Featured Johannes Spitler

A Spitler chest is up for grabs tomorrow at Cowan's, it's in poor condition, the paint is faded, feet are missing ( Base replaced upon a similar example in the collections of Colonial Williamsburg) but, there is no doubt it is a Spitler piece. Spitler was a german/swiss immigrant working in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia in the last quarter 18th century. Spitler was a genius with a paint brush in his hand and although he often used traditional germanic themes, birds, tulips, pinwheels, etc, the way he put them together is striking & have a modern art quality. Estimate is 15k-25k
https://www.cowanauctions.com/lot/r...inted-shenandoah-valley-blanket-chest-3927646

 

For those not familiar with Spitler's work, here are some examples in much better condition, this guy could PAINT! Although one would expect a Spitler piece to sell in the hundreds of thousands of dollars like examples below, I don't think that will be the case for sale tomorrow because the condition is so poor. I'll guess $36,500 USD on above chest tomorrow, closest to sale price WINS A PRIZE!

 

$20K

 

I'll remember! no worries! $16,200, that could be close, it's hard to tell really because of condition.

 

$25,000.

 

Let's be mad... and say $36,500 (not a great risk, I'm not going to buy it! only guess-timate)

 

LOL, uhhhh, You can't guess 36.5k, that's MY guess! Pick another number!

 

$65K I think someone will want this because of its cachet and not being able to buy another.

 

Wow, I enjoyed seeing his other pieces. They are gorgeous.

I'll guess $21,000K.

 

Simple and bold isn't it?

In reading what they think is the history of the piece I certainly recognize the name Strickler, who they think were the original owners. I know there are Stricklers in the valley of VA as I've heard the name many times. I don't remember if they are relatives/ancestors of my husband (but I think they may be). His family on both sides have been in the valley since the 18th C.

Hey....maybe that's my chest

 

That's what we need....more honest cheaters !!

I'll guess $14,999

 

I'll play:

$27,800.

 

Gosh... I'm forced to up-bid you $36,750!

 

Yeah, they are. He was self taught, had no formal training, he painted traditional images in a very non traditional way.

uhhhhhhhh, noooooooo SIS, lol. Let's not get carried away here!

 

There is MONEY in painted furniture, although many in this forum seem to not notice, WAKE UP KIDZ, it's 2019!

This Spitler chest was in the booth of Kelly Kinzle at the 2015 Americana show in NYC and was tagged at 675k, it sold the first night!

 

I think the one for sale is softer and warmer because of the fading. But that's my opinion. I think if you're going to spend $500K + you want one like this. Okay, I'll go $150K

 

$9500.

 

Hmmmm, $9500 huh, dang, at that price I'm a PLAYER! Let me register for this auction right quick.......... I have a painted chest from the Valley as my mothers people are from there but, it ain't Spitler.

 

I know you're joking, but you're more trusting than me, I would have a really hard time buying at auction for this much money without previewing in person.

Its got to be rare to be able to identify a particular painter. I hadn't heard of Spitler before, are there other identified painters? Any good books on early furniture painters and their work?