On November 11, 2o11 Pook & Pook Inc, sold the collection of Lester and Barbara Breininger of Robesonia, Penn., to a packed house on Friday evening and a crowded gallery on Saturday. The 940 lots, consisting, in part, of what seemed like countless pieces of redware and pewter, found ready buyers and Ron Pook said, “The sale did very well.”
He added, “We have a full schedule of auctions coming up, including several one-owner sales,” as witnessed by the schedule printed on the inside back cover of the Breininger catalog.
The single-owner collection listed for May 5 will be that of well-known antiques dealer James Grievo of Stockton, N.J. “I have been thinking about it for a long time, and now is the time to let the things go,” Jim told Antiques and The Arts Weekly this week. He mentioned that “I am at a point in my life when I want to simplify things; I have lived with many of the objects for 40 years, loved every minute of it, and plan to have between 350 and 400 pieces in the sale. And I like to think that my collection is all about surface.”
Jim graduated in 1971 from the University of Kentucky with a degree in forestry. “I could not find a job right out of college and started going to tag sales and some of the Pennsylvania flea markets, picking up things I liked and selling them to dealers,” he said. “I really enjoyed doing it and have never stopped.”
Ron Pook has already picked up a few things to use for advertising purposes, and said, “The collection is one great thing after another. The pieces in the collection just knock you over, each one a gem, and we are delighted to be selling the collection.” He indicated that he and Jim will be working together closely on the sale, including the design of the catalog and the order of selling.
Jim made it clear that he is not going out of business, and none of his inventory as an antiques dealer is going to be a part of the sale.
“I am a bit sad about selling my things, but also excited about the auction. And really, I want to be alive when my things are sold to see what they bring,” he said.
