: - A longtime familiar face at Pook & Pook, Jim Gibson, will
now be concentrating on building his own upscale auction
business.
An auctioneer since 1974, Gibson has been the man at the block
for Pook & Pook for 18 years, serving as auctioneer for its
five or more annual sales. Gibson has also owned and operated his
own auction business since 1993 selling antiques from a
9,000-square-foot warehouse in Pottstown. Gibson felt the time
was right for him to leave Pook & Pook, and he advised owners
Ronald and Debra Pook of his decision at the time of the June
13-4 Pook & Pook auction.
"It was time for me to go completely on my own," said Gibson. "It
is a very amiable parting."
Gibson is currently searching for an auction venue in the
Reading, Penn., area. He would like to have an auction gallery
that provides more amenities for his clients than are available
at the Pottstown warehouse, although he intends to keep the
Pottstown location as well. He anticipates his next sale, a
catalog sale, will take place in November, and he is currently
accepting consignments.
Whereas Gibson's website says that he specializes in antiques and
collectibles from the 1800s to the 1940s with select collectibles
up to 1970s, he now has plans to go earlier. "There is nothing
wrong with Chippendale, Federal and Hepplewhite!" said Gibson
heartily.
Gibson's fiancé Nancy Kasting has been an antiques dealer for 20
years. She has a strong general background with expertise in
higher-end smalls, according to Gibson, while he, on the other
hand, will be "the furniture guy." Gibson's 20-something
daughter, Belinda or "Bindy" as she is known, has been an active
part of the business for the past six or seven years, and is
"welcome to continue as long as she wants to," said Gibson.
"I just love this business. It's an awful lot of fun," said
Gibson. Over the years he has auctioned the same piece sometimes
two, three, or even four times, each time watching it change in
value, usually rising.
