The holidays are here and Pook & Pook has unique items for everyone on your list. The December Decorative Arts sale is taking place on Tuesday, December 9th starting at 9AM. Eight hundred and ninety-three lots will cross the auction block including several estate and museum collections.

Launching the sale is a collection of banks from Dr. Lawrence Lieberman of Randolph, New Jersey. Lieberman’s collection includes dozens of mechanical examples from makers like J & E. Stevens, Shepard Hardware Co., John Harper & Co., Hubley, Judd Mfg. Co., Kyser & Rex, Kilgore Co., Christian Berger, Enterprise, etc. One exciting find is a cast iron Jonah and the Whale mechanical bank estimated at $500-1,000. Another beautiful example set to cross the block is a cast iron I Always Did ‘Spise a Mule mechanical bank expected to bring $500-1,000. Others to be offered include Football, Clown on Globe, Punch and Judy, Dinah, Eagle and Eaglets, Teddy and the Bear, Mule Entering Barn, Tammany, Lion and Two Monkeys, Owl Turns Head, Creedmore, Uncle Sam, William Tell, Cabin, Trick Dog, Dog on Turntable, Chief Big Moon, Volunteer, Lilliput, Frog on Lattice, Trick Pony, Humpty Dumpty, Bulldog, Two Frogs, Rooster, Jolly Black Man, Monkey, Columbus World’s Fair, Artillery, Pig in Highchair, and many many more. A large part of the collection consists of still banks including examples by Enterprise, Arcade, J & E. Stevens Co., New England Die Casting Co., etc. Examples to be offered include Pay Phone, Independence Hall, State Banks, Kodak safe, etc. Included with the banks are a very unusual collection of colorless glass bride’s banks. The tradition of giving a glass brides bank at a wedding started in Victorian times. The bank would be stuffed with money or money would be treaded around the loops encasing the top and then given to the bride at her wedding.

A wonderful assortment of decorative accessories follows the banks including toys, Christmas ornaments, carved figures, a Noah’s ark, dolls, door stops, glass, ceramics (Majolica, Roseville, Royal Vienna, etc.), lighting, clocks, quilts, hooked rugs, woodenware, metalware, walking sticks, earthenware, surveyor’s compass, cutlery boxes, quilts, tea caddies, wall boxes, decoys, art pottery, etc. A beautiful stained glass and bronze table lamp from the early 1900’s, the shade with orange and purple flowers, is expected to bring $500-1,000. A bronze Pittsburgh “Call of the Wild” table lamp, with an estimate of $1,000-1,500 is sure to attract quite a few bidders attention. A violin case from New England, early 19th c., with an original red and black grained surface is expected to bring $200-300. A large carved salmon trade sign measuring an impressive 73” is expected to bring $400-800. An interesting collection of dental related antiques including a dental drill, advertising tins, revolving x-ray viewer, instruments, etc. A Seeburg coin operated Select-O-Matic jukebox from the mid 20th c. is expected to fetch $800-1,200.

Quite a number of furniture pieces will sell including corner cupboards, a shaving mirror, a blanket box, stands, games tables, a slant front desk, Windsor chairs, dressing tables, sideboards, marble topped tables, an escritoire, breakfast tables, armchairs, drysinks, blanket chests, tall chests, tavern tables, chest of drawers, tall case clocks, etc. An unusual English hall bench, ca. 1900, with shell carved panels on the back and arms is expected to bring $400-500. An exciting three-piece Italian mid-century modern Lucite and leather living room suite that includes a love seat, chair and ottoman is expected to fetch $500-1,000. Several pieces of Adirondack twig furniture and accessories will be offered including a lamp table (est.  $300-400) and a highchair ($300-500). A Pennsylvania walnut tall case clock, ca. 1800, with the face inscribed “Martin Shreiner Lancaster No. 116” is sure to attract attention with its $1,000-2,000 estimate.

Paintings, drawings and prints will also be offered in plenty and at reasonable prices. An attractive oil on board street scene by Hildegarde Hume Hamilton (American 1898-1970) is expected to bring $150-250. Hamilton started painting at a young age and produced hundreds of paintings in her lifetime.  She traveled all over the world and painted what she saw.  Russian artist Vladimir Lebedev oil on board impressionist  landscaped titled “Shed & Tree 1963, Block Islands R.I. is expected to fetch $200-300. An oil on canvas portrait of a horse by J. William Johnson, dated 1907, is expected to bring $500-800. A number of pieces by American artist Seymour Remenick will be offered. Other artist’s works to be offered include Gerson Keyser, Arthur Lingquist, Jan Gary, Hal Singer, John Arnold, Arnold William Egerland, Carol Sirak, Louis Orndorff, William Malherbe, Frank Cohen Kirk, Frank Bicknell, and many others.

Ending the sale is an exciting collection from George Korn and the late Richard Kemble, owners of the Forager House Collection. Over a period of 42 years, the two amassed an amazing collection of American Folk Art that includes folk carvings, whirligigs, hand-carved mechanical toys, baskets, and other unique pieces, many of which have been exhibited at a range of museums and illustrated in a wide variety of publications. First to cross the block from this incredible collection is a carved limestone sculpture by William Edmondson. This terrific piece is expected to bring $20,000-30,000. A number of erotic folk art pieces are included in this collection including two carved and painted comic erotic figures expected to bring $200-400. A fascinating carved and painted mechanical toy of dancers is operated with a hand crank, which moves four couples who rotate as a group and individually (est. $6,000-8,000).

Don’t miss the Online Only Decorative Arts Sale taking place the following day on December 10th. For additional information go to www.pookandpook.com or call (610) 269-4040. Online bidding is available through Bidsquare at www.bidsquare.com.