Profusely painted, the rare circa 1830 pine chest of drawers reached $80,000.

“Corn Stubble,” E.W. Redfield, $50,000.

Crowden & Wilcox stoneware jug, $5,250.

By JMW Fletcher

LUDWIGS CORNER, PENN. – The fall Pook & Pook auction held on September 14 and 15 brought to the block several collections of painted furniture, metalware, a large group of spatterware plus 70 paintings and prints.

The illustrated catalogue detailed the over 900 lots that sold for $1.3 million. This total includes the new 10% buyer’s premium.

It was interesting to learn that – despite a buyer’s premium increased by 50 percent – approximately 96.5 percent of the lots offered found buyers. This speaks well of both the quality of the lots offered and the accuracy of estimates listed in the catalogue.

The photograph on the catalogue cover illustrated the top lot. This rare and important circa 1830 pine Mahanttongo Valley Pennsylvania chest of drawers, featured a molded frieze over a case with two short and three long graduated drawers.

Profusely painted in polychrome colors of yellow, black and green on a reddish/brown ground; each drawer featured a rectangular cartouche detailing birds, trees, pinwheels, and two prancing stags.

The estimate of $100/125,000 was a tad high, as the prized chest went to the persistent floor bidder, against the two phones at $80,000.

A good Chippendale gumwood linen press circa 1770 in two parts, featuring three drawers in the base went out at its $9,000 high estimate. In cherry the Dutch cupboard circa 1790 featured two six-light doors and sold at $8,500 (est $6/9,000). Possibly Maryland, the Hepplewhite mahogany three section banquet table went off at $3,500 (est $3/5,000).

Three noteworthy Bucks County artist paintings were among the plethora of painting lots offered. An early, untitled 20 1/ 4 by 24 1/ 2-inch winter landscape depicting a cleared cornfield with melting snow (correct title “Corn Stubble”) by E.W. Redfield, signed LL 1.c., made its low estimate of $50,000. The oil on canvas 25 x 30-inch landscape of the town of Ridge Valley, Penn. By Walter E. Baum doubled its high $20,000 estimate. On panel the 13 1/ 4 by 15 1/ 2-inch autumnal landscape by George W. Sotter sold at $7,000 (est $3/5,000).

A fine 23 by 36-inch oil on canvas hunt scene by John T. Eardly (British 1911-1971) made more than double its low estimate at $5,500. Depicting the Grand National Steeplechase of 1885, with 17 horses and riders traversing a brook, the large 30 by 50-inch work by E.B. Herberte (British, Nineteenth Century) was a good buy at $17,000 (est $15/20,000).

Among the 13 plus lots of stoneware crocks, pitchers and jugs – the 13-inch jug impressed “Crowden & Wilcox, Harrisburg, Pa.” With cobalt “man in the moon” decoration flew to …$5,250 (est $¾,000).

A second two-gallon Crowden & Wilcox jug doubled its low estimate, selling at $1,700. The remainder were in $100 to $500 range. For the formal garden, a well-proportioned 53-inch high marble statue of a draped nude was actively bid to twice its $3,000 high estimate.

As is the practice of Pook & Pook, the sale opened with a selection of hand-woven rugs. The top lot of the minor group was the 9 by 14-foot Twentieth Century Heriz carpet that made $1,900 (est $1/1,500). A Navajo Yei rug, 5 x 3-feet possibly Geesewood Springs, circa 1940 with five figures on a gray ground with a black border made $1,200.

Seldom seen outside a collector’s collection a Nineteenth Century, Philadelphia brass surveyor’s compass signed Edward Duffield, sold above its low estimate at $3,750. Ornately carved the American oak dining room suite, circa 1880 attributed to John Elliot of Philadelphia sold at $8,000 (est $10/15,000).

At $5,000 the walnut corner cupboard circa 1780 matched its low estimate. The rare pair of Philadelphia andirons, circa 1740 left the black at $1,800.

Collectors of spatter cups, saucers and plates had an opportunity to bid on over 25 lots. Prices ranged from $350 to $2,500. The red spatter plate depicting a blue schoolhouse sold at $2,250. The red and green rainbow swirl pattern 6 1/ 2 inch-bowl made $2,500 against a $900 high estimate.

The Friday evening sale included several lots of lady’s jewelry. The platinum diamond cocktail ring with two 1.25 carat miner’s cut diamonds sold to the phone bidder at $4,500 (est $¾,000).

A fine gold diamond and ruby necklace made $2,500 (est $3.5/4,500). The marquise shaped diamond pin in platinum, sold also to the phone bidder at $1,200 (est $1/1,500).

All prices quoted do not include the new 15 percent buyer’s premium.