination, strength, and hope that helped build our nation.

The auction begins at 9AM on Thursday, August 19^th, 2021. All bidding for this auction is online on Bidsquare and Invaluable. The gallery exhibition will run from 10AM to 4PM on Monday, August 16^th and Tuesday, August 17^th. For more information on this collection, please go to www.pookandpook.com or call (610) 269-4040.

by: Cynthia Beech Lawrence

Pook & Pook’s June 24^th and 25^th sale of the Estate of Joyce Bowes Collis recorded strong results, grossing $1.26 million, 19% above estimate. A high degree of interest and strong bidding pushed 47% of lots above high estimate, with a total of 79% of lots hammered down at or above estimate, and a 99.7% sell-through rate.

Furniture was the largest category, led by a monumental Lancaster County, Pennsylvania walnut architectural schrank, ca. 1770, which commanded an equally impressive price of $34,440 (lot 471; estimate $14,000-$25,000). Two quintessential Berks County, PA painted dower chests, late 18^th c., both retaining their brilliantly painted original surfaces, brought $13,530 (lot 86) and $15,990 (lot 425). A Sussex County, Delaware hard pine corner cupboard by Ralph Brothers, ca.1800, brought $18,450 (lot 491; estimate $3,000-$5,000), and a Pennsylvania painted poplar jelly cupboard, 19^th c, retaining its original yellow and red sgraffito decoration, inspired spirited bidding and sold for $11,070 (lot 308; estimate $1,000-$2,000). Equally desirable was a New England painted pine apothecary cabinet, 19^th c., retaining its original herbal and floral swag decoration, selling for $11,070 (lot 530; estimate $2,000-$3,000). Two George I pieces, a two-part oak secretary ca. 1730, and a diminutive oyster veneer chest of drawers ca.1720, brought $22,140 (lot 719; estimate $8,000-$10,000) and $11,685 (lot 725; estimate $500-$1,000). A delightful miniature Pennsylvania painted poplar corner cupboard, 19^th c., retaining an old blue surface and salmon interior, brought an outsized price of $6,765 (lot 630, estimate $800-$1,200).

The needlework category achieved a high return ratio, the top lot a large Charles II silk and metallic thread embroidery, late 17^th c., depicting royal figures in a landscape, surrounded by allegorical figures, birds, and beasts, that excited many bidders and commanded a $29,520 price (lot 701; estimate $6,000-$9,000). This result was rivalled by an elaborate English or Irish silk on linen sampler, 18^th c., wrought by Jane Frame, with a detailed Georgian manor house in a park teeming with animals and figures, which brought $27,060 (lot 683; estimate $3,000-$5,000). An intriguing Charles II stumpwork casket, dated 1653, with heavy embroidery and a secret compartment, brought $15,990 (lot 699; estimate $2,000-$3,000).

It was a strong sale for two local artists. The auction featured 31 works by David Ellinger, including a Pennsylvania Dutch folk art watercolor of a basket of fruit at $5,155 (lot 582; estimate $400-$600); and 31 works by Jeanne Davies, to include a painting of exotic birds selling for $6,150 (lot 222; estimate $400-$600). The top art category lot was an English portrait of a young girl with a bird, late 18^th c., which sold for $15,990 (lot 752; estimate $1,000-$2,000).

Additional highlights included the top lot of the sale, an important Montgomery County, Pennsylvania sgraffito redware charger, dated 1790, attributed to George Huebner, which achieved its high estimate of $36,900 (lot 273), and the first lot of the sale, an exceptional mocha pitcher, with earthworm, twig, and tulip decoration, which sold for $13,530 (lot 1; estimate $4,000-$7,000). The final lot, Chinese export Wooley Sheep famille rose porcelain, 18^th c., closed the sale with a strong $11,070 (lot 774; estimate $3,000-$4,000).

Pook & Pook will sell the remainder of the material from the Collis Estate on July 28^th and 29^th in an online Decorative Arts Auction. To find out more go to www.pookandpook.com.

