: Pennsylvania folk art collectors and major dealers were out in
force this past Saturday, April 3, at Conestoga Auction for a
sale featuring the collection of Eugene and Dorothy Elgin.
A prime selection of Pennsylvania/German smalls of the highest
quality had everyone salivating, especially those dealers looking
to stock up for the rapidly approaching prestigious Philadelphia
Antiques Show. While the dealers made out well throughout the
day, it was the private collectors that walked off with the best
of the lots.
Tole gooseneck coffee pot, $55,000.
The top lot of the day came as a slide lid document box in
original red paint and decorated with tulips and compasses was
offered. An opening bid of $50,000 was asked for the lot, which
drew chuckles from a couple in the room, with the price dropping by
tens to a starting point of $10,000.
The next increment was $15,000, which was a long time coming, but
once it did the action became quickly paced, bouncing around the
room to $55,000. At this point Robisonia, Penn., dealer Greg
Kramer, who would underbid the lot, cut the bid to $2,500
increments and it was back to high-speed competition, with the
box eventually hammering down at $82,500.
Other top lots included a redware figure of a dog with basket in
its mouth that sold to Kramer for $44,000, and a red painted tole
gooseneck coffee pot at $55,000.
A complete review will appear in a future issue.
