: Pook & Pook's January 6-7 auction of furniture, art and
decorative accessories grossed just over $2.5 million and was 99
percent sold of the 1,004 lots offered. One of the top lots of
the sale was almost the smallest physically - an 8 1/4-inch
wrought iron escutcheon in the form of an Indian with feathered
headdress, which realized $42,120.
One of 370 lots consigned by well-known collectors, James and
Sally Sorber of West Chester, Penn., the escutcheon provoked
heavy bidding from collectors, dealers and museum representatives
in the auction hall, as well as from participants bidding by
phone. The hammer fell with the escutcheon selling to Americana
dealer David Schorsch, who bid by phone. It is believed that the
sale set a record for wrought iron at auction.
The Sorber collection also produced the highest price of the sale
when a Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany dressing table, circa
1770, crossed the block. The molded edge top with notched
corners, central drawer with carved shell and spandrels and
cabriole legs with shell carved knees terminating in ball and
claw feet all contributed to a sale price of $81,900.
The first of the four Chester County, Pennsylvania, spice chests
from the Sorber grouping to cross the block was a Queen Anne
walnut and tulip poplar chest example with double, raised-panel
door and fitted interior with 12 drawers. It sold for $11,115.
The other spice chests sold for $5,616, $7,020 and $7,605. A
Queen Anne walnut chest on frame, circa 1760, with nine drawers,
scalloped skirt and short, shell carved cabriole legs terminating
in trifid feet achieved $16,380.
This Philadelphia Chippendale mahogany dressing table, circa
1770, was the sale's top lot at $81,900. The lowboy featured a
molded edge top with notched corners, central drawer with
carved shell and spandrels and cabriole legs with shell carved
knees terminating in ball and claw feet.
A pair of Philadelphia Chippendale walnut dining chairs,
circa 1770, with cabochon carved crests, pierced splats, shell
carved frames and cabriole legs terminating in ball and claw feet,
reached $15,210.
A Pennsylvania Chippendale walnut slant front desk, circa 1780,
with an amphitheater interior, shell carved prospect door, and
ogee bracket feet realized $23,400. A Delaware Valley Queen Anne
walnut lowboy, circa 1760, doubled its high estimate, selling for
$28,080.
The art from the Sorber collection included 13 works by Chester
County, Pennsylvania, native Barclay Rubincam (1920-1978). While
the artist did not have many previous auction records for bidders
to use as reference in their purchases, strong prices were
generated nonetheless.
The iconic scene titled "Sentry at Birmingham," which depicted
the shadow of a man wearing a tri-cornered hat and carrying a
long rifle against the raised panel door of a stone building,
soared beyond estimate, selling for $44,460.
An oil on board titled "Generations," showing the peak of a stone
and stucco building, signed lower right "Barclay Rubincam 1950,"
fetched $42,120.
A Barclay Rubincam scene titled "Sentry at Birmingham" soared
beyond estimate, selling for $44,460.
Aggressive bidding and high prices were not just reserved for
the Sorber material. A Philadelphia writing arm Windsor chair,
circa 1790, by John Ackley carried provenance from the Ellis Family
of Philadelphia to F.D. Brinton of Oermead Farm, West Chester,
Penn., to well-known collector Titus Geesey. It went out at $9,945.
A Philadelphia comb back Windsor armchair, circa 1765, which
retained an early Spanish brown surface over the original green,
made $9,945 as well. Of the several kas in the sale, a New Jersey
gumwood example dating to the late Eighteenth Century seemed to
be the most sought-after, with a realized price of $15,210.
Those interested in Southern furniture had a gem to mine in the
Virginia Chippendale walnut two-part linen press, circa 1780. The
dentil molded cornice, raised panel doors and ogee bracket feet
were some of the attributes that pushed the price to $28,080.
Of the multiple tall clocks in the sale, a New Jersey mahogany
tall case clock, circa 1795, achieved the top price. The case,
adorned with urn, conch shell, and spread winged eagle inlays,
was attributed to Matthew Egerton Jr and sold for $28,080. A much
smaller clock, 24 1/2 inches tall, in the form of a Connecticut
mahogany acorn clock, circa 1840, by Forestville sold for
$18,720.
Two Boston silver spoons dating to the late Eighteenth Century
and bearing the touch of Paul Revere II (1735-1818), were just
8 3/4 inches long and brought $14,040.
Among the fine art highlights, a James Peale (1749-1831)
miniature oval watercolor on ivory portrait of a gentleman believed
to be John Hinckley Mitchell, deputy quartermaster stationed in
Philadelphia, went for $12,870.
Folk art and patriotism were a good combination in the American
School oil on canvas landscape with General Washington atop a
horse and a battlefield in the background. The relatively small,
16-by-19-inch work from the collection of Leah Gordon and the
late John Gordon realized $9,360.
Two Boston silver spoons dating to the late Eighteenth Century
and bearing the touch of Paul Revere II (1735-1818), were just 8
3/4 inches long, but the sale price doubled the high estimate,
reaching $14,040.
Prices reported include buyer's premium. For information,
610-269-4040 or www.pookandpook.com.