Throughout her life, Joyce Bowes Collis always had an eye for beauty. Growing up as a young girl in Baltimore, Joyce was passionate about art and history and would spend her time sketching, designing clothing, reading history, and writing stories. After graduating from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in Westminster, Maryland with a degree in English and History, she moved to New York City to attend the New York School of Interior Design. There, as a young student, after a series of exams to assess her skills in design, she became the second student in the school’s history to have achieved the status of having a “perfect eye.”

Upon graduation, Joyce worked for several years as an interior designer and in advertising until she attended her first estate auction in the mid-’60s. She purchased a jelly cupboard and sold it shortly after. It was then that she had an “aha!” moment, realizing she could make a career out of both her love for history and her passion for art.

As evidenced by her substantial collection, which will be sold on June 24th & 25th at Pook & Pook’s gallery in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, Joyce had a great passion for collecting and a great interest in the history of the objects she admired. This matched her passion for visiting historic places across the country and in Europe, especially England and France. Over time, Joyce became a passionate collector of Americana, with a particular emphasis on the late 18th and early 19th century periods. She specifically sought out furniture that was blue or yellow – colors that were also represented in her extensive collection of soft paste. A fixture at many shows as an exhibitor throughout the 1960s and into the early 2000’s, Joyce was later a regular attendee at the major East Coast shows as she continued to expand her collection. She loved folk art, both antique and contemporary, and collected/represented many artists through the years, including David Ellinger. Her interests also strayed overseas, including the hundreds of pieces of European material, mostly from the UK, that were seamlessly folded into her vast collection of Americana.

During her lifetime, Joyce restored three beautiful historic homes, but her favorite was an 18th century mill house in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It reflected the county’s finest architecture in a magical setting, positioned high above the river with a covered bridge and Amish farmers in sight. Part of her passion was discovering new pieces to install in her gracious home. Had it not been so crowded with the furniture and art she adored, the house could have served as a museum on its own.

The items in this collection were near and dear to Joyce’s heart and are a result of her “perfect eye.” Session one, on June 24th, starts at 9AM with a large collection of mocha followed by several hundred lots of Mid-Atlantic Americana material including painted furniture, yellowware, folk art, redware, portraits, glass, needleworks, hooked rugs, wallpaper hat boxes, weathervanes, carvings, pearlware, canary Staffordshire, Leeds, Gaudy Welsh, quilts, woodenware, children’s furniture, toys, and more. Session two, on June 25th, begins at 9AM with a collection of spatter and continues with even more material from in and around Pennsylvania, as well as a sizeable selection of New England antiques and decorative accessories. The sale concludes with a selection of Black Forest carvings, several Dutch carved cakeboards, and over a hundred lots of material from across the pond, including dozens of elaborate English samplers, furniture, paintings, Chinese export, and other decorative accessories.

Interested bidders are encouraged to visit Pook & Pook’s website at www.pookandpook.com for additional information about the upcoming auction. For questions regarding condition or additional photograph requests, customers can email conditions@pookandpook.com. For question about online, in-house, phone or absentee bidder registration, or to purchase a printed catalog for the sale ($40), customers can email info@pookandpook.com or call (610) 269-4040. Gallery exhibition hours are posted online and begin Saturday, June 19th, 2021 at 9AM. To reserve a seat at the live sale, please call (610) 269-4040.

Pook & Pook would like to thank Carlie Lyons for the information and photographs provided in this press release.

Post-auction press release, Americana & International Auction at Pook & Pook, May 21, 2021

by: Cynthia Beech Lawrence

The May 21^st Americana and International auction continued a season of very strong results for Pook & Pook Inc. It was a beautiful spring day and the first event at which face masks were not requisite for all. Seeing old familiar faces brought visible smiles. The air of festivity fueled some spirited bidding.

