DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. — There is one New Year’s resolution Pook & Pook can help you keep this year — filling your home up with beautiful antiques. The firm’s Jan. 17-18 auction will offer almost 700 lots of antique furniture, fine art, and decorative accessories from around the globe. Bidding both live in-house and in cyberspace will be available. Probably the most exciting lot up for auction in both sessions is the appointment of Anthony Wayne to Major General of the Legion of the United States of America, dated the 19th day of March, 1793 and signed by President George Washington. The Legion was formed after the Revolutionary War as a standing army of professional soldiers rather than state militias. The Legion was reduced in size and rechristened the Army of the United States in 1796. This document could possibly be considered the birth of the United States Army. Session one will begin at 6 p.m. Jan. 17, following a special extended preview and reception. The collection of Jean and Eugene Jacobsen from Englewood, N.J., will start the auction with 49 lots. According to the Jacobsen’s daughter, their home was a “living, breathing example of Early American furniture and art” and “every family gathering was embraced by the warmth of the history of Early American life and the skilled craftsmen that artfully created the pieces.” Some highlights from the collection are several pieces of well crafted furniture including a Pennsylvania Queen Anne walnut dressing table, circa 1765, that is a very desirable small size with drake feet, the Captain James Mugford, a Revolutionary War hero from Marblehead, Mass., Chippendale mahogany diminutive drop-leaf table and a diminutive Massachusetts Queen Anne walnut high chest, circa 1765, with petite cabriole legs and pad feet. Of important note from the collection are several large China Trade oil on canvas paintings including one of the view of Whampoa Anchorage from the south, circa 1840, one of the view of the Hongs at Canton, circa 1840 and one of a naval engagement on the Boca Tigris, circa 1840. The sale on Friday night continues with 110 lots of Historical Staffordshire from a New York collection. This collection includes several interesting pieces such as the Esplanade & Castle Garden New York platter, the Capitol Washington centerpiece bowl, the Dix Cove on the Gold Coast Africa fruit bowl and the rare four-medallion platter with Jefferson, Lafayette, Clinton, and Washington over a view of Tunbridge Castle Surry and the Aqueduct bridge at Rochester. Session two starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18 with a lovely Pennsylvania William and Mary spice chest, circa 1750 with a herringbone and sprig and berry design on the door. Second up is a wonderful watercolor fraktur birth certificate by Johann Conrad Gilbert sure to grab the interest of fraktur lovers far and wide. The start of day two is filled with pieces from the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Furniture highlights include shranks, tea tables, dower chests, tall chests, corner cupboards, Dutch cupboards, dressing tables, miniature furniture, tall case clocks, etc. A Berks County, Pa., black unicorn dower chest that retains its original decoration of rampant unicorns flanked by panels with riders on horseback would make an incredible addition to anyone’s collection. One of the more incredible furniture pieces on day two is a rare Lancaster County, Pa., Hepplewhite cherry tall case clock by Martin Shreiner, circa 1830. The musical works of this clock play seven tunes. The unusual case includes an upper section with a short door over a lower section with a longer door. The last Shreiner musical clock sold at Pook & Pook brought $204,000. Contact: (610) 269-4040 www.pookandpook.com |