PHILADELPHIA, PA.- The Pennsylvania Sale and American, Furniture, Folk, and Decorative Arts, a two day auction event at Freeman’s on November 12 & 13, brought nearly $2 million and highlighted more than 300 years of Pennsylvanian and American craftsmanship and history. Close to 600 lots of folk art, silver, books, historical documents, textiles, porcelain, pottery, American Indian art, and furniture spanning the earliest colonial period through the 20th century were offered. Items from prominent, private collections—including the Estate of the Late John S. and Martha Stokes Price (former collection of Mr. and Mrs. J. Stogdell Stokes) and a Gentleman’s Collection from a Washington, DC Townhouse—as well as fresh to the market works attracted the attention of important national and international collectors, universities, and major museums, with several institutions winning significant lots. The high point of both sales was Wharton Esherick’ s “Essie”/”Rebecca,” which achieved a record for sculpture rendered by the artist selling for $123,750.

“We were thrilled with the results for the 20th Century Design section and equally delighted with the results for historically significant property including the War of 1812 presentation sword, the incredibly rare Mary Flower canvas work table cover, and the furniture from the Stokes collection,” said Americana Department Head Lynda Cain.

Four institutions acquired works over the two days of auctions. A marble bust of George Washington by Raimondo Trentanove, circa 1820, fetched $40,625 and was sold to a New England university, and William Russell Birch’s watercolor of a view from his estate (lot 317) was purchased by a major East Coast museum for $20,000. “Essie”/”Rebecca,” one of Wharton Esherick’s most personal works, went to Modernism Museum Mount Dora in Florida for $123,750, and the rare canvas worked furniture or “chest” cover by Mary Flower (1744-1778) was bought for $35,000 by Winterthur in Wilmington, DE.

Linda Eaton, Winterthur’s John L. & Marjorie P. McGraw Director of Collections & Senior Curator of Textiles, commented, “Amanda Creekman discussed Mary Flower’s table cover in her award-winning thesis ‘An Unlimited Fancy: Ann Flower’s Sketchbook 1753-1764,’ and the cover is closely related in both design and technique to Ann’s embroidered prayer book cover, which—like her sketchbook—is in Winterthur’s collection. This textile created by Mary Flower is an extremely rare form of needlework, and we look forward to undertaking further research on it.”

Strong prices were also achieved for 20th Century Design including a Nakashima triple sliding door cabinet that sold for $40,625 and a Minguren I Coffee Table, which achieved $23,750. Items of American historical interest also inspired competitive bidding that propelled prices past their high estimates. An Important War of 1812 Presentation Sword awarded to Lieutenant John Tayloe IV by the Virginia Legislature brought $50,000 and a rare Philadelphia International Centennial Exhibition carved walnut armchair achieved $26,350. Other highlights included a redware pie plate attributed to John Neis that sold for $33,750 and an American Indian Art 19th Century rare Tlingit Chilkat dancing blanket also attracted the attention of bidders and fetched $23,750.