First on the block was a collection of 15 antique historical firefighting items and Americana from the vaults of a New Jersey museum. The top lot of the sale was lot 1, an important cigar store Indian by Thomas Brooks of New York. Standing at 88”, this beautifully carved and polychromed sculpture towered over the sales room. Purported to have been made in 1882, it was in a wonderful state of preservation and retained its original plinth. After a lively bidding war, the statue commanded $63,000. Other spectacular prices for the New Jersey collection included two Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, painted fireman’s parade hats. Lot 2, from the Taylor Hose Company, decorated with a vignette of General and President Zachary Taylor, brought $22,680. Lot 9, from the United States Hose Company, with a vignette of a seated Liberty and inscribed United We Stand, Divided We Fall, sold for $25,200. The action was really heating up. Lot 15 was called for assistance. An early fire pump wagon, circa 1747, purportedly made in England for a Philadelphia volunteer fire company, rolled in with a cool $8,820.

Folk art continued to perform very strongly, with many pieces greatly exceeding their estimated value. The second star of the day was lot 235, an exquisite miniature watercolor portrait by Mrs. Moses B. Russell. After intensive bidding, the boy with riveting blue eyes was hammered down for $40,320. Lot 412, a Wilhelm Schimmel rooster, rare for its large size, sold for $16,380, followed by lot 413, a vibrant red Schimmel squirrel bringing $12,600. Interest took flight for two Maine carved and painted 19^th century birds, as lot 504, a wonderful kingfisher realized $10,710, and lot 505, a flicker, brought $8,190. Two very special fraktur bookplate lots sold well above estimate with lot 133, a Johann Adam Eyer, Berks County ink and watercolor book plate, with its original story book, selling for $4,788, and lot 134, a Christian Alsdorf ink and watercolor book plate with its original German scrip song book bringing $10,080.

Painted furniture was in high demand. Lot 362, a Pennsylvania painted pine drysink with an old pale green surface over the original red, and an irresistible original blue interior, crossed the auction block at $6,930. Lot 416, a diminutive 19^th c Pennsylvania painted pine bucket bench with an old red surface inspired spirited bidding, selling for $5,292.

Pook & Pook continued to feature exceptional tall case clocks. Lot 434, a Chester County Chippendale cherry tall case clock, circa 1770, signed B. Benjamin Chandlee, Nottingham, and descended in the Chandlee family, brought $23,940.

American artists were widely represented, with works from Charles Hoffman, Ben Austrian, Russell and Xanthus Smith, George Inness, William Merritt Chase, and the Philadelphia Ten. Of particular note was lot 550, a Wilhelm Gottfried Bauer oil on canvas family portrait hammered down for $8,820, and a rare collection of Civil War drawings. Confederate soldier John Jacob Omerhausser, an Austrian immigrant candy maker, was a prisoner of war at Point Lookout, Maryland who whiled away the time by drawing everything around him. Oberhausser detailed many aspects of daily life for the prisoners as well as interactions with the Black soldiers assigned to guard them. Sold in pairs, and originally bartered for food and art supplies, they were in high demand, with lots 185 and 190 each bringing $5,796.

Pook & Pook’s sterling reputation remained untarnished. Amongst eight lots of Georg Jensen, a blossom pattern covered vegetable dish, lot 517, proved particularly desirable, selling for $6,300. Lot 525, an exceptional pair of miniature 18^th century Dutch silver sconces lit up the room, reaching a closing bid of $10,710.

The surprise item of the day was lot 551, a set of four Meissen painted porcelain portrait plates which sold for $32,760, over fifteen times the low estimate.

Overall, the sale exceeded high estimate, with competitive bidding from the audience, phone, and online buyers. There was strong interest throughout the sale and across categories. The sell-through rate was 97%, with 36% of lots selling above high estimate! To learn more about consigning with Pook & Pook, please email photographs to info@pookandpook.com or call (610) 269-4040 to speak with an appraiser. Pook & Pook’s next auction is The Estate of Joyce Bowes Collis coming up on June 24^th & 25^th.