Flack Sale Proves Pennsylvania German Folk Art Remains A Viable Market (2024)

Pook & Pook Inc. of Downingtown, Pa., held a 256-lot single-owner sale for Paul and Rita Flack of Solebury, Pa., on Oct. 13. No strangers to the Pennsylania auction scene or Pook & Pook, this was the couple’s sixth catalog sale (third with Ron and Debbie Pook). The sale was 96 percent sold (247 lots of the 256). The hammer total was $619,325; gross total realized, $758,010. The auction house charges 22 percent buyer’s premium (in-house) and 25 percent (online). Nearly 18 percent of the sale sold to online buyers ($110,550).
Paul Flack has spent decades hunting antiques throughout the Keystone State. Even at 91, there are few country sales and shows that Paul misses. Among his loves is Pennsylvania German material such as fraktur, redware, and quilts. The couple’s last auction was six years ago. Their first, in 1976. A big one was held on-site through Christie’s in 1997 at their historic farmhouse in Holicong, Bucks County. Today, they live in a new house outside of New Hope. A casualty actuary by trade, Paul spent the bulk of his career in Philadelphia, but the couple also lived and worked for a time in Camp Hill, Pa. He still helps in the office of son David’s garden center and nursery business, Bountiful Acres in Buckingham Township. The Flacks also have a daughter, Anne, who lives on a farm in Vermont.
Among other collecting interests are Native American art and artifacts, among them Susquehannock Indian material (not included in this auction). A large category and draw to the Oct. 13 sale was the extraordinary grouping of fraktur, over 70 pieces. Among the stars, and illustrated on the catalog’s cover, was a full-page drawing of a gentleman in a red coat by Conrad Gilbert. Estimated at $20,000-$30,000, it sold for $39,040 to dealer David Wheatcroft, bidding by phone, who recently moved back to Pennsylvania.
A watercolor and ink drawing of a church, likely Schwenkfelder, sold for $976. It brought $2,530 on Oct. 8, 2004, at the Dr. and Mrs. Donald Shelley sale of fraktur. A Conrad Trevits taufshein sold for $3,904. It had brought $2,844 on April 20, 2013, at Pook & Pook and was ex. John Gordon. The Johannes Schatz taufshein attributed to Anthony Rehm with pin prick decoration realized $17,080, and a Christian Strenge vorschrift dated “1795” for “Jacob Getz” sold for $7,320.
A Pennsylvania painted pine wall box with four drawers with floral decoration on brown ground and scrolled gallery went for $3,904. It sold for $3,600 on Oct. 13, 2001, at the Robert Crawford collection sale at Sotheby’s, and $2,500 during session four of the landmark Earl and Ada Robacker sale in 1989 held by Horst. Paul bought it on Aug. 4, 2012, at the Rick and Terry Ciccotelli collection sale at Northeast Auctions for $5,310.
A Snow Hill Nunnery redware bowl attributed to the Bell Pottery of Waynesboro, Pa., sold for $4,880 and was purchased by the Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum in Lancaster, Pa. Be on the lookout for a large redware exhibition at Landis Valley in 2019.
A Virginville Carver paint-decorated wooden carved bird on stand brought $31,720, selling to folk art collector Mrs. Katherine Booth in the salesroom, underbid by collector Mr. Richard Worley, also in the room.
Virginville, in Richmond Township, Berks County, Pa., is a small town given designation as a historic district by the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Maiden Creek flows through the area. Little to nothing is known of the carver of these sleek and vibrantly painted birds on pedestal stands. Only a small handful are known, and they are believed to have originated in the area of Virginville, roughly ca. 1900. Today, these birds are highly regarded as premier examples of southeastern Pennsylvania folk art. “The base and stand are very well-done replacements,” as announced at the podium as the lot came up for bid. The condition report read that the “base is a well-executed replacement.” Flack paid $9,945 for the bird in 2008 at the Machmer sale also held by Pook & Pook, then underbid by Pat Bell of Olde Hope Antiques. The condition report at the Machmer sale read, “small chip/loss to tip of beak. Piece was reattached to base with two small hole patches to underside of bird (second set of drilled and plugged leg holes may have been done when piece was made).” The price realized at the Flack sale reflected the object’s rarity, even in its restored condition.
Another example was bought by Flack at the Machmer sale for $28,080. It sold for $35,550 at the Flack sale in 2012. A Virginville Carver bird sold for $26,070 in 2010 at the Richard and Joane Smith sale at Pook & Pook. Another example sold for $20,910 at Skinner’s on Aug. 9, 2015 (Ellie Hoover collection).
A carved and painted Simmons cane held a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-$3,000 but failed to sell partly due to a small repair to the bird’s beak on the handle. A very folky example of the carver’s work revered in folk art circles, the repair was disclosed in the condition report (a separate form available at the Pook & Pook front desk). “Not one bid was taken on the cane, and it was returned to me,” stated Flack. “I’m actually glad, instead of it being given away.” Paul, like many of his generation, accept a level of both wear and also restoration, which you could argue many people don’t in today’s marketplace. There are many viewpoints on the subject of condition and what are acceptable amounts of restoration. It could be seen as ironic since if there was ever a time not to be picky and look down on something for having restoration, it would be in today’s market, when the supply is lower and less material comes out as opposed to 40 or 50 years ago. A half century ago, many collectors were fine with some levels of restoration if it brought an object properly back to its original state.
“Something is not worth one cent less once restored to its original beauty, in fact I think it aids it,” said Flack after the auction. “You expect a certain amount of wear and tear, and I think a certain level of restoration is perfectly acceptable,” he continued.
“Take a special thing such as the “Mona Lisa,” a beautiful piece that has had even major restoration, and it doesn’t take away from its original beauty. It is possible for certain restoration to be wonderful and beneficial. It’s not right to trash something because of something minor. I think it’s dead wrong,” said Flack.
In a market with no shortage of challenges, I contend that the Pennsylvania German market has viable legs, yet we continue to see fewer active participants in the field. The folks that were buying a generation or two ago are on the sidelines today and have not been replaced with enough active buyers. The same can be said with other categories of Americana. The popularity of Americana is not close to what it was around the time of the Bicentennial. One other factor in today’s market and witnessed at this sale is freshness. If things have been out on the open market within five or 10 years, resale is not without difficulties. Quite a few things in the sale were purchased since the 2012 auction.
Like collectors before him, Flack is not alone for having a few hits and misses. Walter Himmelreich had plenty. Pook & Pook displayed and marketed the material wonderfully, and numerous outstanding prices were achieved.
The reception held the evening prior to the sale was a great time for old friends to reconnect. A large crowd listened to speaker Lisa Minardi and Stella Rubin. Minardi set up a pop-up exhibit, where guests could ask questions as she discussed Pennsylvania German arts, specifically addressing some examples of fraktur in the sale, and Rubin led a group on a walking tour around the gallery, specifically discussing 20 or so quilts in the sale.
Paul plans to remain semi-active. A passion for the stuff doesn’t just go away, and it is still fun for him. “If anything super comes along, I will still buy and give the things to my son.”
Significant back issues have sidelined Paul and limited his mobility; otherwise his health is good.
The captions tell more of the story.
For further information, call Pook & Pook Inc. at 610-269-4040.

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