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POOK & POOK AUCTION W/CUTS

By J.M.W. Fletcher

LUDWIGS CORNER, PENN. -- A two-day antiques auction conducted on December 4

and 5 by Pook & Pook, Inc., brought out a standing-room-only crowd of dealers

and collectors. The event's catalogue detailed more than 690 lots which

achieved a total of over $800,000.

Offerings ranged from a large collection of fine hooked and Oriental rugs to

excellent furniture and accessories, both formal and primitive. A large group

of American and European paintings were actively sought after.

The lots came from several prominent Pennsylvania and Delaware collections as

well as the Philadelphia Museum of art, sold to benefit its acquisition fund.

Two paintings by well-known Wilmington, Del. illustration artist Howard Pyle

(1853-1911) were the main highlight of Friday evening's session. Both works

were found in an unassuming Delaware home. The label on the larger of the two

read "...from Huntford's Fair Nihilist, Harper's June 1913." The label on the

smaller canvas read "...from the Minstrel Norman Duncan Harper's June 1908."

Despite aggressive bidding from all phone lines and audience participants, the

first went to a single persistent phone bidder for $65,000, over ten times its

high estimate of $6,000, and the second reached $40,000, ten times its low

estimate of $4,000.

An exquisite Nineteenth Century American oil on wood panel harbor scene was

offered as having been painted "in the manner of Fitz Hugh Lane." The 9¬ by

11‹ inch work fell to a gentleman on the floor for $8,000, four times its low

estimate of $2,000.

A William Pierce Stubbs (1842-1909) oil on canvas of the three-masted schooner

Hiram Emery surpassed its estimate as well. The work, in a severe distressed

condition from multiple large tears, was driven to a hammer price of $3,200.

Two works by Anne Richards Brewster, daughter of W.T. Richards, fared well,

selling for $2,200 and $1,600. Autumnal and winter landscapes by local

Pennsylvania artist Walter E. Baum, at $2,300, and Walter E. Schofield, at

$6,250, also sold well. A small portrait of a young girl from the

Prior-Hamblin School made $3,500.

More than 60 Oriental rugs led Friday's session and some of the prices

achieved astounded the packed gallery. A late Nineteenth Century six foot by

4'2" signed Kazak rug on a majestic blue field soared to five times its $3,000

low estimate. A palace-size Sarouk, with minor damage, went to the trade for

$9,500. A large Persian Feraghan-Sarouk sold for $12,500.

Later in the evening, 60 colorful pictorial floral and geometric hooked rugs

from the Condon collection achieved prices in the $1,250 to $1,800 range.

Erin Duffy, coordinator of the phone bank, mentioned that there were a great

many bids to be handled during Saturday's sale, while auctioneer Ron Pook

described the previous day's action as "very, very strong. I was surprised."

Incised "Anno 1750" and signed, a rare American painted poplar spoon rack,

with central upper heart, brought $17,000 (est $4/5,000). Among the other

decorative folk art accessories were several finely carved items, including a

rare hexagonal table clock, late Seventeenth Century, with a three-train,

chain-driven movement. The timepiece, found in a yard sale, went to its new

home for a price of $6,250.

Among the standing-room-only crowd of active bidders was Philadelphia dealer

Phil Bradley, who "bought a nice pair of chairs."

A selection of 80 German steins, featuring regimental and Mettlach examples,

featured lots selling for lows of $128 up to a high of $2,200.

Prices quoted do not include a ten percent buyers premium.