DOWNINGTOWN, PENN. — A storied and lavishly decorated Lancaster County, Penn., dower chest was a standout at Pook & Pook’s Americana auction Saturday, October 8, selling during a three-session sale for $90,000, plus the buyer’s premium, for a total of $108,000. Antiques dealer and show manager Diana Bittel was the determined bidder, beating out competition from a phone bidder to acquire it for a young collector in Texas.

The chest, dated 1795, was formerly owned by pioneer collector George Horace Lorimer and then went to Sandy and Julie Palley, from whose collection it was sold at Sotheby’s in January 2002 for $170,750.

Bittel noted the chest had great provenance and was rare. “The Palleys had a great eye and great stuff. You’re not seeing a whole lot of great [chests like this] come across the market.”

A complete report on the auction will appear in a future issue.