Pook & Pook Unveils Spectacular Lineup for Final Americana Auction of the Year

DOWNINGTOWN, PA – Pook & Pook, Inc. is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated final Americana auction of the year, crossing the block on Thursday, October 1 and Friday, October 2, 2026. This landmark sale features fine art, hand-crafted period furniture, rare regional fraktur, and early American stoneware and redware. Bidders are invited to preview the exhibition beginning Saturday, September 26, with gallery viewing continuing through the week. The pre-sale events culminate on Wednesday, September 30, with an exclusive gallery luncheon and a specialised lecture by Karl Pass, editor of Antiques and Auction News, focusing on the whimsical folk art carvings of Wilhelm Schimmel. The auction action commences promptly at 9:00 AM on Thursday.

Headlining the auction’s premier offerings is an exceptionally preserved Mahantongo Valley painted chest of drawers featuring vibrant decoration attributed to Isaac Stiehly and a rare double pencil signature by John Mayer, making it the only known signed and dated example from the region. While closely related chests reside in the prestigious collections of the Winterthur Museum and the American Folk Art Museum, this pristine survivor represents a rare opopportunity for private acquisition. 

Equally extraordinary is a monumental Wilhelm Schimmel large carved and painted spread wing eagle retaining its original black surface with white head feathers, standing atop a green base; a celebrated work that has been widely exhibited and published.

Leading an impressive array of Schwenkfelder masterworks is an outstanding early American double-page fraktur rich with patriotic elements,  spectacularly depicting George Washington holding what is presumably the Declaration of Independence.

The auction also features an expanded selection of rare fraktur, including exceptional Vorschrifts, personalized bookplates, and intricate hand-drawn illustrations. A key highlight is a whimsical drawing titled “Jacob Leith’s Mastiff,” which captivates viewers with its vibrant, circus-banner aesthetic. Other fine art highlights include works by Walter Emerson Baum, Hattie Klapp Brunner, and John Frederick Peto, alongside a stunning western landscape by Ernst Blumenschein. Decorative arts shine equally bright, anchored by a rare copper double-wheel horse and sulky weathervane with impressive provenance. Additionally, the sale features an important S. Bell & Son seated spaniel research reveals only one other stamped example is known to survive. With an unparalleled inventory of regional masterpieces, this landmark sale promises to be an unmissable event for discerning collectors of American folk art and antiquities.

For more information regarding gallery preview times, bidder registration, or to view the digital catalog, visit pookandpook.com.
To RSVP for the exclusive gallery luncheon and specialised lecture, please contact the gallery directly:


Pook & Pook, Inc.
463 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown, PA 19335
Phone: (610) 269-4040
Email: info@pookandpook.com