DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Pook & Pook Inc.’s Jan. 12, auction hosted a large, interested crowd of bidders, vying for an array of appealing objects from fine art to folk art and all categories between. With 95.6 percent of lots sold, the total fell well over the high estimate to achieve $1,660,782. LiveAuctioneers.com provided Internet live bidding.

The day began with items from the noteworthy collection of Pastor Frederick S. Weiser of New Oxford, Pa. As one of the foremost authorities on Pennsylvania German culture and decorative arts, Weiser lived with and studied some remarkable objects. This resulted in many publications including reference books, exhibitions and lectures presented by him over the years. The first lot sold was an unusual Pennsylvania painted tape loom with heart cutouts and lovebird decoration that brought $9,480.00 (est. $2,000-4,000). Descending in the Eshelman family of Oley Valley, Pa., was an outstanding hanging corner cupboard with a double raised panel door and scalloped two-tier drop. After active bidding on the floor and over the phone, the price was $52,140 (estimate: $10,000-20,000). Various pieces of Pennsylvania redware were sold including a York County seated dog for $4,029, a colander with slip decoration for $2,607, a slip and tulip decorated covered bowl for $5,214 and a bird rattle attributed to William Maize for $1,777. Groups of carved butter prints did well ranging in price from $1,185 to $4,029. A Pennsylvania wrought iron dough scraper with heart cutouts was one of many notable pieces of metal ware. It carried a rich provenance of both Hattie Brunner and Titus Geesey and sold for $4,266. Complete five-plate stoves are rare. The Pennsylvania cast-iron stove, made by George Ross at the Maryann Furnace in York County, Pa., was dated “1766” and crossed the block at an astounding $33,180 (est. $4,000-6,000).

The second collection in the auction was that of Mr. & Mrs. Guy Keemer of Hallem, Pa. Guy Keemer was a well-respected, enthusiastic collector and dealer of primarily Pennsylvania furniture and accessories. One of the highlights of this group was a diminutive walnut hanging cupboard retaining an old red painted surface. Active bidding brought the final total to $35,550 (est. $15,000-20,000). A redware bank dated 1862 with a dog finial, inscribed “AP 1862 PLM” on the base sold for $4,266 (est. $1,000-1,500). An exceptional architectural cherry schrank from Lancaster County, Pa., had a bold cornice overhanging a case with tombstone carved panel doors, heavy fluted pilasters and a gutsy Germanic base soared to $65,175 (est. $20,000-40,000). His York County walnut tall-case clock inscribed John Fisher did well at $11,850.

A silver mounted presentation sword from the War of 1812 garnered much interest. It had an embossed polychrome wasp on a shell langet and a shield with an eagle pommel. The sword was given to Lt. James Biddle of the U.S. Navy by the legislature of Pennsylvania. Bidding ended with a price of $56,880 (est. $5,000-10,000).

Some fine paintings were included from various estates and owners. An appealing oil on canvas landscape with a young girl seated on a stone wall by John George Brown went to $52,140 (est. $15,000-25,000). A vivid landscape titled Autumn from Music Circus Hill, Lambertville by Fern Isabel Coppedge tempted many and sold to a phone bidder for $65,175 (est. 20,000-40,000). Others included a watercolor of a woodpecker by Earl Lincoln Poole for $4,977, a seascape by Alexander Charles Stuart for $7,702 and an oil on canvas of a snake charmer by Vincente March for $7,110. The Wilhelm Thony oil on cardboard view of Paris brought $65,175 and a bronze sculpture of three boys mounting a horse by Arthur Jacques Leduc brought $7,702.

Continuing the sale was a large group of quilts from the Collection of Foster and Muriel McCarl of Beaver, Pa. This strong collection of appliqué, pieced and chintz quilts held many exciting examples. A bold red and white pieced Lone Star and Eagle quilt did well at $3,555 (est. $400-600). An appliqué quilt with birds on a floral wreath made $4,266 (est. $1,000-1,500). The important Philadelphia Broderie Perse quilt carrying the inscription “The work of my Mother Ruth McConnell and her cousins Hannah & Mary Parry in year 1793 previous to my birth during yellow fever, Julia M. Miles May 14th 1849” soared over the high estimate to reach $28,440 (est. $8,000-12,000). Two early stenciled cotton bedcovers brought $8,887 and $5,688, respectively. One of the many chintz quilts, a pieced and appliqué star of Bethlehem example, made $8,887 (est. $3,000-5,000). A superior Baltimore album quilt with appliqué and trapunto squares depicting a sailing ship, a monument with American flags, elaborate baskets of flowers, etc. brought active bidding on the floor and phone and ended at $28,440. Also from the McCarl collection, the Benjamin Goodwin, Lancaster Chippendale walnut desk and bookcase sold for $45,030.

Other notable lots in the auction included a large carved and gilded pilothouse eagle for $9,112 (est. $4,000-6,000), an outside row standing carousel tiger for $33,180 (est. $3,000-5,000), a vibrant William Otto fraktur for $20,655 and a giltwood girondole mirror for $4,977. Highlights in the furniture category included a Chester County, Queen Anne walnut secretary desk from the Titus Geesey collection and illustrated in Schiffer Furniture and its Makers of Chester County, which sold for $33,180, the Logan family pair of Philadelphia Chippendale chairs for $21,330 and a pair of Delaware Valley Chippendale walnut dining chairs for $37,920. One of two carvings by Pennsylvanian John Scholl, circa 1827-1916, was a carved and painted snowflake, which did well at $17,775 (est. 8,000-12,000).

A significant folk art clock carved by Jacob A. Light aroused much interest, but its enormous size made it a difficult sell. This clock took Light 18 years of craftsmanship with a penknife to complete and had 19 scenes and 380 figures. The Historical Society of Millersburg was thrilled to get it for their collection for $16,590.

A few items rounding out the day included a Victorian Rococo Revival rosewood étagère that sold for $22,515, an Aesthetic Movement gasolier for $3,792, and a Renaissance Revival ebonized center table for $5,451. A Bennington, Vt., flint enamel lion fared well at $10,072 as well as a small carved spaniel by Wilhelm Schimmel for $13,035.

For further information call 610-269-4040.

Click here to view the fully illustrated catalog for this sale, complete with prices realized.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE