Fans of Pennsylvania antiques were out in force on Saturday, October 30, for Pook & Pook’s auction of the collection of Richard and Joane Smith. This collection, well known to dealers and collectors for its variety and quality, comprised 451 lots, highlighted by an important Berks County painted schrank that was dated 1775. Estimated at $300/600,000, the piece brought $700,000 hammer, $818,500 with the buyer’s premium. “There was some talk before the sale that the schrank might bring over $1 million, but it brought just about where we thought it would,” Ron Pook said after the sale.

The schrank was inscribed “17 Philip Detuk 75” under the blue and red cornice with dentil and diamond molding. The raised panel doors and sides, with ochre sponged surrounds and green and red sponged panels, are framed in salmon and the doors retain their original rattail hinges. The base has three green sponged drawers and ochre ground, supported by bun feet. It measures 81 inches high and 60 inches wide.

According to the auction catalog, this is the finest example left in private hands and the name of the buyer has not been released, only that it is New England trade. The sale grossed $2,314,226, including the buyer’s premium. A complete review of the sale will be in a future issue.

The next auction by Pook & Pook is the Smithsonian sale on November 19.

⁒. Scudder Smith