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Alaskan brown bear trophy taken on Kodiak Island. Estimate: $4,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.

Big game, bronzes top list of trophies at Pook & Pook auction Dec. 2-3

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf

Alaskan brown bear trophy taken on Kodiak Island. Estimate: $4,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Alaskan brown bear trophy taken on Kodiak Island. Estimate: $4,000-$7,000. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
DOWNINGTOWN, Pa. – Pook & Pook Inc.’s Decorative Arts Sale to be held Dec. 2 and 3 will open with an animal trophy collection from the estate of J. Martin Benchoff. The group includes more than 60 lots of trophies, from a full-size Alaskan Kodiak brown bear  to a large black rhino head. J. Martin Benchoff was an industrialist and a big game hunter from Shady Grove, Pa. He collected trophy specimens from the United States, Canada, Europe and Africa.

LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Benchoff was also a patron of wildlife artist Gary Swanson. The first lot of the sale is an oil on canvas by Swanson depicting rams in the Pamir Mountains estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

The second featured collection in the sale consists of a large group of painted bronze figures, collected by Dr. Robert L. Schaeffer Jr. These bronzes are being sold for the benefit of the Schaeffer Endowment Fund of The Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin and Marshall College. In all sizes from one-half inch to 17 inches, a myriad of different mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians and insects will be sold. The Schaeffer collection starts with a pair of Austrian pheasants, 16 1/2 inches and 17 inches long. Others include a group of 19 farms animals, a group of turtles, a pair of large elephants, a pair of porcupines and a group of 21 lizards, just to name a few. Approximately 150 lots of bronzes, over 2,000 individual pieces, will be offered.

The sale will then move into other areas of decorative arts including furniture, paintings, Oriental rugs and accessories. American and Continental furniture encompasses a wide variety of items, beds, benches, painted blanket chests, breakfronts, candlestands, Windsor chairs and a many types of cupboards and chests of drawers. In addition to antique pieces, a selection of Kittinger and Knoll items will be offered.

A Kittinger mahogany chest on frame is estimated at $500-$1,000, a breakfront for $800-$1,000 and 13 other examples. There are groups of Knoll swivel chairs, sofas and end tables.

Coming at the beginning of the holiday season, Christmas and Thanksgiving related groups will be offered. A German musical Christmas tree stand, Dresden ornaments, kugels and German candy containers are just a few of the offerings. Music boxes will add to the festivities. A Swiss Sublime Harmony cylinder box, a Regina disc player and a coin operated Nickelodeon are some of the highlights together with a group of 13 lithographed windup boxes. Accessory items are interspersed throughout the sale comprising baskets, mirrors, mantel clocks, candelabra, various dresser boxes, lamps, brass andirons, fire tools and more.

Bidjar, Bohkara, Heriz and Kazak are just a few of the Oriental carpets to be sold. There will also be selections of Chinese export, Staffordshire, Royal Doulton amd pearlware. Large frosted Lalique glass pieces including an elephant, panthers and a stag are sure to attract attention together with other glassware to include Steuben, Favrile, satin glass and Amberina. A large group of colorful Moorcroft pottery is sure to escalate the bidding.

To round out the sale add a selection of English and American samplers, dolls and toys, weaponry, Native American items, paintings by listed artists, quilts and coverlets.

For further information visit Pook & Pook’s website at www.pookandpook.com or email info@pookandpook.com.

 

View the fully illustrated catalog and register to bid absentee or live via the Internet as the sale is taking place by logging on to www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

1973 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1, approximately 73,000 original miles, purchased new by single owner, garage kept. Estimate: $5,000-$8,000. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
1973 Jaguar XJ6 Series 1, approximately 73,000 original miles, purchased new by single owner, garage kept. Estimate: $5,000-$8,000. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Austrian cold painted bronze turkey, mid 20th century, 7 inches high. Estimate: $200-$400. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Austrian cold painted bronze turkey, mid 20th century, 7 inches high. Estimate: $200-$400. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Kittinger butler's desk, 40 1/2 inches high x 38 inches long. Estimate: $300-$500. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Kittinger butler’s desk, 40 1/2 inches high x 38 inches long. Estimate: $300-$500. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Group of satin overlay includes quilted vase and glasses, together with colored hobnail glass, ruby spatter glass, enameled vases, etc., approximately 19 pieces. Estimate: $150-$200. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.
Group of satin overlay includes quilted vase and glasses, together with colored hobnail glass, ruby spatter glass, enameled vases, etc., approximately 19 pieces. Estimate: $150-$200. Image courtesy of Pook & Pook Inc.