Featured Johannes Spitler

No, not joking at all, I registered, Cowans is a reputable house, provenance looks good, it's a hard pine southern chest and that paint decoration SCREAMS SPITLER. I am 99% sure and that's close enough.
BTW, It ain't goin for $9500. trust me! That's a pipe dream but hey, it cost nothing to register, a click or 2 with the mouse and BAM! done. But, I did get a pilgrim table once owned by Wallace Nutting last month for a song so lightning can strike twice, right?

Oh Yeah, TONS, painted furniture was a BIG DEAL in early american furniture. If you're just getting started on American painted work, the "bible" is probably
"American Painted Furniture 1660-1880" by Dean A Fales, gives a good overview & worth a read. Out of print but paperback is available & cheap, hard copy about $40
https://www.amazon.com/American-painted-furniture-1660-1880-Fales/dp/B007ETX3Q8

 

Thanks, I just ordered the book. I'm not really getting started and already have several pieces of early american furniture in original paint. I buy it when I see it. But it is all self-researched and from estates, not auctions, so I'm on my own when it comes to figuring out what I have.

I'm starting to try to figure out better what I have collected over the years. When I found out there was a respected authority on old pewter who lives only a few miles from me, I filled a few boxes and took my pewter to him for evaluation (not appraisal - I was not interested in paying for valuations, just another opinion on authenticity). I was pleased to find he agreed that my better 18th century Boston pieces were authentic.

 

Many, some are not known by name but by their work like the "compass artist" in Pennsylvania. The world record holder in price for a single American paint decorated piece of furniture is Robert Crosman, a drum maker in Taunton Mass. A 1729 chest of drawers he built that sold for just shy of 3 million USD a few years ago.

 

OK, sale today starts at 10 a.m. est but, it's 300 lots into sale, figuring 100 lots an hour, we should know by 1 p.m. or so. It's hammer + 20% BP for final sale price
MAY THE BEST GUESSER WIN!

 

In looking around this morning i came across this chest at Freeman's which sold in 2015. Paint is in a little better condition than sale chest today but the base is not original & not as well restored as today's sale chest either. In description Freeman had this to say
"During these approximately 20 years, Spitler worked in three distinct styles of decoration. This chest falls into Spitler's first style due to his strong use of geometric devices, including squares, diamonds and compass-drawn circles and flowers. "

https://auctions.freemansauction.co...sp?salelot=1530+++++448+&refno=938553&image=0

Sold for 56k in 2015

 

And the WINNER IS.............. @kyratango ....$43,200 was the sale price




YOU WIN A GOLD STAR!

 

Hammer was $36000. on the nose & $7200. BP = $43200. A good buy I'd say and about what i expected.

 

Yay !!!
Now I'm a reputable early American furniture appraiser

 

lol, yeah, ok. Let's not get carried away here!